Beginning

1 Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ our Lord.

³ I thank God, Whom I serve with pure conscience (as my forefathers did), remembering you in my prayers night and day, without ceasing;

⁴ desiring to see you, mindful of your tears, so that I may be filled with joy

⁵ when I call to remembrance the sincere faith that is in you (which dwelt first in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, and assuredly dwells in you also).

⁶ Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you by the laying on of my hands.

⁷ For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of self-control.

⁸ Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me (His prisoner). But share in the afflictions of the Gospel according to the power of God.

⁹ He has saved us and called us with a holy calling - not according to our works - but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us through Christ Jesus before the world was;

¹⁰ but is now revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel,

¹¹ for which I am appointed a preacher and Apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles.

¹² For this reason I also suffer these things. But I am not ashamed. For I know Whom I have believed. And I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him until that Day.

¹³ Keep the true pattern of the wholesome words which you have heard from me in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴ Keep that worthy thing which was committed to you through the Holy Ghost, Who dwells in us.

¹⁵ This you know: that all those who are in Asia have turned from me. Of which are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶ May the Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus. For he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain.

¹⁷ But when he was at Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me.

¹⁸ The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy with the Lord on that Day. And you know very well in how many things he has ministered to me at Ephesus.

2 Therefore you, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

² And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.

³ You, therefore, suffer affliction as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

⁴ No one who serves as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, because he wants to please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier.

⁵ And also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he has competed lawfully.

⁶ The farmer must labor before he receives the fruits.

⁷ Consider what I say. May the Lord give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ - of the seed of David - was raised again from the dead according to my Gospel,

⁹ in which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even unto bonds. But the Word of God is not bound.

¹⁰ Therefore, I suffer all things for the elect’s sake, so that they might also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal Glory.

¹¹ This is a true saying: “For if we are dead together with Him, we also shall live together with Him.

¹² “If we suffer, we shall also reign together with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

¹³ “If we do not believe, He still remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself.”

¹⁴ Remind them of these things. And testify before the Lord that they do not strive about words (which is of no use, except for the subversion of the hearers).

¹⁵ Be eager to present yourself to God approved; a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

¹⁶ But stay away from godless and empty babblings. For they shall increase to more ungodliness.

¹⁷ And their word shall grow like gangrene. Of which sort is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

¹⁸ who, as concerning the truth, have erred from the mark; saying that the resurrection has already passed, destroying the faith of some.

¹⁹ But the foundation of God remains sure, as has this seal: “The Lord knows who are His,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But, in a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some for honor, and some for dishonor.

²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these, he shall be a vessel for honor; sanctified and useful to the Lord, having been prepared for every good work.

²² Also, flee from the lusts of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart).

²³ And put away foolish and uneducated questions, knowing that they beget strife.

²⁴ The servant of the Lord must not strive, but must be gentle toward all, able to teach, forbearing;

²⁵ disciplining those who oppose with humility, in case God might give them repentance at any time so that they may acknowledge the Truth

²⁶ and repent out of that snare of the devil (of whom they have been taken prisoner), to do His will.

3 Also know this: that perilous times shall come in the last days.

² For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

³ hard-hearted, trucebreakers, slanderers, out of control, brutal, no lovers of good,

⁴ traitors, rash, haughty, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,

⁵ appearing to be godly but denying its power. And from such turn away!

⁶ For of this sort are those who creep into houses and captivate simple women laden with sins; led by diverse lusts,

⁷ always learning and never coming to a knowledge of the Truth.

⁸ And as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so also do these resist the Truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

⁹ But they shall no longer prevail. For their madness shall be evident to all, as theirs also was.

¹⁰ But you have closely followed my teaching, manner of living, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,

¹¹ persecutions and afflictions which came to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra – what persecutions I suffered! But the Lord delivered me from them all.

¹² Indeed, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

¹³ But the evil men and deceivers shall grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

¹⁴ But you continue in the things which you have learned (and which are committed to you), knowing from Whom you have learned them,

¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁶ For the whole Scripture is given by inspiration from God; and is profitable for teaching, convicting, correcting, and instructing in righteousness.

¹⁷ So that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

4 Therefore, I charge you before God and before the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shall judge the living and dead at His appearing and in His Kingdom:

² Preach the Word! Be ready, in season and out of season. Convict, rebuke, encourage, with all longsuffering and teaching.

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. But having itching ears, they shall gather a heap of teachers according to their own lusts

⁴ and shall turn their ears from the truth and shall be given to fables.

⁵ But you, be sober in all things. Suffer adversity. Do the work of an evangelist. Carry out your ministry fully.

⁶ For I am already being offered. And the time of my departing is at hand.

⁷ I have fought the good fight and have finished my course. I have kept the faith.

⁸ Hereafter, the crown of righteousness - which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me on that Day - is laid up for me. And not only to me but also to all those who love His appearing.

⁹ Hurry to come to me at once!

¹⁰ For Demas has forsaken me, and has embraced this present world, and has departed to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia.

¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you. For he is useful to me for ministry.

¹² And I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

¹³ When you come, bring the cloak with you which I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books (especially the parchments).

¹⁴ Alexander, the coppersmith, has done me much evil. May the Lord reward him according to his works.

¹⁵ You beware of him also. For he greatly opposes our preaching.

¹⁶ At my first defense, no one stood by me. But, all deserted me. May it not be counted against them.

¹⁷ But the Lord assisted me and strengthened me; so that by me the preaching might be fully believed, and that all the Gentiles should hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for His Heavenly Kingdom. To Him be praise for ever and ever! Amen.

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.

²⁰ Erastus stayed at Corinth. I left Trophimus at Miletus, sick.

²¹ Hurry to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers.

²² The Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

(The second Epistle written from Rome to Timothy, the first Bishop elected of the Church of Ephesus, when Paul was presented the second time before the Emperor Nero)