1 ^1:1PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, ^1:2to Timothy my beloved son. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 ^1:3I thank God, whom I serve from my ancestors with a pure conscience, that I mention you incessantly in my prayers night and day, ^1:4desiring to see you, remembering your tears, that I might be filled with joy, ^1:5having a remembrance of the unfeigned faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that [it dwells] also in you. ^1:6For which cause I admonish you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the imposition of my hands. ^1:7For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

3 ^1:8Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but endure affliction with us in the gospel according to the power of God, ^1:9who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus from eternity, ^1:10but made known now through the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ^1:11of which I was made a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher of the nations; ^1:12for which cause I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed; for I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep my trust to that day.

4 ^1:13Retain the form of sound words which you heard from me in faith and the love in Christ Jesus. ^1:14Guard the good trust, through the Holy Spirit which dwells in us. ^1:15You know this, that all those in Asia left me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ^1:16May the Lord show mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains, ^1:17but being at Rome he sought most diligently, and found me. ^1:18The Lord grant him to find mercy with the Lord in that day. And what services he performed at Ephesus, you know very well.

5 ^2:1Do you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus, ^2:2and what you heard from me through many witnesses, these things commit to faithful men, who shall be competent to teach others also. ^2:3Endure evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ^2:4No one who serves as a soldier is involved in the business of life, that he may please him who has employed him as a soldier. ^2:5And if a man contends as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he contends lawfully. ^2:6The husbandman who labors must first partake of the fruits of the earth. ^2:7Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give you understanding in all things.

6 ^2:8Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendant of David, according to my gospel, ^2:9in which I suffer even to chains as an evil doer; but the word of God is not bound. ^2:10Therefore I endure all things for the elect, that they may obtain the salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ^2:11The saying is true, For if we died together we shall live together; ^2:12if we endure patiently we shall reign together; if we deny him he will deny us; ^2:13if we believe not he continues faithful; for he cannot deny himself.

7 ^2:14Call to mind these things, charging [men] before the Lord not to debate about words, to no profit, to the subversion of the hearers. ^2:15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman that will not be put to shame, rightly dividing the word of truth. ^2:16But profane and vain words, avoid; for they greatly increase impiety, ^2:17and their word will eat like a gangrene; of whom are HymenÆus and Philetus, ^2:18who have erred from the truth, saying that the resurrection has passed already, and overturn the faith of some. ^2:19But the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from wickedness. ^2:20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but those also of wood and clay, and some for honor and some for dishonor; ^2:21if therefore any one purifies himself from these [errors], he shall be a vessel for honor, sanctified, of good use to the master, prepared for every good work.

8 ^2:22But avoid youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ^2:23But foolish and trifling disputes avoid, knowing that they produce contentions; ^2:24and the servant of the Lord must not contend, but must be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient under evil, ^2:25in meekness correcting the adversaries, that God may give them a change of mind to a knowledge of the truth, ^2:26and that they may recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are made captives by him to his will.