Beginning

Paul exhorts Timothy to steadfastness and patience in persecution, and to continue in the doctrine that he had taught him. A commendation of Onesiphorous.

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God to preach the promise of life, which life is in Christ Jesus.

² To Timothy, his beloved son.

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

³ I thank God, whom I serve apart from my fathers with a pure conscience, as without ceasing I make mention of you in my prayers night and day, ⁴ desiring to see you, mindful of your tears. I am filled with joy ⁵ when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and am assured that it dwells in you also. ⁶ And so I remind you to stir up the gift of God that is in you by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given to us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and soberness of mind.

⁸ Be not ashamed to testify of our Lord; neither be ashamed of me, who am bound for his sake. But suffer adversity also with the gospel, through the power of God, ⁹ who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our deeds, but according to his own purpose and grace. Which grace was given through Christ Jesus before the world was, ¹⁰ but is now declared openly by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has put away death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

¹¹ Of this gospel I am appointed a preacher and apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles – ¹² for which cause I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and am sure that he is able to keep that which I have committed to his keeping for that day.

¹³ See that you have the example of the wholesome words that you heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ That good thing that was committed to your keeping, keep in the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.

¹⁵ This you know, how all those who are in Asia have turned away from me. Of which sort are Phygellus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ May the Lord give mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains, ¹⁷ but when he was at Rome he sought me out very diligently, and found me. ¹⁸ May the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy with the Lord at that day. And in how many things he ministered to me at Ephesus, you know very well.

As in the first chapter, so here Paul exhorts Timothy to be constant in trouble, to suffer manfully, and to abide fast in the wholesome doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And what things you have heard from me, many bearing witness, the same deliver to faithful men who are competent to teach others.

³ Therefore suffer affliction as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No man who wars entangles himself with worldly business, because he wants to please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. ⁵ And though a man strive to win a competition, yet he is not crowned unless he strives lawfully. ⁶ The husbandman who labours must first receive of the fruits. ⁷ Consider what I say. May the Lord give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, being of the seed of David, rose again from death, as declared in my gospel – ⁹ for which gospel I suffer trouble as an evil-doer, even in bonds. But the word of God was not bound. ¹⁰ For this I suffer all things, for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ It is a true saying: if we are dead with him, we also will live with him. ¹² If we are patient, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. ¹³ If we do not believe, yet he abides faithful; he cannot deny himself. ¹⁴ Of these things put them in remembrance. And warn them before the Lord not to strive about words, which accomplishes nothing but to pervert the hearers.

¹⁵ Be diligent to show yourself laudable to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ Unspiritual and vain voices pass over. For they will increase to greater ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their words will consume even as does a canker – of whose number are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who as concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and do destroy the faith of divers persons.

¹⁹ But the sure foundation of God remains, and has this seal: the Lord knows those that are his. And let everyone who calls on the name of Christ depart from iniquity. ²⁰ Notwithstanding, in a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth: some for honour, and some for dishonour. ²¹ But if a man purges himself from such fellows, he will be a vessel sanctified unto honour, meet for the Lord and prepared for all good works.

²² Lusts of youth avoid. Follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. ²³ Foolish and unlearned controversies put from you, remembering that they do but engender strife. ²⁴ But the servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be peaceable towards all, able to teach, and one that can be patient with the evil, ²⁵ and can correct those who resist – if perhaps God at any time will give them repentance to know the truth, ²⁶ so that they may come to themselves again out of the snare of the devil, who are now taken by him at his will.

He prophesies of the perilous times. He describes the traits of hypocrites, and tells us what they are within for all their fair faces outwardly. Persecution for the gospel.

3 This understand: in the last days, perilous times will come. ² For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, cursed speakers, disobedient to father and mother, unthankful, unholy, ³ unkind, truce breakers, stubborn, false accusers, dissolute, fierce, despisers of those who are good, ⁴ traitors, wilful, high-minded, greedy for pleasures more than lovers of God, ⁵ having a similitude of godly living, but who have denied the power thereof – and from such, turn away. ⁶ Of this sort are those who enter into houses and bring into bondage women laden with sin, which women are led by divers desires and lusts, ⁷ ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

⁸ As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, even so do these resist the truth. Men they are of corrupt minds, and ignorant concerning the faith. ⁹ But they will progress no further, for their madness will be revealed to all, as theirs was.

¹⁰ But you have seen the experience of my doctrine, fashion of living, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience – ¹¹ and the persecutions and afflictions that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, which persecutions I suffered patiently. And from them all, the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yea, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecutions. ¹³ But the evil men and deceivers will grow worse and worse, while they deceive and are deceived themselves.

¹⁴ But continue in the things that you have learned, which also were committed to you, seeing you know from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and also that from childhood you have known the holy scripture, which is able to make you wise unto salvation through the faith that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ For all scripture given by the inspiration of God is profitable to teach, to convict, to reform, and to instruct in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be perfect and prepared for all good works.

He exhorts Timothy to be fervent in the word and to suffer adversity, makes mention of his own death, and bids Timothy to come to him.

4 I charge you therefore before God, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the quick and the dead at his appearing in his kingdom: ² preach the word; be fervent, be it in season or out of season. Refute, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and instruction.

³ For the time will come when the people will not suffer wholesome doctrine, but, after their own fancies, they (whose ears itch) will get themselves a heap of teachers, ⁴ and will turn their ears from the truth, and will be given to fables. ⁵ But as for you, watch in all things, and suffer adversity, and do the work of an evangelist. Fulfil your office to the utmost.

⁶ For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departing is at hand. ⁷ I have fought a good fight, and have fulfilled my course, and have kept the faith. ⁸ From henceforth is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, who is a righteous judge, shall give me at that day:  not to me only, but to all who love his coming.

⁹ Make speed to come to me at once. ¹⁰ For Demas has left me, and loves this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me.

Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is necessary to me, to minister. ¹² And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.

¹³ The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring with you – and the books, but especially the parchment.

¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much ill; the Lord reward him according to his deeds. ¹⁵ You must beware of him also, for he withstood our preaching sore.

¹⁶ At my first defence, no one assisted me, but all forsook me. I pray God that it may not be laid to their charges. ¹⁷ Notwithstanding, the Lord assisted me and strengthened me, so that by me the preaching should be fulfilled to the utmost, and so that all the Gentiles may hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from all evil-doing, and will keep me for his heavenly kingdom. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

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

²¹ Make speed to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.

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

The end of the second epistle to Timothy.
Written from Rome when Paul was
presented the second time
up before Emperor
Nero.