1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
1:2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
1:3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
1:4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
1:5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
1:10 And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
1:11 to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
1:12 For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
1:13 Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
1:14 Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
1:17 Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
1:18 May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.
2:1 You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2:2 And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
2:3 Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2:4 A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
2:5 Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
2:6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.
2:7 Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.
2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel,
2:9 for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
2:11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
2:13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
2:14 Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin.
2:15 Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
2:16 But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness,
2:17 and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
2:18 who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.
2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
2:20 A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.
2:21 So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
2:22 Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling.
2:24 And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
2:25 He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
2:26 Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
3:1 But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3:3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good,
3:4 traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
3:6 They are the kind who worm their way into households and captivate vulnerable women who are weighed down with sins and led astray by various passions,
3:7 who are always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
3:9 But they will not advance much further. For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone.
3:10 You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
3:11 my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
3:12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
3:13 while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
3:14 But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them.
3:15 From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
3:17 so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
4:1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom:
4:2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
4:3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
4:4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
4:5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
4:6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
4:8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
4:9 Make every effort to come to me quickly,
4:10 because Demas, in his love of this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me in the ministry.
4:12 Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
4:13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
4:15 You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.
4:16 At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
4:17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.
4:18 And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, as well as the household of Onesiphorus.
4:20 Erastus has remained at Corinth, and Trophimus I left sick in Miletus.
4:21 Make every effort to come to me before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.
4:22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.