1-4 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
(Even in Paul's day there were antichrists in the church, men who tried to change the doctrine. Today the anarchy in the church is rampant, leaving out scripture and changing doctrine from scripture but this apostasy in the church had to come before the return of Jesus.)
II Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB Let no one in any way deceive you, for it (the day of the Lord) will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.
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4 Neither give heed to fables (old wife's tales) and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
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5-7 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
(Out of pride, some pretend to have faith when they do not really have that faith in the matter at hand. But they want to appear to men to have faith, thus they "feign" faith in the matter)
From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
(to silly talk, trying to sound wise or intellectual)
Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
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8-10 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
(The law was a schoolmaster. But those who are led of the Spirit do the law from within and not from their own minds.)
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11-16 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that HE counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on HIM to life everlasting.
It is God who "enables" us.
God chooses to give us HIS Word and we share that Word HE has given us. Thus the work is of God. Without HIM we can do nothing.
So when we hear someone speak the Word of God on a matter, we do not marvel in that speaker but rather in God who gave the speaker the information.
To marvel in the man who spoke is to worship idols.
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17-20 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.
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