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📚Paul, an apostle✭ of Jesus Christ by the command of God our Saviour✭, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our hope✭,2 📚To Timothy✭, my own son✭ in the faith: Grace, mercy✭, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord✭.
False teaching, misuse of the law of Moses
3 📚✭As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so you can command some not to teach any other doctrine, 4 📚or pay attention to empty stories and endless genealogies✭, which cause debates instead of godly edification, which comes by faith. 5 📚Now the purpose of this command is love✭ from a pure heart✭ and from a good conscience✭ and from sincere faith✭. 6 📚✭From these some have veered off and turned aside to useless talk. 7 📚They desire to be teachers✭ of the Law but do not understand either what they say, or what they affirm.
The right use of the law
8 📚But we know that the Law is good✭, if a man uses it lawfully, 9 📚knowing that the Law is not made for a righteous man✭, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for killers, 10 📚for sexually immoral men, for those who practice sodomy, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine 11 📚✭that is according to the glorious gospel✭ of the blessed God✭, which was entrusted to me✭.
Paul saved by God’s grace
12 📚✭And I thank✭ Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me✭, for he counted me faithful✭ and put me into the ministry, 13 📚me who was before a blasphemer✭, and a persecutor✭, and harmful✭. But I obtained mercy✭ because I did so in ignorance, in unbelief✭. 14 📚And the grace✭ of our Lord was exceedingly abundant✭ toward me together with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
The chief of sinners
15 📚This is a trustworthy saying✭, and worthy of all acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners✭, of whom I am chief✭.
An example of mercy
16 📚✭However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might display complete patience✭, as a pattern✭ for those who would afterwards believe on him for everlasting life✭.
Praise to God for this
17 📚Now to the King✭ eternal, immortal✭, invisible✭, to God who alone is wise✭, be honour and glory✭ for ever and ever. Amen.
Fighting the good spiritual fight
18 📚This charge I set before you, son Timothy, in accordance with previous prophecies✭ concerning you, that by them you might fight a good fight✭,
The spiritual shipwreck of some Christians