1•1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,

•2To Timothy, [my] beloved child:

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

•3I thank God whom I serve, as [my] forefathers [did], with a clear conscience, as I have memories of you unceasingly in my petitions [to God] night and day. •4As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. •5I am reminded of your unhypocritical faith, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and I am persuaded that it also dwells in you. •6For this reason I remind you to rekindle the charismatic gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands; •7for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but a spirit of power and love and prudence.

•8Do not be ashamed then of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but suffer hardship with [me] for the gospel according to the power of God, •9who saved us and called [us] with a holy calling, not in accordance with our works but in accordance with [his] own purpose and the grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, •10and has now been made apparent through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus,¹ who abolished death and brought life and imperishability to light through the gospel. •11For this [gospel] I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,² •12and for this reason I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard what I have entrusted [to him]³ for that Day. •13Keep holding to the pattern of the healthy words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. •14Guard the good thing that has been entrusted [to you] through the Holy Spirit who indwells in us.

•15You know this, that all those who are in Asia turned away from me, and among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. •16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, •17but when he was in Rome he sought for

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me diligently and found [me]—•18may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know better [than I] in how many ways he has served in Ephesus.

2•1You then, my child, keep being strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, •2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these [same things] to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. •3Suffer hardship with [me] as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. •4No one serving as a soldier becomes entangled in the affairs of [civilian] life, so that he may please the one who enlisted [him]. •5And also if anyone competes [in the athletic games], he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully. •6The farmer who labors has to be the first to share in the fruits. •7Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you comprehension in all things.

•8Keep remembering Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, [descended] from the offspring of David, in accordance with my gospel, •9the gospel in which I am suffering hardship to the point of imprisonment like a criminal. But the word of God has not been imprisoned. •10Because of this I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. •11The saying [is] faithful:

•14Keep reminding [them] of these things, and charge [them] before God² not to be fighting over words, which is useful for nothing [but] for [bringing about] the ruin of those who hear [it]. •15Be diligent to present yourself to God [as] one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. •16But keep avoiding profane chatter, for [people] will progress to more irreverence, •17and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, •18who have strayed as concerns the truth by saying that the³ resurrection has already happened, and they are overturning the faith of some. •19However, God's firm

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foundation stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his,"⁴ and "Everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart from unrighteousness."

•20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable [use], and some for dishonorable. •21Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from these [dishonorable uses], he will be a vessel for honorable use, sanctified [and] useful to the master, ready for every good work. •22Now keep fleeing from youthful desires, and keep pursuing righteousness, faith, love, [and] peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a clean heart. •23But keep refusing [to have anything to do with] foolish and ill-informed controversies, since you know that they produce quarrels. •24And the Lord's slave has to be not quarrelsome but to be gentle toward everyone, skilful in teaching, not resentful, •25correcting⁵ [his] opponents in meekness. God may perhaps grant them repentance to come to a knowledge of the truth, •26and they may return to their senses [and escape] from the trap of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.⁶

3•1But understand this, that in the last days there will come difficult times. •2For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, arrogant, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to their parents, unthankful, undevout, •3without family affection, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, haters of good, •4traitors, reckless, puffed up with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, •5holding a form of reverence but denying the power of it. And [so] keep avoiding them. •6For among them are those who make their way into households and capture silly women, heaped over with sins and led on by various desires, •7who are always learning and can never come to a knowledge of the truth. •8Now in the [same] way [that] Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these [men] also oppose the truth, men of corrupt mind and unfit as concerns the faith; •9but they will not progress any further, for their folly will be quite evident to all, as was that also of those [two men].

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•10Now you have followed my teaching, [my] conduct, [my] purpose [in life], [my] faith, [my] patience, [my] love, [my] endurance, •11[my] persecutions, [my] sufferings, what happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra, what persecutions I bore; and [yet] from [them] all the Lord rescued me. •12And indeed all who wish to live in a reverent way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, •13but evil men and impostors will progress [from bad] to worse, misleading and being misled. •14But [as for] you, continue in what you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you learned [them] •15and how from [when you were] just a baby you have known the sacred writing which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. •16All scripture [is] inspired by God and¹ profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,² and for training in righteousness, •17so that the man of God may be fully prepared, equipped for every good work.

4•1I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearance and his kingdom: •2preach the word, be ready in season [and] out of season, reprove, rebuke [and] exhort, with all patience and teaching. •3For there will be a time when [people] will not put up with healthy teaching, but having itching ears they will heap up for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, •4and will turn [their] ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. •5But [as for] you, keep being sober in all things, endure the suffering of hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

•6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. •7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. •8From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me in that Day, and not only to me but also to all those who have loved his appearance.

•9Make a diligent effort to come to me soon. •10For Demas, in love with this present age, has forsaken me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia,¹ Titus to Dalmatia. •11Luke

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alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is useful to me in the ministry. •12And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. •13When you come, bring the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. •14Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; the Lord will repay him in accordance with his works. •15Keep guarding yourself against him also, for he strongly opposed our message.

•16At my first defense no one was present with me, but all forsook me. May it not be counted against them! •17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message preached might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear [it]. And [so] I was rescued out of the mouth of the lion. •18The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and save [me] for his heavenly kingdom. To him [be] the glory forever and ever.² Amen.

•19Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. •20Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick in Miletus. •21Make a diligent effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and [so do] Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

•22The Lord [be] with your spirit. Grace [be] with ^†you.³