2. To Timothy, a genuine child in faith.Good will, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord are yours!
3. When I was going to the province of Macedonia, I encouraged you to stay in the city of Ephesus. That way you could order certain people to stop teaching false doctrine
4. and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These myths and genealogies raise a lot of questions rather than promoting God’s plan, which centers in faith.
5. My goal in giving you this order is for love to flow from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith.
6. Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to useless discussions.
7. They want to be experts in Moses’ Teachings. However, they don’t understand what they’re talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.
8. We know that the laws in Moses’ Teachings are good if they are used as they were intended to be used.
9. For example, a person must realize that those laws are not intended for people who have God’s approval. Laws are intended for lawbreakers and rebels, for ungodly people and sinners, for those who think nothing is holy or sacred, for those who kill their fathers, their mothers, or other people.
10. Laws are intended for people involved in sexual sins, for homosexuals, for kidnappers, for liars, for those who lie when they take an oath, and for whatever else is against accurate teachings.
11. Moses’ Teachings were intended to be used in agreement with the Good News that contains the glory of the blessed God. I was entrusted with that Good News.
12. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord that he has trusted me and has appointed me to do his work with the strength he has given me.
13. In the past I cursed him, persecuted him, and acted arrogantly toward him. However, I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in my unbelief.
14. Our Lord was very kind to me. Through his kindness he brought me to faith and gave me the love that Christ Jesus shows people.