Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust

Paul, (A)an apostle of (B)Christ Jesus [a](C)by the will of God, according to the promise of (D)life in Christ Jesus,

To (E)Timothy, my beloved [b](F)son: (G)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

(H)I thank God, whom I (I)serve with a (J)clear conscience [c]the way my forefathers did, (K)as I constantly remember you in my [d]prayers night and day, (L)longing to see you, (M)even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. [e]For I am mindful of the (N)sincere faith within you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and (O)your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh (P)the gift of God which is in you through (Q)the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a (R)spirit of [f]timidity, but of power and love and [g]discipline.

Therefore (S)do not be ashamed of the (T)testimony of our Lord or of me (U)His prisoner, but join with me in (V)suffering for the (W)gospel according to the power of God, who (X)saved us and (Y)called us with a holy (Z)calling, (AA)not according to our works, but according to His own (AB)purpose and grace, which was granted to us in (AC)Christ Jesus from (AD)all eternity, 10 but has (AE)now been revealed by the (AF)appearing of our Savior (AG)Christ Jesus, who (AH)abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 (AI)for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; but (AJ)I am not ashamed, for I know (AK)whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to (AL)protect what I have entrusted to Him [h]until (AM)that day. 13 (AN)Hold on to the (AO)example of (AP)sound words (AQ)which you have heard from me, in the (AR)faith and love which are in (AS)Christ Jesus. 14 Protect, through the Holy Spirit who (AT)dwells in us, the [i](AU)treasure which has been entrusted to you.

15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in [j](AV)Asia (AW)turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to (AX)the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and (AY)was not ashamed of my [k](AZ)chains; 17 but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— 18 the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on (BA)that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at (BB)Ephesus.

Be Strong

You therefore, my [l](BC)son, (BD)be strong in the grace that is in (BE)Christ Jesus. The things (BF)which you have heard from me in the presence of (BG)many witnesses, (BH)entrust these to (BI)faithful [m]people who will be (BJ)able to teach others also. (BK)Suffer hardship with me, as a good (BL)soldier of (BM)Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service (BN)entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. And if someone likewise (BO)competes as an athlete, he is not [n]crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. (BP)The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, (BQ)risen from the dead, (BR)descendant of David, (BS)according to my gospel, [o]for which I (BT)suffer hardship even to (BU)imprisonment as a (BV)criminal; but (BW)the word of God (BX)is not imprisoned. 10 For this reason (BY)I endure all things for (BZ)the sake of [p]those who are chosen, (CA)so that they also may obtain the (CB)salvation which is in (CC)Christ Jesus and with it (CD)eternal glory. 11 (CE)The statement is trustworthy:

For (CF)if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 If we endure, (CG)we will also reign with Him;
If we [q](CH)deny Him, He will also deny us;
13 If we are faithless, (CI)He remains faithful, for (CJ)He cannot deny Himself.

An Unashamed Worker

14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly (CK)exhort them in the presence of God not to (CL)dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners. 15 Be diligent to (CM)present yourself approved to God as a worker who [r]does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling (CN)the word of truth. 16 But (CO)avoid (CP)worldly and empty chatter, for [s]it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their [t]talk will spread like [u]gangrene. Among them are (CQ)Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that (CR)the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing (CS)the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, the (CT)firm foundation of God stands, having this (CU)seal: “(CV)The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “(CW)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and (CX)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from (CY)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, (CZ)prepared for every good work. 22 Now (DA)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, (DB)faith, love, and peace with those who (DC)call on the Lord (DD)from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant (DE)speculations, knowing that they (DF)produce [v]quarrels. 24 (DG)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, (DH)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, 25 (DI)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, (DJ)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to (DK)the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (DL)the snare of the devil, having been (DM)held captive [w]by him to do his will.

Difficult Times Will Come

But realize this, that (DN)in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be (DO)lovers of self, (DP)lovers of money, (DQ)boastful, (DR)arrogant, (DS)slanderers, (DT)disobedient to parents, (DU)ungrateful, (DV)unholy, (DW)unloving, irreconcilable, (DX)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [x](DY)haters of good, (DZ)treacherous, (EA)reckless, (EB)conceited, (EC)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [y](ED)godliness although they have (EE)denied its power; (EF)avoid such people as these. For among them are those who [z](EG)slip into households and captivate [aa](EH)weak women weighed down with sins, led on by (EI)various impulses, always learning and never able to (EJ)come to the [ab]knowledge of the truth. Just as (EK)Jannes and Jambres (EL)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, (EM)men of depraved mind, [ac]worthless in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their (EN)foolishness will be obvious to all, just (EO)as was that also of [ad]Jannes and Jambres.

