1 Paul an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus. 2 To my beloved son Timothy: Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve (as did my forbears) in pure conscience, as I have unceasingly remembered you in my prayers night and day, 4 desiring to see you, remembering your tears, so that I might be filled with joy, 5 I also remember your sincere faith, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and now I have been convinced that it is also in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle 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 cowardice but a spirit of power and love and self-discipline. 8 And so do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me his prisoner, but suffer together with me for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, which has been granted to us in Christ Jesus from times eternal, 10 and now has been revealed through the appearance of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who indeed abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel 11 into which I was appointed herald and apostle and teacher, 12 for this reason I also suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is quite capable to guard my deposit until that day. 13 Hold to the standard of sound words which you have heard from me in faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15 You are aware of this, that all of those who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, because many times he refreshed me and he was not afraid of my chains, 17 but having arrived in Rome he diligently sought and found me. 18 The Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day. You well know all the service he provided in Ephesus.
2 And so you, my child, be empowered in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 And what you heard concerning me through many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men, who will be competent to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier on active duty involves himself in civilian pursuits, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. 5 Likewise, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully. 6 It is necessary for the hard-working farmer to receive the first share of his crops. 7 Actively consider what I say, for the Lord will give to you understanding in all of this.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, from the seed of David, according to my gospel, 9 in whom I suffer misfortune, even to being bound with chains as a criminal, but the word of God has not been bound with chains. 10 Through all this I endure because of the elect, so that they themselves may obtain deliverance in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 This saying is trustworthy:
For if we died together, we will live together;
12 If we endure, we will rule together as kings;
If we will deny Him, He also will deny us;
13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he is unable to deny Himself.
14 Remind them of these things, warning them before God not to fight about words, which is nothing useful and serves to ruin those who hear. 15 Take pains to present yourself approved of God, an unashamed worker, guiding the word of truth along a straight path. 16 But shun frivolous chatter and empty talk. These will lead to further ungodliness 17 and their word will spread like gangrene. Of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who concerning the truth have strayed, saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. 19 However, the solid foundation of God stands, bearing the following inscription: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “Depart from wickedness all who name the name of the Lord.” 20 Now in a large house there are not only pots of gold and silver but also pots of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 If then anyone might cleanse himself from these, he will be a pot for honor, having been made holy, useful to the master, having been prepared for every good work. 22 But you flee the youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace; with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But you reject foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 And it is not necessary for a slave of the Lord to quarrel but to be gentle toward all, teaching, being patient, 25 instructing with gentleness the ones who oppose you, perhaps God may give them repentance leading to knowledge of the truth 26 and they may come to their senses, out of the devil’s snare, having been captured alive by him to do his will.
3 But know this, that in the last days difficult times will present themselves. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 hard-hearted, unwilling to negotiate, slanderers, without self control, brutal, not lovers of good, 4 traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness but they have denied its power—you must avoid these. 6 For from these are the ones who sneak into the houses and capture idle women overwhelmed by their sin, led on by various desires, 7 always learning and not yet able to come into knowledge of the truth. 8 In the same way Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, similarly also these oppose the truth, men depraved in mind and unqualified concerning the faith. 9 But they will not progress further—for their mindlessness will be quite obvious to all, just as that of Jannes and Jambres became.
10 Now you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 in the persecutions, the sufferings, like those I suffered at Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; what sufferings I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me. 12 But all who desire to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But evil men and swindlers will progress into worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you remain in what you learned and became convinced of, knowing from whom you learned, 15 that from infancy you knew the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise into salvation through the faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is breathed out by God and useful for teaching, for rebuke, for improvement, for the training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God might be capable, having been equipped for all good work.
4 I solemnly urge in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, the one who will judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His Kingdom. 2 Preach the word, be persistent in season and out of season, correct, rebuke, encourage, with complete patience and instruction. 3 For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound doctrine but according to their own desires they themselves will accumulate a great many teachers to tickle their ears 4 and indeed they will turn their ears away from the truth, and turn aside toward myths. 5 But you be self-controlled in all things, suffering misfortune, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already poured out as a drink offering, and the season of my departure is imminent.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth the crown of righteousness is reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only me but all those who have loved His appearing.
9 Make every effort to quickly come to me. 10 For Demas deserted me, having loved the present age, and journeyed into Thessalonica. Crescens has gone into Galatia, and Titus into Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take along Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in ministry. 12 But I have dispatched Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith inflicted a great deal of harm to me. The Lord will repay him in accordance with his deeds. 15 You yourself must guard against him, for he is quite opposed to our message.
16 At my first defense nobody came to my aid, but all abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching might be fully presented and all the nations might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from all evil works and will deliver me into His heavenly kingdom—To Him the glory forever and ever, amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus as he was sick. 21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Copyright © 2003-2004 by Rick Brannan.
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