2 Timothy
Chapter 1
1 Paul, an apostle
of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is
in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship
with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in
my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to
see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of
your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your
mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.
6 For this reason I
remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on
of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of
cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8 Do
not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner,
but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on 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. This grace was given to us in Christ
Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed
through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For
this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and
for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in
whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day
what I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of
sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in
Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good treasure entrusted to you,
with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.
15 You are aware that
all who are in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and
Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of
Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 when
he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me 18 —may
the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know
very well how much service he rendered in Ephesus.
Chapter 2
1 You then, my
child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; 2 and
what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people
who will be able to teach others as well. 3 Share in
suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one
serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier's aim is to
please the enlisting officer. 5 And in the case of an
athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. 6 It
is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops.
7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you
understanding in all things.
8 Remember Jesus
Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for
which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure
everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the
salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The
saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if
we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if
we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of this,
and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which
does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do
your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has
no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. 16 Avoid
profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety, 17 and
their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who
have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken
place. They are upsetting the faith of some.
19 But God's firm
foundation stands, bearing this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are
his," and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away
from wickedness." 20 In a large house there are
utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for
special use, some for ordinary. 21 All who cleanse
themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated
and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work.
22 Shun youthful
passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who
call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do
with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And
the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt
teacher, patient, 25 correcting opponents with gentleness.
God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and
that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by
him to do his will.
Chapter 3
1 You must
understand this, that in the last days distressing times will come. 2 For
people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, arrogant,
abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 inhuman,
implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, 4 treacherous,
reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding
to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them! 6 For
among them are those who make their way into households and captivate silly
women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires, 7 who
are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 As
Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and
counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth. 9 But they will
not make much progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly
will become plain to everyone.
10 Now you have
observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my
love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, and my suffering
the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What
persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed,
all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But
wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and
being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have
learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and
how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct
you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All
scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that
everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
Chapter 4
1 In the presence of
God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view
of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim
the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable;
convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For
the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having
itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own
desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth
and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, always be sober,
endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. 6 As
for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, 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 From now on
there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all
who have longed for his appearing.
9 Do your best to
come to me soon, 10 for Demas, in love with this present
world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia,
Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and
bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. 12 I
have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the
cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the
parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm;
the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. 15 You also must
beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first
defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted
against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me
strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the
Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The
Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly
kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet
Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus
remained in Corinth; Trophimus I left ill in Miletus. 21 Do
your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens
and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. 22 The
Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.
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Last revised: February 8, 2003