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2 Timothy
Paul's Second Letter to Timothy
{1:1} Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,
according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, {1:2} to
Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father
and Christ Jesus our Lord.
{1:3} I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure
conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night
and day {1:4} longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be
filled with joy; {1:5} having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that
is in you; which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother
Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also.
{1:6} For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift
of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. {1:7} For God
didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
{1:8} Therefore don't be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of
me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the
power of God, {1:9} who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, {1:10} but
has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who
abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the
Good News. {1:11} For this, I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles. {1:12} For this cause I also suffer
these things.
Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am
persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him
against that day.
{1:13} Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me,
in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. {1:14} That good thing
which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in
us.
{1:15} This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me;
of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. {1:16} May the Lord grant mercy to
the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not
ashamed of my chain, {1:17} but when he was in Rome, he sought me
diligently, and found me {1:18} (the Lord grant to him to find the
Lord's mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus,
you know very well.
{2:1} You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is
in Christ Jesus. {2:2} The things which you have heard from me among
many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to
teach others also. {2:3} You therefore must endure hardship, as a good
soldier of Christ Jesus. {2:4} No soldier on duty entangles himself in
the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a
soldier. {2:5} Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn't crowned
unless he has competed by the rules. {2:6} The farmers who labor must
be the first to get a share of the crops. {2:7} Consider what I say,
and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
{2:8} Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of
David, according to my Good News, {2:9} in which I suffer hardship to
the point of chains as a criminal. But God's word isn't chained. {2:10}
Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones' sake, that they also
may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
{2:11} This saying is faithful:
"For if we died with him,
we will also live with him.
{2:12} If we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we deny him,
he also will deny us.
{2:13} If we are faithless,
he remains faithful.
He can't deny himself."
{2:14} Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of
the Lord, that they don't argue about words, to no profit, to the
subverting of those who hear.
{2:15} Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman
who doesn't need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
{2:16} But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in
ungodliness, {2:17} and their word will consume like gangrene, of whom
is Hymenaeus and Philetus; {2:18} men who have erred concerning the
truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing
the faith of some. {2:19} However God's firm foundation stands, having
this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his,"[1] and, "Let every one
who names the name of [2>]the Lord[<2] depart from unrighteousness."
{2:20} Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of
silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for
dishonor. {2:21} If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will
be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master's use,
prepared for every good work.
{2:22} Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith,
love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
{2:23} But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they
generate strife. {2:24} The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be
gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, {2:25} in gentleness
correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance
leading to a full knowledge of the truth, {2:26} and they may recover
themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him
to his will.
{3:1} But know this, that in the last days, grievous times will
come. {3:2} For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful,
arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
{3:3} without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without
self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, {3:4} traitors, headstrong,
conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; {3:5} holding
a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. Turn away
from these, also. {3:6} For of these are those who creep into houses,
and take captive gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by
various lusts, {3:7} always learning, and never able to come to the
knowledge of the truth. {3:8} Even as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,
so do these also oppose the truth; men corrupted in mind, reprobate
concerning the faith. {3:9} But they will proceed no further. For their
folly will be evident to all men, as theirs also came to be. {3:10} But
you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love,
steadfastness, {3:11} persecutions, and sufferings: those things that
happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those
persecutions. Out of them all the Lord delivered me. {3:12} Yes, and
all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
{3:13} But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving
and being deceived. {3:14} But you remain in the things which you have
learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned
them. {3:15} From infancy, you have known the sacred writings which are
able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ
Jesus. {3:16} Every writing [3>]inspired by God[<3] is profitable for
teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction which is in
righteousness, {3:17} that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
{4:1} I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his
Kingdom: {4:2} preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season;
reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. {4:3} For
the time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine,
but, having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after
their own lusts; {4:4} and will turn away their ears from the truth,
and turn aside to fables. {4:5} But you be sober in all things, suffer
hardship, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.
{4:6} For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure
has come. {4:7} I have fought the good fight. I have finished the
course. I have kept the faith. {4:8} From now on, there is stored up
for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those
who have loved his appearing. {4:9} Be diligent to come to me soon,
{4:10} for Demas left me, having loved this present world, and went to
Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. {4:11} Only
Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to
me for service. {4:12} But I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. {4:13} Bring the
cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus when you come, and the books,
especially the parchments. {4:14} Alexander, the coppersmith, did much
evil to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works, {4:15} of
whom you also must beware; for he greatly opposed our words.
{4:16} At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me.
May it not be held against them. {4:17} But the Lord stood by me, and
strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed,
and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the
mouth of the lion. {4:18} And the Lord will deliver me from every evil
work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the
glory forever and ever. Amen.
{4:19} Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. {4:20}
Erastus remained at Corinth, but I left Trophimus at Miletus sick.
{4:21} Be diligent to come before winter. Eubulus salutes you, as do
Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers. {4:22} The Lord Jesus
Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
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Footnotes:
[1] {2:19} Numbers 16:5
[2] {2:19} TR reads "Christ" instead of "the Lord"
[3] {3:16} literally, God-breathed
