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So I ask you to make full use of the gift God gave you when I placed my hands on you.[a] Use it well. God's Spirit[b] doesn't make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.

Don't be ashamed to speak for our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, just because I am in jail for serving him. Use the power that comes from God and join with me in suffering for telling the good news.

God saved us and chose us
    to be his holy people.
We did nothing
    to deserve this,
but God planned it
    because he is so kind.
Even before time began
God planned for Christ Jesus
    to show kindness to us.

10 Now Christ Jesus has come
to offer us God's gift
    of undeserved grace.
Christ our Savior defeated death
and brought us
    the good news.
It shines like a light
and offers life
    that never ends.

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Footnotes

  1. 1.6 when I placed my hands on you: Church leaders placed their hands on people who were being appointed to preach or teach (see 2 Timothy 4.14).
  2. 1.7 God's Spirit: Or “God.”

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

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.(A) For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,(B) but gives us power,(C) love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed(D) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.(E) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,(F) by the power of God. He has saved(G) us and called(H) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done(I) 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(J) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,(K) who has destroyed death(L) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

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