2 Timothy 1-4

New American Standard Bible

Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust

1 Paul, ^(A)an apostle of ^(B)Christ Jesus ^[a]^(C)by the will of God, according to the promise of ^(D)life in Christ Jesus,

²To ^(E)Timothy, my beloved ^[b]^(F)son: ^(G)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

³^(H)I thank God, whom I ^(I)serve with a ^(J)clear conscience ^[c]the way my forefathers did, ^(K)as I constantly remember you in my ^[d]prayers night and day, ⁴^(L)longing to see you, ^(M)even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵^[e]For I am mindful of the ^(N)sincere faith within you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and ^(O)your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. ⁶For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh ^(P)the gift of God which is in you through ^(Q)the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God has not given us a ^(R)spirit of ^[f]timidity, but of power and love and ^[g]discipline.

⁸Therefore ^(S)do not be ashamed of the ^(T)testimony of our Lord or of me ^(U)His prisoner, but join with me in ^(V)suffering for the ^(W)gospel according to the power of God, ⁹who ^(X)saved us and ^(Y)called us with a holy ^(Z)calling, ^(AA)not according to our works, but according to His own ^(AB)purpose and grace, which was granted to us in ^(AC)Christ Jesus from ^(AD)all eternity, ¹⁰but has ^(AE)now been revealed by the ^(AF)appearing of our Savior ^(AG)Christ Jesus, who ^(AH)abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, ¹¹^(AI)for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. ¹²For this reason I also suffer these things; but ^(AJ)I am not ashamed, for I know ^(AK)whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to ^(AL)protect what I have entrusted to Him ^[h]until ^(AM)that day. ¹³^(AN)Hold on to the ^(AO)example of ^(AP)sound words ^(AQ)which you have heard from me, in the ^(AR)faith and love which are in ^(AS)Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Protect, through the Holy Spirit who ^(AT)dwells in us, the ^[i]^(AU)treasure which has been entrusted to you.

¹⁵You are aware of the fact that all who are in ^[j]^(AV)Asia ^(AW)turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶The Lord grant mercy to ^(AX)the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and ^(AY)was not ashamed of my ^[k]^(AZ)chains; ¹⁷but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me— ¹⁸the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on ^(BA)that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at ^(BB)Ephesus.

Be Strong

2 You therefore, my ^[l]^(BC)son, ^(BD)be strong in the grace that is in ^(BE)Christ Jesus. ²The things ^(BF)which you have heard from me in the presence of ^(BG)many witnesses, ^(BH)entrust these to ^(BI)faithful ^[m]people who will be ^(BJ)able to teach others also. ³^(BK)Suffer hardship with me, as a good ^(BL)soldier of ^(BM)Christ Jesus. ⁴No soldier in active service ^(BN)entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. ⁵And if someone likewise ^(BO)competes as an athlete, he is not ^[n]crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶^(BP)The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. ⁷Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, ^(BQ)risen from the dead, ^(BR)descendant of David, ^(BS)according to my gospel, ⁹^[o]for which I ^(BT)suffer hardship even to ^(BU)imprisonment as a ^(BV)criminal; but ^(BW)the word of God ^(BX)is not imprisoned. ¹⁰For this reason ^(BY)I endure all things for ^(BZ)the sake of ^[p]those who are chosen, ^(CA)so that they also may obtain the ^(CB)salvation which is in ^(CC)Christ Jesus and with it ^(CD)eternal glory. ¹¹^(CE)The statement is trustworthy:

For ^(CF)if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
¹²If we endure, ^(CG)we will also reign with Him;
If we ^[q]^(CH)deny Him, He will also deny us;
¹³If we are faithless, ^(CI)He remains faithful, for ^(CJ)He cannot deny Himself.

