Chapter I: Information, Admonition, Etc

1 [1:1]PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, [1:2]to Timothy my beloved son. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 [1:3]I thank God, whom I serve from my ancestors with a pure conscience, that I mention you incessantly in my prayers night and day, [1:4]desiring to see you, remembering your tears, that I might be filled with joy, [1:5]having a remembrance of the unfeigned faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that [it dwells] also in you. [1:6]For which cause I admonish you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the imposition of my hands. [1:7]For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

3 [1:8]Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but endure affliction with us in the gospel 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 purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus from eternity, [1:10]but made known now through the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, [1:11]of which I was made a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher of the nations; [1:12]for which cause I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed; for I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep my trust to that day.

4 [1:13]Retain the form of sound words which you heard from me in faith and the love in Christ Jesus. [1:14]Guard the good trust, through the Holy Spirit which dwells in us. [1:15]You know this, that all those in Asia left me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. [1:16]May the Lord show mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains, [1:17] but being at Rome he sought most diligently, and found me. [1:18]The Lord grant him to find mercy with the Lord in that day. And what services he performed at Ephesus, you know very well.

5 [2:1]Do you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus, [2:2] and what you heard from me through many witnesses, these things commit to faithful men, who shall be competent to teach others also. [2:3]Endure evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. [2:4]No one who serves as a soldier is involved in the business of life, that he may please him who has employed him as a soldier. [2:5]And if a man contends as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he contends lawfully. [2:6]The husbandman who labors must first partake of the fruits of the earth. [2:7]Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give you understanding in all things.

6 [2:8]Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendant of David, according to my gospel, [2:9]in which I suffer even to chains as an evil doer; but the word of God is not bound. [2:10]Therefore I endure all things for the elect, that they may obtain the salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. [2:11]The saying is true, For if we died together we shall live together; [2:12]if we endure patiently we shall reign together; if we deny him he will deny us; [2:13]if we believe not he continues faithful; for he cannot deny himself.

7 [2:14]Call to mind these things, charging [men] before the Lord not to debate about words, to no profit, to the subversion of the hearers. [2:15]Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman that will not be put to shame, rightly dividing the word of truth. [2:16]But profane and vain words, avoid; for they greatly increase impiety, [2:17]and their word will eat like a gangrene; of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, [2:18]who have erred from the truth, saying that the resurrection has passed already, and overturn the faith of some. [2:19]But the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from wickedness. [2:20]But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but those also of wood and clay, and some for honor and some for dishonor; [2:21]if therefore any one purifies himself from these [errors], he shall be a vessel for honor, sanctified, of good use to the master, prepared for every good work.

8 [2:22]But avoid youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. [2:23]But foolish and trifling disputes avoid, knowing that they produce contentions; [2:24]and the servant of the Lord must not contend, but must be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient under evil, [2:25]in meekness correcting the adversaries, that God may give them a change of mind to a knowledge of the truth, [2:26]and that they may recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are made captives by him to his will.