Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God planned. He sent me to tell about the promise of life found in Christ Jesus.

² Timothy, I am sending you this letter. You are my dear son.

May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.

Paul Gives Thanks

³ I thank God, whom I serve as did our people of long ago. I serve God, knowing that what I have done is right. Night and day I thank God for you. Night and day I always remember you in my prayers. ⁴ I remember your tears. I long to see you so that I can be filled with joy. ⁵ I remember your honest and true faith. It was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice. And I am certain that it is now alive in you also.

Paul Encourages Timothy to Be Faithful

⁶ This is why I remind you to help God’s gift grow, just as a small spark grows into a fire. God put his gift in you when I placed my hands on you. ⁷ God gave us his Spirit. And the Spirit doesn’t make us weak and fearful. Instead, the Spirit gives us power and love. He helps us control ourselves. ⁸ So don’t be ashamed of the message about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, his prisoner. Instead, join with me as I suffer for the good news. God’s power will help us do that. ⁹ God has saved us. He has chosen us to live a holy life. It wasn’t because of anything we have done. It was because of his own purpose and grace. Through Christ Jesus, God gave us this grace even before time began. ¹⁰ It has now been made known through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death. Because of the good news, he has brought life out into the light. That life never dies. ¹¹ I was appointed to announce the good news. I was appointed to be an apostle and a teacher. ¹² That’s why I’m suffering the way I am. But this gives me no reason to be ashamed. That’s because I know who I have believed in. I am sure he is able to take care of what I have given him. I can trust him with it until the day he returns as judge.

¹³ Follow what you heard from me as the pattern of true teaching. Follow it with faith and love because you belong to Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the truth of the good news that you were trusted with. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Examples of Faithful and Unfaithful People

¹⁵ You know that all the believers in Asia Minor have deserted me. They include Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶ May the Lord show mercy to all who live in the house of Onesiphorus. He often encouraged me. He was not ashamed that I was being held by chains. ¹⁷ In fact, it was just the opposite. When he was in Rome, he looked everywhere for me. At last he found me. ¹⁸ May Onesiphorus find mercy from the Lord on the day Jesus returns as judge! You know very well how many ways Onesiphorus helped me in Ephesus.

Paul Again Encourages Timothy to Be Faithful

2 My son, be strong in the grace that is yours in Christ Jesus. ² You have heard me teach in front of many witnesses. Pass on to people you can trust the things you’ve heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others also. ³ Like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, join with me in suffering. ⁴ A soldier does not take part in things that don’t have anything to do with the army. Instead, he tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ It is the same for anyone who takes part in a sport. They don’t receive the winner’s crown unless they play by the rules. ⁶ The farmer who works hard should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷ Think about what I’m saying. The Lord will help you understand what all of it means.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ. He came from David’s family line. He was raised from the dead. That is my good news. ⁹ I am suffering for it. I have even been put in chains like someone who has committed a crime. But God’s word is not held back by chains. ¹⁰ So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever.

¹¹ Here is a saying you can trust.

What to Do About False Teachers

¹⁴ Keep reminding God’s people of these things. While God is watching, warn them not to argue about words. That doesn’t have any value. It only destroys those who listen. ¹⁵ Do your best to please God. Be a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed. Teach the message of truth correctly. ¹⁶ Stay away from godless chatter. Those who take part in it will become more and more ungodly. ¹⁷ Their teaching will spread like a deadly sickness. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two of those teachers. ¹⁸ They have turned away from the truth. They say that the time when people will rise from the dead has already come. They destroy the faith of some people. ¹⁹ But God’s solid foundation stands firm. Here is the message written on it. “The Lord knows who his own people are.” (Numbers 16:5) Also, “All who say they believe in the Lord must turn away from evil.”

²⁰ In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have special purposes. Others have common purposes. ²¹ Suppose someone stays away from what is common. Then the Master will be able to use them for special purposes. They will be made holy. They will be ready to do any good work.

²² Run away from the evil things that young people long for. Try hard to do what is right. Have faith, love and peace. Do these things together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³ Don’t have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights. ²⁴ Anyone who serves the Lord must not be hard to get along with. Instead, they must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach. The one who serves must not hold anything against anyone. ²⁵ They must gently teach those who are against them. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth. ²⁶ Maybe they will come to their senses. Maybe they will escape the devil’s trap. He has taken them as prisoners to do what he wanted.