Greeting

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

To Timothy, my dearly loved son.

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

Thanksgiving

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) Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I recall your sincere faith(G) that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice(H) and now, I am convinced, is in you also.

Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.(I) For God has not given us a spirit of fear,(J) but one of power,[a](K) love,(L) and sound judgment.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

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. He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,(Q) not according to our works,(R) but according to his own purpose(S) and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 This has now been made evident through the appearing(T) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death(U) and has brought life(V) and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed(W) a herald, apostle, and teacher,[b] 12 and that is why I suffer(X) these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me[c](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 the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. 15 You know that all those in the province of Asia(AC) have deserted 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. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. 1:7 Or For the Spirit God gave us does not make us fearful, but gives us power
  2. 1:11 Other mss add of the Gentiles
  3. 1:12 Or guard what I have entrusted to him, or guard my deposit

Greetings

From:[a] Paul, an apostle of the Messiah[b] Jesus by God’s will in keeping with the promise of life that is in the Messiah[c] Jesus.

To: Timothy, my dear child.

May grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Messiah[d] Jesus our Lord be yours!

Paul’s Advice for Timothy

I constantly thank my God—whom I serve[e] with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you in my prayers night and day, recalling your tears and longing to see you so that I can be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first existed in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that this faith[f] also exists in you. For this reason, I am reminding you to fan into flames the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but one of power, love, and self-discipline.[g] Therefore, never be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, by God’s power, join me in suffering for the sake of the gospel.

He saved us
    and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our own accomplishments,
    but according to his own purpose and the grace
that was given to us in the Messiah[h] Jesus
    before time began.[i]
10 Now, however, that grace[j] has been revealed
    through the coming of our Savior the Messiah[k] Jesus,
who has destroyed death
    and through the gospel has brought life
        and release from death into full view.

11 For the sake of this gospel[l] I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles.[m] 12 That is why I suffer as I do. However, I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I’m convinced that he is able to protect what he has entrusted to me[n] until the day that he comes.[o] 13 Hold on to the pattern of healthy teachings that you have heard from me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah[p] Jesus. 14 With the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, protect the good treasure that has been entrusted to you.

News about Paul’s Helpers

15 You know that everyone in Asia has abandoned me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often took care of[q] me and was not ashamed that I was a prisoner. 17 Instead, when he arrived in Rome he searched diligently for me and found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he finds mercy on the day he comes again.[r] You know very well how much he assisted me in Ephesus.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 1:1 The Gk. lacks From
  2. 2 Timothy 1:1 Or Christ
  3. 2 Timothy 1:1 Or Christ
  4. 2 Timothy 1:2 Or Christ
  5. 2 Timothy 1:3 Or worship
  6. 2 Timothy 1:5 Lit. it
  7. 2 Timothy 1:7 Or good judgment
  8. 2 Timothy 1:9 Or Christ
  9. 2 Timothy 1:9 Lit. before the times of the ages
  10. 2 Timothy 1:10 Lit. however, it
  11. 2 Timothy 1:10 Or Christ
  12. 2 Timothy 1:11 Lit. For which
  13. 2 Timothy 1:11 Other mss. lack of the gentiles
  14. 2 Timothy 1:12 Or what I have entrusted to him
  15. 2 Timothy 1:12 Lit. until that day
  16. 2 Timothy 1:13 Or Christ
  17. 2 Timothy 1:16 Or refreshed
  18. 2 Timothy 1:18 Lit. mercy from the Lord on that day