2 TIMOTHY
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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my
beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our
Lord. 3 I am grateful to God--whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my
ancestors did--when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4
Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am
reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother
Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason
I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying
on of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a
spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 8 Do not be ashamed, then,
of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in
suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9 who saved us and called
us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own
purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages
began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior
Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle
and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed,
for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to
guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of
sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in
Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the
Holy Spirit living in us. 15 You are aware that all who are in Asia have turned
away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to
the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed
of my chain; 17 when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me
18 --may the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! And
you know very well how much service he rendered in Ephesus.
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You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus; 2 and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to
faithful people who will be able to teach others as well. 3 Share in suffering
like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving in the army gets entangled
in everyday affairs; the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer. 5 And
in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the
rules. 6 It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of
the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in
all things. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of
David--that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of
being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore
I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the
salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure: If
we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also
reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he
remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself. 14 Remind them of this, and warn
them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good
but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to
God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly
explaining the word of truth. 16 Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people
into more and more impiety, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among
them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth by claiming
that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of
some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: "The Lord
knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
turn away from wickedness." 20 In a large house there are utensils not only of
gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for
ordinary. 21 All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will
become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready
for every good work. 22 Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith,
love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23
Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they
breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to
everyone, an apt teacher, patient, 25 correcting opponents with gentleness. God
may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and that
they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to
do his will.
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You must understand this, that in the last days distressing
times will come. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,
boasters, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3
inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, brutes, haters of good, 4
treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than
lovers of God, 5 holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power.
Avoid them! 6 For among them are those who make their way into households and
captivate silly women, overwhelmed by their sins and swayed by all kinds of
desires, 7 who are always being instructed and can never arrive at a knowledge
of the truth. 8 As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people, of corrupt
mind and counterfeit faith, also oppose the truth. 9 But they will not make much
progress, because, as in the case of those two men, their folly will become
plain to everyone. 10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in
life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and
suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What
persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, all
who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 But wicked
people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being
deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly
believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have
known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through
faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so
that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good
work.
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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the
living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly
urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or
unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in
teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound
doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers
to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and
wander away to myths. 5 As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the
work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. 6 As for me, I am already
being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From
now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all
who have longed for his appearing. 9 Do your best to come to me soon, 10 for
Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to
Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is
with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. 12 I
have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left
with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander
the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. 15
You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first
defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted
against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through
me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So
I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil
attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and
ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20
Erastus remained in Corinth; Trophimus I left ill in Miletus. 21 Do your best to
come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and
Claudia and all the brothers and sisters. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace
be with you.
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