Final Charge to Timothy

¹¹ But you, man of God,^(A) flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness,^(B) faith, love,^(C) endurance and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight^(D) of the faith. Take hold of^(E) the eternal life^(F) to which you were called when you made your good confession^(G) in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate^(H) made the good confession,^(I) I charge you^{(J) 14} to keep this command without spot or blame^(K) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(L) 15} which God will bring about in his own time^(M)—God, the blessed^(N) and only Ruler,^(O) the King of kings and Lord of lords,^{(P) 16} who alone is immortal^(Q) and who lives in unapproachable light,^(R) whom no one has seen or can see.^(S) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.^(T)

¹⁷ Command those who are rich^(U) in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,^(V) which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God,^(W) who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.^{(X) 18} Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,^(Y) and to be generous and willing to share.^{(Z) 19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves^(AA) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of^(AB) the life that is truly life.

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted^(AC) to your care. Turn away from godless chatter^(AD) and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹ which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.^(AE)

Grace be with you all.^(AF)

1 Paul, an apostle^(AG) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(AH) in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,^(AI)

² To Timothy,^(AJ) my dear son:^(AK)

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.^(AL)

Thanksgiving

³ I thank God,^(AM) whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience,^(AN) as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.^{(AO) 4} Recalling your tears,^(AP) I long to see you,^(AQ) so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith,^(AR) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice^(AS) and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

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.^{(AT) 7} For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,^(AU) but gives us power,^(AV) love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed^(AW) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.^(AX) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,^(AY) by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved^(AZ) us and called^(BA) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done^(BB) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed^(BC) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,^(BD) who has destroyed death^(BE) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel^(BF) I was appointed^(BG) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.^{(BH) 12} That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,^(BI) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard^(BJ) what I have entrusted to him until that day.^(BK)

¹³ What you heard from me,^(BL) keep^(BM) as the pattern^(BN) of sound teaching,^(BO) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.^{(BP) 14} Guard^(BQ) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.^(BR)

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

¹⁵ You know that everyone in the province of Asia^(BS) has deserted me,^(BT) including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,^(BU) because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed^(BV) of my chains.^{(BW) 17} On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day!^(BX) You know very well in how many ways he helped me^(BY) in Ephesus.^(BZ)

The Appeal Renewed

2 You then, my son,^(CA) be strong^(CB) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say^(CC) in the presence of many witnesses^(CD) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³ Join with me in suffering,^(CE) like a good soldier^(CF) of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown^(CG) except by competing according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.^{(CH) 7} Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,^(CI) descended from David.^(CJ) This is my gospel,^{(CK) 9} for which I am suffering^(CL) even to the point of being chained^(CM) like a criminal. But God’s word^(CN) is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything^(CO) for the sake of the elect,^(CP) that they too may obtain the salvation^(CQ) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(CR)

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:^(CS)

Dealing With False Teachers

¹⁴ Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;^(CX) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.^{(CY) 16} Avoid godless chatter,^(CZ) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus^(DA) and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,^(DB) and they destroy the faith of some.^{(DC) 19} Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(DD) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(DE) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(DF) must turn away from wickedness.”

²⁰ In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.^{(DG) 21} Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.^(DH)

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love^(DI) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord^(DJ) out of a pure heart.^(DK)