Second Letter to Timothy
_____________
CHAPTER 1
_____________
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God for the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 to Timothy, beloved child. Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 With a clear conscience I give thanks to God whom I worship as my ancestors did. Unceasingly night and day I make mention of you in my prayers, 4 remembering your tears, longing to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I remember the sincere faith that is in you. It resided first in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice and, I am convinced, it is also in you.
6 This is why I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-control. 8 Do not be ashamed then of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in the hardships of the Gospel through the power of God 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not by our actions, but through his own purpose and the grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus before time everlasting. 10 This has now been revealed by the appearance of our Saviour Jesus Christ who truly abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel 11 for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher of the nations. 12 It is for this reason that I suffer these things, but I am not ashamed because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to keep safe my commitment until that day.
13 With faith and love in Christ Jesus, hold on to the pattern of wholesome doctrine that you heard from me. 14 Keep the noble commitment safe through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 As you know, everyone in Asia turned away from me, including Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus because he often lifted my spirits and was not embarrassed by my chains, 17 and when he was in Rome he diligently sought and found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he finds mercy from the Lord on that Day, for he ministered at Ephesus in so many ways, as you very well know.
_____________
CHAPTER 2
_____________
1 You, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And these things that you heard from me through many witnesses, entrust them to faithful people, to those who will also be competent to teach others. 3 As a good soldier of Jesus Christ, you are to put up with hardship; 4 no one on active service entangles himself in the affairs of life if he is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 Then there are those who compete; they cannot be crowned unless they compete by the rules. 6 The labouring farmer should be the first to take a share of the crops. 7 Think about what I am saying, and may the Lord give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, of the seed of David. That is my Gospel 9 for which I am suffering hardship to the extent of being chained like a criminal, though the word of God is not chained. 10 The reason I am enduring all this is for the sake of the chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with everlasting glory. 11 The saying is true: ‘If we died with him, we shall also live with him. 12 If we persevere, we shall also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us. 13 If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot disown himself.’
14 Remind them of these things and solemnly warn them in the presence of the Lord not to quibble over words. That serves no purpose except to undermine those listening. 15 Strive to present yourself approved by God, a worker with no cause to be ashamed who correctly discerns the word of truth. 16 But avoid profane babblings because they lead people into yet more irreverence, 17 and their words will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus 18 who turned away from the truth, saying that the resurrection had already happened and overturning the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, and it bears these credentials: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Let every one who professes the name of the Lord turn away from unrighteousness.’
20 In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earthenware. The former are for noble use, the latter for ignoble use. 21 Those who purge themselves from these things will therefore be vessels for noble use, set apart and suitable for the Master, ready for every good work.
22 Flee from the lusts of youth; pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Avoid foolish and ignorant questions, for you know that they generate conflict. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle towards all, able to teach, long-suffering, 25 correcting with humility those who oppose, for God may give them a change of heart so that they acknowledge the truth 26 and recover their senses from the devil’s snare, from being held captive to his will.
_____________
CHAPTER 3
_____________
1 Understand this, that with the last days will come distressing times. 2 People will be self-centred, money-loving, boastful, arrogant, blasphemous, rebellious towards parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, implacable, slanderous, immoderate, uncivilised; despising virtue, they will be 4 disloyal, reckless, conceited; loving pleasure rather than God, 5 they have an appearance of godliness while denying its power. Spurn them, 6 for some of them are sneaking into houses and ensnaring foolish women who are burdened with sins and led astray by all manner of desires; 7 they are always inquiring yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 These, who are corrupt in mind and discredited regarding the faith, oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, 9 and like them they will progress no further because their folly will become evident to all.
10 But you have followed closely my teaching and way of life, my purpose, faith, fortitude, love, endurance, 11 the persecutions, the afflictions that overtook me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra. What persecutions I endured, and from them all the Lord delivered me. 12 But all who want to live in Christ Jesus in a godly way will be persecuted; 13 and evil people and impostors will become increasingly worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14 As for you, continue in what you learnt and of which you were assured, knowing who taught you; 15 because from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the people of God may be complete and fully equipped for every good work.
_____________
CHAPTER 4
_____________
1 Before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who is to judge the living and the dead, I charge you by his appearing and by his Kingdom 2 to preach the word. Be attentive in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, encourage with much patience and instruction, 3 for the time will come when they will not put up with sound doctrine but will accumulate for themselves teachers of their own choosing to tickle their ears. 4 They will turn back from listening to the truth and turn aside to fables. 5 But you are to be sober in every way. Put up with hardship. Do the work of an evangelist. Carry out your ministry to the full.
6 As for me, I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for my release is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 8 What remains is the crown of righteousness reserved for me that the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who delight in his appearing.
9 Make an effort to come to me soon, 10 for Demas, in love with the present age, deserted me. He went away to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia; 11 only Luke is with me. Get hold of Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, as well as the texts, and particularly the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; may the Lord repay him for what he has done. 15 Beware of him, for he is bitterly opposed to our message.
16 At my first defence no one stood by me; yes, everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching might be completed and all the nations might hear. I was plucked from the lion’s mouth, 18 and the Lord will rescue me from all kinds of trouble and keep me safe for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be glory to the ages of ages. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained in Corinth, and I left Trophimus ill at Miletus. 21 Try to come before winter.
Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens and Linus and Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