10 Now you (EP)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, (EQ)love, [ae]perseverance, 11 (ER)persecutions, and (ES)sufferings, such as happened to me at (ET)Antioch, at (EU)Iconium, and at (EV)Lystra; what (EW)persecutions I endured, and out of them all (EX)the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus (EY)will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and impostors (EZ)will proceed from bad to worse, (FA)deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, (FB)continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that (FC)from childhood you have known (FD)the sacred writings which are able to (FE)give you the wisdom that leads to (FF)salvation through faith which is in (FG)Christ Jesus. 16 (FH)All Scripture is [af]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for [ag]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that (FI)the man or woman of God may be [ah]fully capable, (FJ)equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

(FK)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to (FL)judge the living and the dead, and by His (FM)appearing and His kingdom: preach (FN)the word; be ready [ai]in season and out of season; (FO)correct, rebuke, and [aj]exhort, with [ak]great (FP)patience and instruction. For (FQ)the time will come when they will not tolerate (FR)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they (FS)will turn their ears away from the truth and (FT)will turn aside to myths. But as for you, (FU)use self-restraint in all things, (FV)endure hardship, do the work of an (FW)evangelist, fulfill your (FX)ministry.

For I am already being (FY)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of (FZ)my departure has come. (GA)I have fought the good fight, I have finished (GB)the course, I have kept (GC)the faith; in the future there (GD)is reserved for me (GE)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on (GF)that day; and not only to me, but also to (GG)all who have loved His (GH)appearing.

Personal Concerns

(GI)Make every effort to come to me soon; 10 for (GJ)Demas, having loved (GK)this present [al]world, has deserted me and gone to (GL)Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to [am](GM)Galatia, (GN)Titus to Dalmatia. 11 (GO)Only (GP)Luke is with me. Take along (GQ)Mark and bring him with you, (GR)for he is useful to me for service. 12 But I have sent (GS)Tychicus to (GT)Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at (GU)Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. 14 (GV)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; (GW)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our [an]teaching.

16 At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; (GX)may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and (GY)strengthened me, so that through me (GZ)the proclamation might [ao]be (HA)fully accomplished, and that all (HB)the Gentiles might hear; and I was (HC)rescued out of (HD)the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will [ap](HE)bring me safely to His (HF)heavenly kingdom; (HG)to [aq]Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Prisca and (HH)Aquila, and (HI)the household of Onesiphorus. 20 (HJ)Erastus remained at (HK)Corinth, but I left (HL)Trophimus sick at (HM)Miletus. 21 (HN)Make every effort to come before (HO)winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

22 (HP)The Lord be with your spirit. (HQ)Grace be with you.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 1:1 Lit through
  2. 2 Timothy 1:2 Or child
  3. 2 Timothy 1:3 Lit from my forefathers
  4. 2 Timothy 1:3 Or petitions
  5. 2 Timothy 1:5 Lit Receiving remembrance of
  6. 2 Timothy 1:7 Or cowardice
  7. 2 Timothy 1:7 Or sound judgment
  8. 2 Timothy 1:12 Or for
  9. 2 Timothy 1:14 Lit good deposit
  10. 2 Timothy 1:15 I.e., the province of Asia
  11. 2 Timothy 1:16 Lit chain
  12. 2 Timothy 2:1 Or child
  13. 2 Timothy 2:2 Or men
  14. 2 Timothy 2:5 I.e., with a wreath
  15. 2 Timothy 2:9 Lit in which
  16. 2 Timothy 2:10 Or the chosen
  17. 2 Timothy 2:12 Lit will deny
  18. 2 Timothy 2:15 Or has no reason to
  19. 2 Timothy 2:16 Lit they will make further progress in ungodliness
  20. 2 Timothy 2:17 Lit word
  21. 2 Timothy 2:17 Or cancer
  22. 2 Timothy 2:23 Lit fightings
  23. 2 Timothy 2:26 Or by him, to do His will
  24. 2 Timothy 3:3 Lit not loving good
  25. 2 Timothy 3:5 Or religion
  26. 2 Timothy 3:6 Or creep into
  27. 2 Timothy 3:6 Or idle
  28. 2 Timothy 3:7 Or recognition
  29. 2 Timothy 3:8 Or unfit
  30. 2 Timothy 3:9 Lit those
  31. 2 Timothy 3:10 Or steadfastness
  32. 2 Timothy 3:16 Lit God-breathed
  33. 2 Timothy 3:16 Or reprimand
  34. 2 Timothy 3:17 Or proficient
  35. 2 Timothy 4:2 I.e., whether it is convenient or not
  36. 2 Timothy 4:2 Or encourage
  37. 2 Timothy 4:2 Lit all
  38. 2 Timothy 4:10 Or age
  39. 2 Timothy 4:10 One early ms Gaul
  40. 2 Timothy 4:15 Lit words
  41. 2 Timothy 4:17 Or be fulfilled
  42. 2 Timothy 4:18 Or save me for
  43. 2 Timothy 4:18 Lit Whom

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