II Timothy 1-2

II Timothy 1

¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,

²to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³I 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

⁴longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;

⁵having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also.

⁶For 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.

⁷For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

⁸Therefore 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,

⁹who 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,

¹⁰but 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.

¹¹For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

¹²For 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.

¹³Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

¹⁴That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

¹⁵This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

¹⁶May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,

¹⁷but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me

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.

II Timothy 2

¹You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

²The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

³You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

⁴No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

⁵Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules.

⁶The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.

⁷Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News,

⁹in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.

¹⁰Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹This saying is trustworthy: “For if we died with him, we will also live with him.

¹²If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

¹³If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.”

¹⁴Remind 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.

¹⁵Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

¹⁶But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,

¹⁷and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:

¹⁸men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.

¹⁹However, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”

²⁰Now 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.

²¹If 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.

²²Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

²³But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

²⁴The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient,

²⁵in gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

²⁶and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.