Now I write about people who are not married. {\cf2\super [43]} I have no command from the Lord about this. But I give my opinion. And I can be trusted, because the Lord has given me mercy.
Timothy, you are \{like\} a son to me. I am giving you a command. This command agrees with the prophecies {\cf2\super [5]} that were told about you in the past. I tell you these things so that you can remember those prophecies and fight the good fight \{of faith\}.
At one time you were not God’s people. But now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy. But now you have received mercy \{from God\}.