INTRODUCTION
1 Paul, the Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God in the service of the promised way of life in Jesus Christ,
2 To Timothy, my beloved son:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ.
THANKSGIVING
3 I give thanks to the God of my forefathers, whom I serve with a clear conscience, whenever I mention you in my prayers constantly, day and night. I remember the tears you shed at my departure, 4 and I long to see you again. This meeting will fill me with joy.
5 I often think of your unfeigned and whole-hearted faith which you inherited, I am sure, first from your grandmother Lois, then from your mother Eunice.
EXHORTATION
6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the divine grace which you received at your ordination through the imposition of my hands. 7 God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of testifying for our Lord, and for me. For I am now in prison and chains for his sake. So share my sufferings for the Gospel with the strength that God has given you.
9 For he saved us and called us to a sacred vocation. He did it, not because of our achievements, but for his own purpose through the grace which he bestowed upon us through Jesus Christ according to his eternal dispensation. 10 This revelation has now come to light since our Savior Jesus Christ has appeared on earth. He annihilated death. He brought us light and immortality through the Gospel, 11 which I have been appointed to proclaim as the Apostle and Evangelizer of the Gentiles.
12 For this Gospel I am now suffering as I do. But I am not ashamed of it. For I know that he is able to guard those he has entrusted to me until his Day.
13 Follow the pattern of the true doctrines you have learned from me with faith and love in Jesus Christ. 14 Guard the good flock which has been entrusted to your care by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
DEFECTIONS AND LOYALTY
15 As you know, all our friends in Asia, Figellus and Hermogenes among them, have turned away from me. 16 But may the Lord have mercy on the household of Onesiphorus. For he often comforted me and was not ashamed of my being in prison.17 When he was in Rome, he took pains to seek me out and succeeded in finding me. 18 May the Lord help him to find mercy on that Day. You well know in how many ways he helped me also at Ephesus.
SOLDIER OF CHRIST
1 Now, my son, strengthen yourself with the grace of Jesus Christ. 2 All the doctrines which you have heard me expound in public you must in turn entrust to reliable believers who are qualified to teach them to others.
3 Endure suffering like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 As a soldier on duty, you must not be entangled in civilian pursuits. For you must above all serve the commander who enlisted you. 5 As a competing athlete, you must observe the rules of the contest. Otherwise, you can win no crown of victory. As a hard-working farmer, you must be the first one to take your share of the crops.
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
7 Meditate on my advice. The Lord will help you to understand its full meaning. 8 Think always of Jesus Christ, descended from the race of David, who rose from the dead according to my Gospel. 9 For this Gospel I am now suffering and wearing chains like a criminal. But the Gospel of God cannot be chained.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect. For I want them also to obtain the salvation and the eternal glory of Jesus Christ.
11 These are doctrines of our faith: If we have died with Christ, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we repudiate him, he will also repudiate us. 13 But even if we are unfaithful, he will always remain faithful. For he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind the believers of these doctrines. Urge them in the name of the Lord to avoid disputes about useless speculations which undermine the faith of the listeners. 15 Try to win the approval of God as his irreproachable servant by preaching the true faith.
FALSE TEACHERS
16 Keep away from profane and meaningless heresies. For their authors promote ungodliness, 17 and their false teaching spreads like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among those false teachers. 18 They are perverting the truth. For they claim that the resurrection has already taken place. Thus they undermine the faith of some believers.
19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God still stands, bearing the following inscription: “The Lord knows those who belong to him.” And again: “Let every true Christian refrain from unrighteousness.”
LOYAL SERVANTS
20 In a large household there are, not only vessels of gold and silver, but also wooden and earthen vessels. The former are used for noble ceremonies, and the latter for unsavory chores.
21 A man who keeps himself clean from the contamination of unsavory vices will become a noble vessel, consecrated and serviceable for the Master, fully prepared for every honorable service, for which he has been foreordained.
22 So turn away from youthful passions. Pursue righteousness, faith, charity, and peace with all the sincere followers of the Lord.
23 Avoid silly and absurd controversies. You know that they lead inevitably to quarrels. 24 A servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome. He must be kindly, persuasive, and tolerant toward all. 25 He must correct his opponents with gentleness. He must remember that God may enable them to repent, to acknowledge the truth, 26 and to escape from the snares, by which the devil has held them prisoners to his will.
DISCIPLES OF ANTICHRIST
1 You must realize that terrible times will come in the last days. 2 Men will be selfish, greedy, arrogant, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy. 3 They will be inhuman, ruthless, slanderous, dissolute, fierce, and wicked. 4 They will be treacherous, reckless, conceited, voluptuous, and impious. 5 They will be outwardly religious, but inwardly agnostic. Turn away from such men.
6 Some of these men sneak into families and captivate dissolute women, who are burdened by sin and swayed by violent passions, 7 who are forever inquiring but never achieving knowledge of the truth. 8 Like Jannes and Mambres who opposed Moses, so these men of depraved mind and counterfeit faith oppose the true religion. 9 But they will not make much progress. Like their predecessors, they will be soon detected. For their folly will be exposed to all men.
PAUL’S DOCTRINES
10 But you have followed my teaching, my guidance, my purpose, my faith, my endurance, my love, my patience, 11 my persecutions, and my sufferings. You know what happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra, and what persecutions I underwent in these cities. But the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all those who want to live piously in Jesus Christ will be persecuted.
13 Wicked men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceiving themselves. 14 Therefore hold fast to the doctrines you have been taught and firmly believed. You know who taught them to you. 15 Moreover, from childhood you have been acquainted with the Holy Scriptures which show you the way to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
16 All our Holy Scriptures are inspired by God. They are useful in many ways. They teach us. They expose our errors. They correct our faults. They train us in righteousness. 17 They enable all godly men to be completely equipped for every good work.
EXHORTATION
1 In the presence of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ who will judge the living and the dead, in the name of his epiphany and of his Kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 Preach the Gospel with perseverance, under favorable or unfavorable circumstances. Persuade, reprove, exhort, and teach with unfailing patience.
3 The time is coming when men will not tolerate our holy doctrine. They will recruit teachers who will pander to their cravings and tickle their fancies. 4 They will turn away from the truth and will wander after myths.
5 Therefore be always vigilant, endure suffering, and fulfill your ministry.
THE REWARD
6 As for me, I feel that my life-blood is poured out in sacrifice. Undoubtedly, the time of my departure is impending. 7 I have competed in the glorious contest. I have run my race. I have fulfilled my mission. 8 Now I look forward to the crown of righteousness which is waiting for me. The Lord, as a righteous judge, will grant it on that Day, not only to me, but also to all those who have longed for his manifestation.
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
9 Do your best to come to me quickly. 10 Demas has deserted me for love of the present world and has gone to Salonica. Crescens has left for Galatia, and Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. For he will be useful for my ministry. 12 By the way, I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring me the cloak, the books, and especially the parchments I have left with Carpus at Troas.
14 Alexander the coppersmith has done me a good deal of harm. May the Lord reward him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself. For he was bitterly opposed to our doctrine.
HIS TRIAL
16 No one came to help me when I first appeared in court to defend myself. Everybody deserted me. God forgive them. 17 But the Lord himself stood by me and gave me power to proclaim the Gospel publicly and let all the Gentiles hear it. So I was saved from the lion’s mouth.
18 I am sure the Lord will rescue me from every harm and bring me safely to his heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
GREETINGS
19 Greet Prisca, Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.
21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren send you greetings.
22 Our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.