³I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day when I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did. ⁴I remember your tears and want to see you so that I can be filled with happiness. ⁵I’m reminded of how sincere your faith is. That faith first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice. I’m convinced that it also lives in you.

Paul’s Advice for Timothy

⁶You received a gift from God when I placed my hands on you ⸤to ordain you⸥. Now I’m reminding you to fan that gift into flames. ⁷God didn’t give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment. ⁸So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord or be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, by God’s power, join me in suffering for the sake of the Good News. ⁹God saved us and called us to be holy, not because of what we had done, but because of his own plan and kindness.^bBefore the world began, God planned that Christ Jesus would show us God’s kindness. ¹⁰Now with the coming of our Savior Christ Jesus, he has revealed it. Christ has destroyed death, and through the Good News he has brought eternal life into full view. ¹¹I was appointed to be a messenger of this Good News, an apostle, and a teacher.

¹²For this reason I suffer as I do. However, I’m not ashamed. I know whom I trust. I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he had entrusted to me until that day.

¹³With faith and love for Christ Jesus, consider what you heard me say to be the pattern of accurate teachings. ¹⁴With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, protect the Good News that has been entrusted to you.

News about Paul’s Coworkers

¹⁵You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶May the Lord be merciful to the family of Onesiphorus. He often took care of my needs and wasn’t ashamed that I was a prisoner. ¹⁷When he arrived in Rome, he searched hard for me and found me. ¹⁸May the Lord grant that Onesiphorus finds mercy when that day comes. You know very well that he did everything possible to help me in Ephesus.

2ND CHAPTER

Remain Focused on Jesus

¹My child, find your source of strength in the kindness^aof Christ Jesus. ²You’ve heard my message, and it’s been confirmed by many witnesses. Entrust this message to faithful individuals who will be competent to teach others.

³Join me in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴Whoever serves in the military doesn’t get mixed up in non-military activities. This pleases his commanding officer. ⁵Whoever enters an athletic competition wins the prize only when playing by the rules. ⁶A hard-working farmer should have the first share of the crops. ⁷Understand what I’m saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

⁸Always think about Jesus Christ. He was brought back to life and is a descendant of David. This is the Good News that I tell others. ⁹I’m suffering disgrace for spreading this Good News. I have even been put into prison like a criminal. However, God’s word is not imprisoned. ¹⁰For that reason, I endure everything for the sake of those who have been chosen so that they, too, may receive salvation from Christ Jesus with glory that lasts forever. ¹¹This is a statement that can be trusted:

If we have died with him, we will live with him.

¹²If we endure, we will rule with him.

If we disown him, he will disown us.

¹³If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful

because he cannot be untrue to himself.

¹⁴Remind believers about these things, and warn them in the sight of God not to quarrel over words. Quarreling doesn’t do any good but only destroys those who are listening.

¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly. ¹⁶Avoid pointless discussions. People who ⸤pay attention to these pointless discussions⸥ will become more ungodly, ¹⁷and what they say will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that. ¹⁸They have abandoned the truth. They are destroying the faith of others by saying that people who have died have already come back to life.

¹⁹In spite of all that, God’s ⸤people⸥ have a solid foundation. These words are engraved on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him,” and “Whoever worships the Lord must give up doing wrong.”

²⁰In a large house there are not only objects made of gold and silver, but also those made of wood and clay. Some objects are honored when they are used; others aren’t. ²¹Those who stop associating with dishonorable people will be honored. They will be set apart for the master’s use, prepared to do good things.

²²Stay away from lusts which tempt young people. Pursue what has God’s approval. Pursue faith, love, and peace together with those who worship the Lord with a pure heart. ²³Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. You know they cause quarrels. ²⁴A servant of the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be a good teacher. He must be willing to suffer wrong. ²⁵He must be gentle in correcting those who oppose the Good News. Maybe God will allow them to change the way they think and act and lead them to know the truth. ²⁶Then they might come back to their senses and God will free them from the devil’s snare so that they can do his will.

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Footnotes

a 1:2 Or “Grace.”
b 1:9 Or “grace.”
a 2:1 Or “grace.”