¶ Paul an apostle of Iesus Christ, by the commandment of God our saviour, and of the Lord Iesu Christ, which is our hope.
¶ Unto Timothy his natural son in the faith.
¶ Grace mercy and peace from God our father, and from the Lord Iesu Christ.
¶ As I besought thee to abide still in Ephesus when I departed into Macedonia, even so do that thou command some that they teach no other wise: neither give heed to fables and genealogies, which are endless, and breed doubts, more than Godly edifying which is by faith: for the end of the commandment is love that cometh of a pure heart and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: from the which things, some have erred, and have turned unto vain jangling, because they would be doctors in the scripture, and yet understand not what they speak, neither whereof they affirm.
¶ We know that the law is god, if a man use it lawfully, understanding this, how that the law is not given unto a righteous man, but unto the unrighteous and disobedient, to the ungodly and to sinners, to unholy and unclean, to murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, to manslayers and whoremongers: to them that defile themselves with mankind: to menstealers: to liars and to perjured, and so forth if there be any other thing that is contrary to wholesome doctrine according to the glorious gospell of the holy God, which gospel is committed unto me.
¶ And I thank him that hath made me strong in Christ Iesu our Lord: for he counted me true, and put me in office, when before I was a blasphemer, and a persecuter, and a tyrant. Nevertheless I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly, in unbelief: but the grace of our Lord was more abundant, with faith and love, which is in Christ Iesu.
¶ This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that Christ Iesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief: Notwithstanding unto me was mercy given, that Iesus Christ should first shew on me all long patience, unto the ensample of them which shall in time to come believe on him unto eternal life. So then unto God, king everlasting, immortal, invisible, and wise only, be honour and praise for ever and ever Amen.
¶ This commandment commit I unto thee son Timotheus, according to the prophecies which in time past were prophesied of thee, that thou in them shouldest fight a good fight, having faith and good conscience, which some have put away from them, and as concerning faith have made shipwreck. Of whose number is Himeneus, and Alexander, which I have delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526