1 Paul, an apostle^(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(B) in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,^(C)

² To Timothy,^(D) my dear son:^(E)

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

Thanksgiving

³ I thank God,^(G) whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience,^(H) as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.^{(I) 4} Recalling your tears,^(J) I long to see you,^(K) so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵ I am reminded of your sincere faith,^(L) which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice^(M) 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.^{(N) 7} For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,^(O) but gives us power,^(P) love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed^(Q) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.^(R) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,^(S) by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved^(T) us and called^(U) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done^(V) 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^(W) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,^(X) who has destroyed death^(Y) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel^(Z) I was appointed^(AA) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.^{(AB) 12} That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,^(AC) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard^(AD) what I have entrusted to him until that day.^(AE)

¹³ What you heard from me,^(AF) keep^(AG) as the pattern^(AH) of sound teaching,^(AI) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.^{(AJ) 14} Guard^(AK) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.^(AL)

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

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

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,^(AO) because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed^(AP) of my chains.^{(AQ) 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!^(AR) You know very well in how many ways he helped me^(AS) in Ephesus.^(AT)

The Appeal Renewed

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

¹¹ Here is a trustworthy saying:^(BM)

Dealing With False Teachers

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

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

3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.^{(CJ) 2} People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,^(CK) boastful, proud,^(CL) abusive,^(CM) disobedient to their parents,^(CN) ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous,^(CO) rash, conceited,^(CP) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— ⁵ having a form of godliness^(CQ) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.^(CR)

⁶ They are the kind who worm their way^(CS) 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.^{(CT) 8} Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,^(CU) so also these teachers oppose^(CV) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,^(CW) 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,^(CX) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(CY) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^(CZ) Iconium^(DA) and Lystra,^(DB) the persecutions I endured.^(DC) Yet the Lord rescued^(DD) me from all of them.^{(DE) 12} In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(DF) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(DG) deceiving and being deceived.^{(DH) 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,^{(DI) 15} and how from infancy^(DJ) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(DK) which are able to make you wise^(DL) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(DM) and is useful for teaching,^(DN) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(DO) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](DP) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(DQ)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,^(DR) and in view of his appearing^(DS) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:^{(DT) 2} Preach^(DU) the word;^(DV) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke^(DW) and encourage^(DX)—with great patience and careful instruction. ³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.^(DY) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.^{(DZ) 4} They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.^{(EA) 5} But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,^(EB) do the work of an evangelist,^(EC) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,^(ED) and the time for my departure is near.^{(EE) 7} I have fought the good fight,^(EF) I have finished the race,^(EG) I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me^(EH) the crown of righteousness,^(EI) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day^(EJ)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.^(EK)

Personal Remarks

⁹ Do your best to come to me quickly,^{(EL) 10} for Demas,^(EM) because he loved this world,^(EN) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.^(EO) Crescens has gone to Galatia,^(EP) and Titus^(EQ) to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke^(ER) is with me.^(ES) Get Mark^(ET) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. ¹² I sent Tychicus^(EU) to Ephesus.^{(EV) 13} When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,^(EW) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

¹⁴ Alexander^(EX) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.^{(EY) 15} You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.^{(EZ) 17} But the Lord stood at my side^(FA) and gave me strength,^(FB) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.^(FC) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.^{(FD) 18} The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack^(FE) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.^(FF) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(FG)

Final Greetings

¹⁹ Greet Priscilla^[b] and Aquila^(FH) and the household of Onesiphorus.^{(FI) 20} Erastus^(FJ) stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus^(FK) sick in Miletus.^{(FL) 21} Do your best to get here before winter.^(FM) Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.^[c]

²² The Lord be with your spirit.^(FN) Grace be with you all.^(FO)