2 Timothy 1
Expanded Bible
1 From Paul, an ·apostle [messenger] of Christ Jesus by the will of God. ·God sent me to tell about [L …according to] the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
2 To Timothy [Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; Phil. 2:19–24], a ·dear [beloved] child to me [1 Tim. 1:2]:
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Encouragement for Timothy
3 I thank God as I always ·mention [remember] you in my prayers, day and night. I serve him, ·doing what I know is right [with a clear conscience] as my ancestors did. 4 Remembering your tears [C probably at Paul’s departure], I ·want very much [long] to see you so I can be filled with joy. 5 I remember your ·true [sincere] faith. That faith first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I ·know [am sure/persuaded] you now have that same faith. 6 This is why I remind you to ·keep using [rekindle; fan into flames] the gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you [C a way of dedicating someone to Christian service; 1 Tim. 4:14]. 7 [L For] God did not give us ·a spirit [or the Spirit] that makes us ·afraid [timid] but ·a spirit [or the Spirit] of power and love and ·self-control [self-discipline; or good judgment].
8 So do not be ashamed to ·tell people [testify; bear witness] about our Lord, and do not be ashamed of me, ·in prison for the Lord [L his prisoner; C Paul was in prison in Rome for a second time and would soon be executed]. But suffer with me for the ·Good News [Gospel]. God, who gives us the strength to do that, 9 saved us and ·made us his holy people [L called us to a holy calling]. That was not because of anything we did ourselves but because of ·God’s [L his own] purpose and grace. That grace was given to us through Christ Jesus before ·time began [L eternal times], 10 but it is now ·shown [revealed; manifested] to us by the ·coming [appearing; manifestation] of our Savior Christ Jesus. He ·destroyed [broke the power of; abolished] death, and through the ·Good News [Gospel] he ·showed us the way to have [L illuminated; brought to light] ·life that cannot be destroyed [immortal life; L life and immortality]. 11 I was ·chosen [appointed] ·to tell that Good News [L a preacher/herald] and to be an apostle and a teacher. 12 I am suffering now ·because I tell the Good News [L for this reason], but I am not ashamed, because I know the One in whom I have ·believed [put my trust/faith]. And I am ·sure [convinced; confident] he is able to ·protect [guard; keep safe] what ·he has trusted me with [or I have entrusted with him; L my deposit/entrustment] until that day [C the final day of judgment and reward]. 13 ·Follow the pattern [or Hold to the standard/norm] of true teachings that you heard from me ·in [or accompanied by the] faith and love, which are ·available in [L in] Christ Jesus. 14 ·Protect [Guard] the ·truth that you were given [L the good deposit entrusted to you]; ·protect [guard] it ·with the help of [by the power of; L through; by] the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 You know that everyone in Asia [C a Roman province in present-day western Turkey] has left me, even Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord show ·mercy [kindness] to the family of Onesiphorus [4:20; C the reference to the “family” rather than the man may indicate that Onesiphorus has since died], who has often ·helped [encouraged; refreshed] me and was not ashamed ·that I was in prison [L of my chains]. 17 When he came to Rome, he ·looked eagerly [searched diligently] for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord ·allow him to find [grant/give him] mercy from the Lord on that day [C the final day of judgment and reward]. You know very well how many ways he ·helped [served] me in Ephesus [C a major port city in the Roman province of Asia, present-day western Turkey; Acts 19].
2 Timothy 1
Amplified Bible
Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust
1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed) by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I worship and serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 and as I recall your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well. 6 That is why I remind you to [a]fan into flame the gracious gift of God, [that inner fire—the special endowment] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination]. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or about me His prisoner, but with me take your share of suffering for the gospel [continue to preach regardless of the circumstances], in accordance with the power of God [for His power is invincible], 9 for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago], 10 but now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher [of this good news regarding salvation]. 12 This is why I suffer as I do. Still, I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until [b]that day [when I stand before Him].(A) 13 Keep and follow the pattern of sound teaching (doctrine) which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard [with greatest care] and keep unchanged, the treasure [that precious truth] which has been entrusted to you [that is, the good news about salvation through personal faith in Christ Jesus], through [the help of] the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15 You are aware of the fact that all who are in [the province of] Asia turned away and deserted me, Phygelus and Hermogenes among them. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and showed me kindness [comforting and reviving me like fresh air] and he was not ashamed of my chains [for Christ’s sake]; 17 but [instead] when he reached Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— 18 the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on [c]that [great] day. You know very well how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus [you know better than I can tell you].
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 1:6 In ancient times embers were kept slowly burning so that they could be fanned into flames when a fire was needed.
- 2 Timothy 1:12 Also called the Day of Christ when Christians will be called to account for their actions (2 Cor 5:10).
- 2 Timothy 1:18 See note v 12.
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