2 Timothy 1 - Philemon

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Salutation

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.

Thanksgiving and Encouragement

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.^{(A) 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.^{(B) 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.^(C)

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, in the power of God,^{(D) 9} who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, and this grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,^{[a](E) 10} but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ,^[b] who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.^{(F) 11} For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher,^{[c](G) 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 the deposit I have entrusted to him.^{[d](H) 13} Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.^{(I) 14} Guard the good deposit 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;^{(J) 17} when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly^[e] 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.^(K)

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

2 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.^{(L) 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.^{(M) 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.^{(N) 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.^{(O) 11} The saying is sure:

A Worker Approved by God

¹⁴ Remind them of this, and warn them before the Lord^[g] that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening.^{(R) 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^[h] into more and more impiety,^{(S) 17} and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,^{(T) 18} who have swerved from the truth, saying resurrection^[i] has already occurred. They are upsetting the faith of some.^{(U) 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.”^(V)

²⁰ In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special^[j] use, some for ordinary.^{[k](W) 21} All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned^[l] will become special^[m] utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work.^{(X) 22} Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.^{(Y) 23} Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.^{(Z) 24} And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient,^{(AA) 25} correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth^{(AB) 26} and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.^[n]

Godlessness in the Last Days

3 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,^{(AC) 3} unfeeling, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good,^{(AD) 4} treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,^{(AE) 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 immature women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of desires,^{(AF) 7} who are always studying yet never able to recognize truth. ⁸ As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth.^{(AG) 9} But they will not make much progress because, as in the case of those two men,^[o] their folly will become plain to everyone.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,^{(AH) 11} my persecutions, and my sufferings, the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.^{(AI) 12} Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.^{(AJ) 13} But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived.^{(AK) 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 sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture is inspired by God and is^[p] useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,^{(AL) 17} so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.^(AM)

4 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:^{(AN) 2} proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching.^{(AO) 3} For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires^{(AP) 4} and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. ⁵ As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.^(AQ)

⁶ As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come.^{(AR) 7} I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.^{(AS) 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.^(AT)

Personal Instructions

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,^[q] Titus to Dalmatia.^{(AU) 11} Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in ministry.^{(AV) 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.^{(AW) 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.^{(AX) 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.^(AY)

Final Greetings and Benediction

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.^[r]

Salutation

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, ² in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began^(AZ)— ³ in due time he revealed his word through the proclamation with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior,^(BA)

⁴ To Titus, my true child^[s] in the faith we share:

Grace^[t] and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.^(BB)

Titus in Crete

⁵ I left you behind in Crete for this reason, so that you should put in order what remained to be done and should appoint elders in every town, as I directed you:^{(BC) 6} someone who is blameless, married only once,^[u] whose children are believers, not accused of debauchery and not rebellious.^{(BD) 7} For a bishop,^[v] as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or addicted to wine or violent or greedy for gain,^{(BE) 8} but he must be hospitable,^[w] a lover of goodness, self-controlled, upright, devout, and restrained, ⁹ holding tightly to the trustworthy word of the teaching, so that he may be able both to exhort with sound instruction and to refute those who contradict it.

¹⁰ There are also many rebellious people, idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision;^{(BF) 11} they must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for sordid gain what it is not right to teach.^{(BG) 12} It was one of them, their very own prophet, who said,

¹³ That testimony is true. For this reason rebuke them sharply, so that they may become sound in the faith,^{(BH) 14} not paying attention to Jewish myths or to commandments of those who reject the truth.^{(BI) 15} To the pure all things are pure, but to the corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are corrupted.^{(BJ) 16} They profess to know God, but they deny him by their actions; they are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.^(BK)

Teach Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound instruction. ² Tell the older men to be temperate, serious, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.

³ Likewise, tell the older women to be reverent in behavior, not to be slanderers or enslaved to much wine; they are to teach what is good,^{(BL) 4} so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, chaste, good managers of the household, kind, submissive to their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited.^(BM)

⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled ⁷ in all things, offering yourself as a model of good works and in your teaching offering integrity, gravity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.^(BN)

⁹ Urge slaves to be submissive to their masters in everything, to be pleasing, not talking back,^{(BO) 10} not stealing, but showing complete and perfect fidelity, so that in everything they may be an ornament to the teaching of God our Savior.

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,^{[x](BP) 12} training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,^{(BQ) 13} while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior,^[y] Jesus Christ.^{(BR) 14} He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.^(BS)

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority.^[z] Let no one look down on you.

Maintain Good Deeds

3 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,^{(BT) 2} to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone.^{(BU) 3} For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.^{(BV) 4} But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,^{(BW) 5} he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water^[aa] of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.^{(BX) 6} This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.^{(BY) 8} The saying is sure.

I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone.^{(BZ) 9} But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.^{(CA) 10} After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions,^{(CB) 11} since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned.

Final Messages and Benediction

¹² When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.^{(CC) 13} Make every effort to send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way, and see that they lack nothing. ¹⁴ And let people learn to devote themselves to good works in order to meet urgent needs, so that they may not be unproductive.

¹⁵ All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with all of you.^[ab]

Salutation

¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To our beloved coworker Philemon,^{(CD) 2} to our^[ac] sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church in your^[ad] house:^(CE)

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon’s Love and Faith

⁴ I thank my God always when I mention you^[ae] in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus.^{(CF) 6} I pray that the partnership of your faith may become effective as you comprehend all the good that we^[af] share in Christ.^{[ag] 7} I have^[ah] indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother.^(CG)

Paul’s Plea for Onesimus

⁸ For this reason, though I am more than bold enough in Christ to command you to do the right thing, ⁹ yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love—and I, Paul, do this as an old man and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.^{[ai] 10} I am appealing to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become during my imprisonment.^{(CH) 11} Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful^[aj] to^[ak] you and to me. ¹² I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.^{[al] 13} I wanted to keep him with me so that he might minister to me in your place during my imprisonment for the gospel,^{(CI) 14} but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not something forced.^{(CJ) 15} Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for the long term, ¹⁶ no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.^(CK)

¹⁷ So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.^{(CL) 18} If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to me. ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. ²⁰ Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in Christ.^{[am] 21} Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.^(CM)

²² One thing more: prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping through your prayers to be restored to you.^(CN)

Final Greetings and Benediction

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you,^{[an](CO) 24} and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my coworkers.^(CP)

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.^[ao](CQ)