1 Timothy 1
Paul writes to Timothy, instructing him to correct those in Ephesus who are teaching false doctrine and focusing on meaningless genealogies and fables. The goal of Christian instruction is to promote love, a pure heart, and a good conscience, but some have turned away from this to engage in empty talk. Paul notes that the law is good when used properly, but it is not for the righteous, rather for the unrighteous and sinful. Paul expresses gratitude for God's mercy, which he received despite his past as a blasphemer and persecutor, and commends Timothy to remain faithful and serve like a soldier in a good war.
Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the authority of God our Savior and Christ Jesus our hopeto Timothy, beloved son in the faith. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our LordNow I asked you to remain at Ephesus, while I went into Macedonia, so that you would speak strongly against certain ones who have been teaching a different wayagainst those who have been paying attention to fables and endless genealogies. These things present questions as if they were greater than the edification that is of God, which is in faithNow the goal of instruction is charity from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an unfeigned faithCertain persons, wandering away from these things, have been turned aside to empty babblingdesiring to be teachers of the law, but understanding neither the things that they themselves are saying, nor what they are affirming about these thingsBut we know that the law is good, if one makes use of it properlyKnowing this, that the law was not set in place for the just, but for the unjust and the insubordinate, for the impious and sinners, for the wicked and the defiled, for those who commit patricide, matricide, or homicidefor fornicators, for males who sleep with males, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrinewhich is in accord with the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God, the Gospel which has been entrusted to meI give thanks to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he has considered me faithful, placing me in the ministrythough previously I was a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and contemptuous. But then I obtained the mercy of God. For I had been acting ignorantly, in unbeliefAnd so the grace of our Lord has abounded greatly, with the faith and love that is in Christ JesusIt is a faithful saying, and worthy of acceptance by everyone, that Christ Jesus came into this world to bring salvation to sinners, among whom I am firstBut it was for this reason that I obtained mercy, so that in me as first, Christ Jesus would display all patience, for the instruction of those who would believe in him unto eternal lifeSo then, to the King of ages, to the immortal, invisible, solitary God, be honor and glory forever and ever. AmenThis precept I commend to you, my son Timothy, in accord with the prophets who preceded you: that you serve among them like a soldier in a good warholding to faith and good conscience, against those who, by rejecting these things, have made a shipwreck of the faithAmong these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme
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