2 Timothy 1:5-3:15

New International Version

⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith,^(A) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice^(B) 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.^{(C) 7} For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,^(D) but gives us power,^(E) love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed^(F) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.^(G) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,^(H) by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved^(I) us and called^(J) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done^(K) 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^(L) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,^(M) who has destroyed death^(N) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel^(O) I was appointed^(P) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.^{(Q) 12} That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,^(R) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard^(S) what I have entrusted to him until that day.^(T)

¹³ What you heard from me,^(U) keep^(V) as the pattern^(W) of sound teaching,^(X) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.^{(Y) 14} Guard^(Z) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.^(AA)

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

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

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,^(AD) because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed^(AE) of my chains.^{(AF) 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!^(AG) You know very well in how many ways he helped me^(AH) in Ephesus.^(AI)

The Appeal Renewed

2 You then, my son,^(AJ) be strong^(AK) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things you have heard me say^(AL) in the presence of many witnesses^(AM) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. ³ Join with me in suffering,^(AN) like a good soldier^(AO) 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^(AP) except by competing according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.^{(AQ) 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,^(AR) descended from David.^(AS) This is my gospel,^{(AT) 9} for which I am suffering^(AU) even to the point of being chained^(AV) like a criminal. But God’s word^(AW) is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything^(AX) for the sake of the elect,^(AY) that they too may obtain the salvation^(AZ) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^(BA)

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:^(BB)

Dealing With False Teachers

¹⁴ Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;^(BG) 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.^{(BH) 16} Avoid godless chatter,^(BI) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus^(BJ) and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,^(BK) and they destroy the faith of some.^{(BL) 19} Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(BM) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(BN) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(BO) 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.^{(BP) 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.^(BQ)

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love^(BR) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord^(BS) out of a pure heart.^{(BT) 23} Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.^{(BU) 24} And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^{(BV) 25} Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^{(BW) 26} and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,^(BX) who has taken them captive to do his will.

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.^{(BY) 2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,^(BZ) boastful, proud,^(CA) abusive,^(CB) disobedient to their parents,^(CC) ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous,^(CD) rash, conceited,^(CE) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness^(CF) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(CG)

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way^(CH) into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, ⁷ always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.^{(CI) 8} Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,^(CJ) so also these teachers oppose^(CK) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,^(CL) who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. ⁹ But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,^(CM) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(CN) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^(CO) Iconium^(CP) and Lystra,^(CQ) the persecutions I endured.^(CR) Yet the Lord rescued^(CS) me from all of them.^{(CT) 12} In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(CU) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(CV) deceiving and being deceived.^{(CW) 14} But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{(CX) 15} and how from infancy^(CY) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(CZ) which are able to make you wise^(DA) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.