{i1:1} Salutation
{1:1} From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to further the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
{1:2} to Timothy, my dear child. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord! 
{i1:3} Thanksgiving and Charge to Timothy
{1:3} I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day.
{1:4} As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.
{1:5} I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you.
{1:6} Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands.
{1:7} For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.
{1:8} So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel.
{1:9} He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,
{1:10} but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!
{1:11} For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher.
{1:12} Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.
{1:13} Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
{1:14} Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
{1:15} You know that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
{1:16} May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment.
{1:17} But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me.
{1:18} May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus.
{i2:1} Serving Faithfully Despite Hardship
{2:1} So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
{2:2} And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well.
{2:3} Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
{2:4} No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.
{2:5} Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.
{2:6} The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.
{2:7} Think about what I am saying and the Lord will give you understanding of all this.
{2:8} Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David; such is my gospel,
{2:9} for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned!
{2:10} So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.
{2:11} This saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him.
{2:12} If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.
{2:13} If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself. 
{i2:14} Dealing with False Teachers
{2:14} Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.
{2:15} Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.
{2:16} But avoid profane chatter, because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,
{2:17} and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group.
{2:18} They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.
{2:19} However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”
{2:20} Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.
{2:21} So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
{2:22} But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
{2:23} But reject foolish and ignorant controversies, because you know they breed infighting.
{2:24} And the Lord’s slave must not engage in heated disputes but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,
{2:25} correcting opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth
{2:26} and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.
{i3:1} Ministry in the Last Days
{3:1} But understand this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
{3:2} For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
{3:3} unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,
{3:4} treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God.
{3:5} They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.
{3:6} For some of these insinuate themselves into households and captivate weak women who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions.
{3:7} Such women are always seeking instruction, yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
{3:8} And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these people — who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith — also oppose the truth.
{3:9} But they will not go much further, for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres. 
{i3:10} Continue in What You Have Learned
{3:10} You, however, have followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,
{3:11} as well as the persecutions and sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all.
{3:12} Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
{3:13} But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.
{3:14} You, however, must continue in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know who taught you
{3:15} and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
{3:16} Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
{3:17} that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.
{i4:1} Charge to Timothy Repeated
{4:1} I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
{4:2} Preach the message, be ready whether it is convenient or not, reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and instruction.
{4:3} For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
{4:4} And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths.
{4:5} You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry.
{4:6} For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart is at hand.
{4:7} I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!
{4:8} Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day — and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on his appearing. 
{i4:9} Travel Plans and Concluding Greetings
{4:9} Make every effort to come to me soon.
{4:10} For Demas deserted me, since he loved the present age, and he went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.
{4:11} Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is a great help to me in ministry.
{4:12} Now I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
{4:13} When you come, bring with you the cloak I left in Troas with Carpas and the scrolls, especially the parchments.
{4:14} Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him in keeping with his deeds.
{4:15} You be on guard against him too, because he vehemently opposed our words.
{4:16} At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me — may they not be held accountable for it.
{4:17} But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!
{4:18} The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.
{4:19} Greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.
{4:20} Erastus stayed in Corinth. Trophimus I left ill in Miletus.
{4:21} Make every effort to come before winter. Greetings to you from Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.
{4:22} The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.