2 Timothy 1-4

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will,^(B) for the promise of life^(C) in Christ Jesus:

² To Timothy, my dearly loved son.

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

Thanksgiving

³ I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience^(E) as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.^{(F) 4} Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ clearly recalling your sincere faith^(G) that first lived in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice,^(H) and that I am convinced is in you also.

⁶ Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze^[a] the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.^{(I) 7} For God has not given us a spirit^[b] of fearfulness,^(J) but one of power,^(K) love,^(L) and sound judgment.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

⁸ So don’t be ashamed^(M) of the testimony about our Lord,^(N) or of me His prisoner.^(O) Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power^(P) of God.

¹¹ For this gospel I was appointed^(W) a herald, apostle, and teacher,^{[c] 12} and that is why I suffer^(X) these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me^[d](Y) until that day.^(Z)

Be Loyal to the Faith

¹³ Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching^(AA) that you have heard from me,^(AB) in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard, through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you. ¹⁵ This you know: All those in Asia^(AC) have turned away from me,^(AD) including Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy^(AE) to the household of Onesiphorus,^(AF) because he often refreshed me^(AG) and was not ashamed of my chains.^{(AH) 17} On the contrary, when he was in Rome,^(AI) he diligently searched for me and found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy^(AJ) from Him on that day. And you know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.^(AK)

Be Strong in Grace

2 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace^(AL) that is in Christ Jesus. ² And what you have heard from me^(AM) in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful^(AN) men who will be able to teach others also.

³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.^{(AO) 4} No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter. ⁵ Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.^{(AP) 7} Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead^(AQ) and descended from David. This is according to my gospel. ⁹ I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound. ¹⁰ This is why I endure^(AR) all things for the elect:^(AS) so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^{(AT) 11} This saying is trustworthy:^(AU)

An Approved Worker

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before God^[e] not to fight about words;^(AX) this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.^{(AY) 16} But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.^{(AZ) 17} And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeus^(BA) and Philetus are among them. ¹⁸ They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,^(BB) and are overturning the faith of some.^{(BC) 19} Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:^(BD)

²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls,^(BH) but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable^[g] use, some for dishonorable.^{[h](BI) 21} So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,^[i] he will be a special^[j] instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.^(BJ)

²² Flee^(BK) from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,^(BL) along with those who call on the Lord^(BM) from a pure heart. ²³ But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ The Lord’s^(BN) slave must not quarrel,^(BO) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,^[k] and patient, ²⁵ instructing his opponents with gentleness.^(BP) Perhaps God will grant them repentance^(BQ) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. ²⁶ Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap,^(BR) having been captured by him to do his will.^(BS)

Difficult Times Ahead

3 But know this: Difficult times will come in the last days.^{(BT) 2} For people will be lovers of self,^(BU) lovers of money,^(BV) boastful, proud,^(BW) blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,^{(BX) 3} unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers,^(BY) without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,^{(BZ) 4} traitors,^(CA) reckless,^(CB) conceited,^(CC) lovers of pleasure^(CD) rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to the form of godliness but denying its power.^(CE) Avoid these people!^(CF)

⁶ For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions,^{(CG) 7} always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.^{(CH) 8} Just as Jannes and Jambres^(CI) resisted Moses,^(CJ) so these also resist the truth, men who are corrupt in mind,^(CK) worthless^(CL) in regard to the faith. ⁹ But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs^[l] was also.

Struggles in the Christian Life

¹⁰ But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose,^(CM) faith, patience, love,^(CN) and endurance, ¹¹ along with the persecutions and sufferings^(CO) that came to me in Antioch,^(CP) Iconium,^(CQ) and Lystra.^(CR) What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all. ¹² In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.^{(CS) 13} Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving^(CT) and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,^{(CU) 15} and you know that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures,^(CV) which are able to give you wisdom for salvation^(CW) through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God^[m](CX) and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.^(CY)

Fulfill Your Ministry

4 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge^(CZ) the living and the dead,^(DA) and because of His appearing and His kingdom:^{(DB) 2} Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine,^(DC) but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.^{[n] 4} They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.^{(DD) 5} But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,^(DE) fulfill your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,^(DF) and the time for my departure is close. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is reserved for me in the future the crown^(DG) of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,^(DH) will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.^(DI)

Final Instructions

⁹ Make every effort to come to me soon,^{(DJ) 10} for Demas^(DK) has deserted me,^(DL) because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica.^(DM) Crescens has gone to Galatia,^(DN) Titus^(DO) to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke^(DP) is with me. Bring Mark^(DQ) with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. ¹² I have sent Tychicus^(DR) to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas^(DS) with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander^(DT) the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ Watch out^(DU) for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.^(DV) May it not be counted against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.^(DW) To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Benediction

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila,^(DX) and the household of Onesiphorus.^{(DY) 20} Erastus^(DZ) has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus^(EA) sick at Miletus.^{(EB) 21} Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers.

²² The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.