2 Timothy chapter 1
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
Testifying of Christ
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.
4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you and be filled with joy.
5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
6 For this reason I remind you to stir up the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
9 who has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
10 but which has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; yet I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard the good deposit entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 You know that all those in Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord have mercy on the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
17 When he was in Rome, he searched diligently for me and found me.
18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day. And you know very well how much he helped us in Ephesus.
2 Timothy chapter 2
A good soldier of Jesus Christ
1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
3 Endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.
6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
7 Reflect on what I say, and may the Lord give you insight into all this.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
9 for which I am suffering, 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, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we disown him, he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
An approved worker
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to quarrel about words, which is of no value, but only ruins the hearers.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
16 But avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
17 And their message will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18 who have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they are upsetting the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.”
20 But in a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some for special purposes and some for common use.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for special purposes, set apart as holy, useful to the Master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 Have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant arguments, knowing that they produce quarrels.
24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patient,
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Timothy chapter 3
The character of men in the last days
1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. Avoid such people.
6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various desires,
7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.
8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. Men of corrupt minds, rejected as far as the faith is concerned.
9 But they will not get very far, because their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those men.
10 But you know my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,
11 my persecutions, my sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.
12 Indeed, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
13 while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it,
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy Chapter 4
Preach the word
1 I solemnly charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5 But you, be sober in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
Personal instructions
9 Do your best to come to me soon,
10 for Demas, because he loved this present world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm; may the Lord repay him according to his deeds.
15 Be on your guard against him, for he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
Greetings and final blessing
18 And the Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.
21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, as do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.