2 Timothy 1–2

Greeting

1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, ²to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy’s Spiritual Heritage

³I am thankful^a to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did^b, when I remember you constantly^c in my prayers night and day, ⁴longing to see you as I^* remember your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, ⁵remembering the^d sincere faith in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that is in you also, ⁶for which reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-discipline.

Exhortation to Share Paul’s Suffering

⁸Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor me his prisoner, but suffer along with me for the gospel, according to the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began^e, ¹⁰but has now been disclosed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ,^f who has abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel, ¹¹for which I was appointed a proclaimer and an apostle and a teacher, ¹²for which reason also I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted until that day. ¹³Hold fast to the pattern of sound words which you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

¹⁵You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he refreshed me many times, and was not ashamed of my imprisonment, ¹⁷but when he^* was in Rome, he diligently sought me and found me. ¹⁸May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that day! And how much he served me in Ephesus you know very well.

Exhortation to Be Strong in Grace

2You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ²and the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also. ³Suffer together with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. ⁵And also if anyone competes he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶The farmer who works hard must be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will grant you understanding in all these things.

A Trustworthy Saying

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David according to my gospel, ⁹in connection with which I suffer misfortune to the point of imprisonment^a as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰Because of this, I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, in order that they also may obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹The saying is trustworthy:

For if we died with him, we will also live with him;

¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

¹³if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful—he cannot deny himself^b.^c

A Worker Approved to God and Not Ashamed

¹⁴Remind people of these things, solemnly urging them before the Lord^d not to dispute about words. This is in no way beneficial and leads to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path. ¹⁶But avoid pointless chatter, for it will progress to greater ungodliness, ¹⁷and their message will spread^e like gangrene, among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸who have deviated concerning the truth by^* saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they are upsetting the faith of some. ¹⁹However, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^f and “Everyone who names the name of the Lord must abstain from unrighteousness.”

²⁰Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthenware ones, some of which are for honorable use, and some of which are for ordinary use. ²¹Therefore, if someone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

²²But flee from youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in company with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. ²³But avoid foolish and uninformed controversies, because you^* know that they produce quarrels. ²⁴And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant, ²⁵correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, seeing whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶and they will come to their senses again and escape from the trap of the devil, being held captive by him to do his will.