Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of 1Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the apromise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, a bbeloved son:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Timothy’s Faith and Heritage

3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my cforefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance dthe 2genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and eyour mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you fto stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For gGod has not given us a spirit of fear, hbut of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

8 iTherefore do not be ashamed of jthe testimony of our Lord, nor of me kHis prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, lnot according to our works, but maccording to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus nbefore time began, 10 but ohas now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 pto which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher 3of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, qfor I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

Be Loyal to the Faith

13 rHold fast sthe pattern of tsound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the uhousehold of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 18 The Lord vgrant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord win that Day—and you know very well how many ways he xministered 4to me at Ephesus.

Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, amy son, bbe strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must cendure 1hardship das a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 eNo one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also fif anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and 2may the Lord ggive you understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ, hof the seed of David, iwas raised from the dead jaccording to my gospel, 9 kfor which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, leven to the point of chains; mbut the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore nI endure all things for the sake of the 3elect, othat they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 This is a faithful saying:

For pif we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him.

12 qIf we endure,

We shall also reign with Him.

rIf we deny Him,

He also will deny us.

13 If we are faithless,

He remains faithful;

He scannot deny Himself.

Approved and Disapproved Workers

14 Remind them of these things, tcharging them before the Lord not to 4strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 uBe diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and 5idle babblings, for they will 6increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. vHymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, wsaying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless xthe solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord yknows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of 7Christ depart from iniquity.”

20 But in a great house there are not only zvessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, 8sanctified and useful for the Master, aprepared for every good work. 22 bFlee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And ca servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, dable to teach, epatient, 25 fin humility correcting those who are in opposition, gif God perhaps will grant them repentance, hso that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and iescape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

3 But know this, that ain the last days 1perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, 2unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 btraitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 chaving a form of godliness but ddenying its power. And efrom such people turn away! 6 For fof this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able gto come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 hNow as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: imen of corrupt minds, jdisapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, kas theirs also was.

The Man of God and the Word of God

10 lBut you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me mat Antioch, nat Iconium, oat Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And pout of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and qall who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 rBut evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must scontinue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known tthe Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 uAll Scripture is given by inspiration of God, vand is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for 3instruction in righteousness, 17 wthat the man of God may be complete, xthoroughly equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 I acharge you 1therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, bwho will judge the living and the dead 2at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. cConvince, drebuke, eexhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 fFor the time will come when they will not endure gsound doctrine, hbut according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ibe turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, jendure afflictions, do the work of kan evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

6 For lI am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of mmy departure is at hand. 7 nI have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me othe crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous pJudge, will give to me qon that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for rDemas has forsaken me, shaving loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get tMark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And uTychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

14 vAlexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. wMay it not be charged against them.

The Lord is Faithful

17 xBut the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, yso that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered zout of the mouth of the lion. 18 aAnd the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. bTo Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

19 Greet cPrisca and Aquila, and the household of dOnesiphorus. 20 eErastus stayed in Corinth, but fTrophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

21 Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

22 The Lord 3Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.