PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the order of God, our Saviour, and
Lord, Jesus Christ, who is our hope; (2)to Timothy, my genuine son in
faith: grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father, and Christ Jesus
our Lord.
(3)As I exhorted thee to abide at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia,
that thou mightest enjoin certain persons to introduce no different
doctrine, (4)nor to attend to fables and endless genealogies, which
give occasion to disputes rather than godly edification, which is by
faith; _so do_. (5)For the end of the commandment is love out of a
clean heart, and good conscience, and faith unfeigned: (6)from which
some, having swerved, have turned aside to vain babbling; (7)affecting
to be doctors of the law, though they understand neither what they say,
nor whereof they affirm. (8)But we know that the law is good if a man
use it according to its institution; (9)knowing this, that the law is
not made for the just man, but for the lawless and disorderly, for the
ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of
fathers and murderers of mothers, for men-slayers, (10)for
whoremongers, for sodomites, for stealers of men, for liars, for
perjured persons, and if there be any other thing which is contrary to
sound doctrine, (11)according to the glorious gospel of the blessed
God, with which I have been put in trust. (12)And I render thanks to
him who hath strengthened me, even to Christ Jesus our Lord, that he
hath counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; (13)who was
before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and insolently violent, But I
was admitted to mercy, for I did it ignorantly in unbelief; (14)but the
grace of our Lord hath exceedingly abounded with faith and love, which
is in Christ Jesus. (15)It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of
whom I am the chief. (16)But for this end obtained I mercy, that in me,
the chief, Jesus Christ might shew forth all long-suffering, for a
pattern to those who should after believe in him unto eternal life.
(17)Now to the king eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be
honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(18)This commandment, son Timothy, I give thee, according to the
prophecies which were before delivered concerning thee, that by them
thou mightest war a good warfare; (19)holding faith and a good
conscience, which some having renounced, as touching the faith, have
been shipwrecked: (20)of whom are Hymeneus and Alexander, whom I have
delivered over unto Satan, that they may be corrected, so as to
blaspheme no more.