2 Timoteo

¹ Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will, according to promise of life, the life which is in Christ Jesus, ² to Timotheus, my beloved child: grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. ³ I am thankful to God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, how unceasingly I have the remembrance of thee in my supplications night and day, ⁴ earnestly desiring to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; ⁵ calling to mind the unfeigned faith which has been in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in thee also.

⁶ For which cause I put thee in mind to rekindle the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of wise discretion. ⁸ Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but suffer evil along with the glad tidings, according to the power of God; ⁹ who has saved us, and has 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 the ages of time, ¹⁰ but has been made manifest now by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has annulled death, and brought to light life and incorruptibility by the glad tidings; ¹¹ to which *I* have been appointed a herald and apostle and teacher of the nations. ¹² For which cause also I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep for that day the deposit I have entrusted to him. ¹³ Have an outline of sound words, which words thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Keep, by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us, the good deposit entrusted.

¹⁵ Thou knowest this, that all who are in Asia, of whom is Phygellus and Hermogenes, have turned away from me. ¹⁶ The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he has often refreshed me, and has not been ashamed of my chain; ¹⁷ but being in Rome sought me out very diligently, and found me -- ¹⁸ the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord in that day--and how much service he rendered in Ephesus *thou* knowest best.

¹ Thou therefore, my child, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things thou hast heard of me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, such as shall be competent to instruct others also. ³ Take thy share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And if also any one contend in the games , he is not crowned unless he contend lawfully. ⁶ The husbandman must labour before partaking of the fruits. ⁷ Think of what I say, for the Lord will give thee understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ raised from among the dead, of the seed of David, according to my glad tidings, ⁹ in which I suffer even unto bonds as an evil-doer: but the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰ For this cause I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that *they* also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. ¹¹ The word is faithful; for if we have died together with him , we shall also live together; ¹² if we endure, we shall also reign together; if we deny, *he* also will deny us; ¹³ if we are unfaithful, *he* abides faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

¹⁴ Of these things put in remembrance, testifying earnestly before the Lord not to have disputes of words, profitable for nothing, to the subversion of the hearers. ¹⁵ Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth. ¹⁶ But profane, vain babblings shun, for they will advance to greater impiety, ¹⁷ and their word will spread as a gangrene; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; ¹⁸  men who as to the truth have gone astray, saying that the resurrection has taken place already; and overthrow the faith of some.

¹⁹ Yet the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, The Lord knows those that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of the Lord withdraw from iniquity. ²⁰ But in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. ²¹ If therefore one shall have purified himself from these, in separating himself from them , he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work.

²² But youthful lusts flee, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But foolish and senseless questionings avoid, knowing that they beget contentions. ²⁴ And a bondman of the Lord ought not to contend, but be gentle towards all; apt to teach; forbearing; ²⁵ in meekness setting right those who oppose, if God perhaps may sometime give them repentance to acknowledgment of the truth, ²⁶ and that they may awake up out of the snare of the devil, who are taken by him, for *his* will.

¹ But this know, that in the last days difficult times shall be there; ² for men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, evil speakers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, profane, ³ without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, of unsubdued passions, savage, having no love for what is good, ⁴ traitors, headlong, of vain pretensions, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; ⁵ having a form of piety but denying the power of it: and from these turn away. ⁶ For of these are they who are getting into houses, and leading captive silly women, laden with sins, led by various lusts, ⁷ always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Now in the same manner in which Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, thus these also withstand the truth; men corrupted in mind, found worthless as regards the faith. ⁹ But they shall not advance farther; for their folly shall be completely manifest to all, as that of those also became.

¹⁰ But *thou* hast been thoroughly acquainted with my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings: what sufferings happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; what persecutions I endured; and the Lord delivered me out of all. ¹² And all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. ¹³ But wicked men and juggling impostors shall advance in evil, leading and being led astray. ¹⁴ But *thou*, abide in those things which thou hast learned, and of which thou hast been fully persuaded, knowing of whom thou hast learned them ; ¹⁵ and that from a child thou hast known the sacred letters, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ Every scripture is divinely inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, fully fitted to every good work.

¹ I testify before God and Christ Jesus, who is about to judge living and dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, ² proclaim the word; be urgent in season and out of season, convict, rebuke, encourage, with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time shall be when they will not bear sound teaching; but according to their own lusts will heap up to themselves teachers, having an itching ear; ⁴ and they will turn away their ear from the truth, and will have turned aside to fables. ⁵ But *thou*, be sober in all things, bear evils, do the work of an evangelist, fill up the full measure of thy ministry. ⁶ For *I* am already being poured out, and the time of my release is come. ⁷ I have combated the good combat, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will render to me in that day; but not only to me, but also to all who love his appearing.

⁹ Use diligence to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for Demas has forsaken me, having loved the present age, and is gone to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹ Luke alone is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thyself, for he is serviceable to me for ministry. ¹² But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ The cloak which I left behind me in Troas at Carpus's, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander the smith did many evil things against me. The Lord will render to him according to his works. ¹⁵ Against whom be *thou* also on thy guard, for he has greatly withstood our words.

¹⁶ At my first defence no man stood with me, but all deserted me. May it not be imputed to them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me , and gave me power, that through me the proclamation might be fully made, and all those of the nations should hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord shall deliver me from every wicked work, and shall preserve me for his heavenly kingdom; to whom be glory for the ages of ages. Amen. ¹⁹ Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus remained in Corinth, but Trophimus I left behind in Miletus sick. ²¹ Use diligence to come before winter. Eubulus salutes thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and the brethren all. ²² The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you.