1. fighting the good fight

2. Background: Author: The Apostle Paul Recipient: Paul’s young protégé, Timothy Where? We don’t know Paul’s location, Timothy is in Ephesus When? Early 60s Purpose: To encourage Timothy to contend with false teachers

3. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

4. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

5. We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

6. Greeting (vs 1-2) Paul, an apostle… Timothy, my true son in the faith Grace mercy and peace…

7. Confronting the false teachers of the law (3-7) The goal of the Gospel (v5) Stay where you are Command ‘certain people’ (v19-20, Acts 20:29ff) Godless myths / old wives tales / meaningless talk (4:7) Which promote controversial speculations (6:4-5) Confident but incompetent (v7)

8. The real purpose of the law What does Paul mean by ‘the law’? The law is made for sinners Paul’s vice lists (Romans 1:29-31, 1 Corinthians 5:11, Galatians 5:19-21) The elephant in the room - homosexuality Behaviour must conform to the gospel

9. Application Finding out God’s secrets Wanting to shine… Law and Gospel