To Timothy 2
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the desire of God, according to the promise of the life in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You
3 I thanka God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a clear conscience, as I have constant remembrance of you in my prayers night and day, 4 longing to see you, having remembered your tears in order that I may be filled with joy, 5 after receiving remembrance of your sincere faith which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, but I have been persuaded that also dwells in you. 6 For this reason, I remind you to fan the flame of the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of fearb but power and love and self—control.
8 Therefore, do not be ashamedc of the witness of our Lord, nor of me, His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 after saving us and calling us to a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, being given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, 10 but now is being manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, indeed after abolishing death and shining light on life and immortality through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 for which I also suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and have been persuaded that He is able to guard my deposit until that Day. 13 Hold the pattern of sound words that you heard from me in faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.
15 Know this, that all who are in Asia turned away from me of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus because he often refreshedd me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but after arriving in Rome, he searched for me earnestly and found me — 18 may the Lord give to him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day! — and all he ministered to at Ephesus, very well you know.
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
2You then, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you heard from me through many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful men who will be competent to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in the pursuits of life in order that he might please the one enlisting him. 5 And if anyone is an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully. 6 The laboring farmer must receive the first of the fruits. 7 Understand what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, after having been risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my gospel 9 in which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal, but the word of God has not been bound. 10 For this reason, I endure all things for the sake of the elect in order that they also may obtain salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is faithful, for:
If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him;
if we will deny Him, He will likewise deny us;
13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful—
for He is not able to deny Himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before Gode not to quarrel which does no good, only ruinsf the hearers. 15 Endeavor to present yourself approved to God, a worker not ashamed, rightly dividingg the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their word will spread like gangrene, of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who deviated from the truth, saying the resurrection already happened and overthrew the faith of some. 19 Yet the firm foundation of God has stood, having this seal: The Lord knew who is His, and, Depart from iniquity all those naming the name of the Lord.
20 Now in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also wood and clay, and indeed some for honorable use, but some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honorable use, after having been set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, having been prepared for every good work.h
22 But flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those calling on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 And avoid foolish and ignorant controversies, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 Now the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents in gentleness. Perhaps, God may grant them repentance to knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses from the snare of the devil, after having been captured by him unto his desire.
Godlessness in the Last Days
3 But know this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, devils, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 traitors, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people, 6 for of them are those creeping into households and capturing weak women, after having been burdened with sins, being led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never being able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 But as James and Jambres opposed Moses, so these also oppose the truth, men after having been corrupted in mind, rejected concerning the faith. 9 But they will not proceed much farther, for their senselessness will be apparent to all, as also was that of those men.
All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God
10 You, however, followed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my patience, 11 my persecutions, my sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra — which persecutions I endured; and from them, all the Lord rescued me. 12 But also all those desiring to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 but evil men and impostors will progress from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you remain in what you learned and strongly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and since from childhood you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God—breathedi and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness 17 in order that the man of God may be perfect, after having been equipped for every good work.
Preach the Word
4 I charge you before God and Christ Jesus who is about to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, admonish, exhort in all patience and teaching. 3 For there will be a time when they will not bear with sound teaching, but, according to their own lusts, will heap together teachers, having itching ears, 4 and indeed will turn away from hearing the truth and will be turned aside into myths. 5 But you, be sober in everything. Do the work of an evangelist. Fulfill your ministry.
6 For I already am being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only me, but also to all those who have loved His appearing.
Personal Instructions
9 Endeavor to come to me quickly. 10 For Demas deserted me, after loving the present world, and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. After receiving Mark, bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. 13 While coming, bring the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander, the coppersmith, did great evil to me; the Lord will repay him according to his works. 15 You also beware of him, for he exceedingly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense, no one came to me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me in order that through me the message might be fully carried out and heard by the all Gentiles, and I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and save me into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained in Corinth, but I left Trophimus while ill at Miletus. 21 Endeavor to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.