An Unashamed Worker

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(CK)exhort them in the presence of God not to ^(CL)dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners. ¹⁵Be diligent to ^(CM)present yourself approved to God as a worker who ^[r]does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(CN)the word of truth. ¹⁶But ^(CO)avoid ^(CP)worldly and empty chatter, for ^[s]it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷and their ^[t]talk will spread like ^[u]gangrene. Among them are ^(CQ)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that ^(CR)the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing ^(CS)the faith of some. ¹⁹Nevertheless, the ^(CT)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(CU)seal: “^(CV)The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “^(CW)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

²⁰Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and ^(CX)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. ²¹Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(CY)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(CZ)prepared for every good work. ²²Now ^(DA)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(DB)faith, love, and peace with those who ^(DC)call on the Lord ^(DD)from a pure heart. ²³But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(DE)speculations, knowing that they ^(DF)produce ^[v]quarrels. ²⁴^(DG)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(DH)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, ²⁵^(DI)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, ^(DJ)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to ^(DK)the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(DL)the snare of the devil, having been ^(DM)held captive ^[w]by him to do his will.

Difficult Times Will Come

3 But realize this, that ^(DN)in the last days difficult times will come. ²For people will be ^(DO)lovers of self, ^(DP)lovers of money, ^(DQ)boastful, ^(DR)arrogant, ^(DS)slanderers, ^(DT)disobedient to parents, ^(DU)ungrateful, ^(DV)unholy, ³^(DW)unloving, irreconcilable, ^(DX)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, ^[x]^(DY)haters of good, ⁴^(DZ)treacherous, ^(EA)reckless, ^(EB)conceited, ^(EC)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵holding to a form of ^[y]^(ED)godliness although they have ^(EE)denied its power; ^(EF)avoid such people as these. ⁶For among them are those who ^[z]^(EG)slip into households and captivate ^[aa]^(EH)weak women weighed down with sins, led on by ^(EI)various impulses, ⁷always learning and never able to ^(EJ)come to the ^[ab]knowledge of the truth. ⁸Just as ^(EK)Jannes and Jambres ^(EL)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, ^(EM)men of depraved mind, ^[ac]worthless in regard to the faith. ⁹But they will not make further progress; for their ^(EN)foolishness will be obvious to all, just ^(EO)as was that also of ^[ad]Jannes and Jambres.

¹⁰Now you ^(EP)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, ^(EQ)love, ^[ae]perseverance, ¹¹^(ER)persecutions, and ^(ES)sufferings, such as happened to me at ^(ET)Antioch, at ^(EU)Iconium, and at ^(EV)Lystra; what ^(EW)persecutions I endured, and out of them all ^(EX)the Lord rescued me! ¹²Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus ^(EY)will be persecuted. ¹³But evil people and impostors ^(EZ)will proceed from bad to worse, ^(FA)deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴You, however, ^(FB)continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵and that ^(FC)from childhood you have known ^(FD)the sacred writings which are able to ^(FE)give you the wisdom that leads to ^(FF)salvation through faith which is in ^(FG)Christ Jesus. ¹⁶^(FH)All Scripture is ^[af]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for ^[ag]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷so that ^(FI)the man or woman of God may be ^[ah]fully capable, ^(FJ)equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 ^(FK)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(FL)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(FM)appearing and His kingdom: ²preach ^(FN)the word; be ready ^[ai]in season and out of season; ^(FO)correct, rebuke, and ^[aj]exhort, with ^[ak]great ^(FP)patience and instruction. ³For ^(FQ)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(FR)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴and they ^(FS)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(FT)will turn aside to myths. ⁵But as for you, ^(FU)use self-restraint in all things, ^(FV)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(FW)evangelist, fulfill your ^(FX)ministry.

⁶For I am already being ^(FY)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(FZ)my departure has come. ⁷^(GA)I have fought the good fight, I have finished ^(GB)the course, I have kept ^(GC)the faith; ⁸in the future there ^(GD)is reserved for me ^(GE)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ^(GF)that day; and not only to me, but also to ^(GG)all who have loved His ^(GH)appearing.

Personal Concerns

⁹^(GI)Make every effort to come to me soon; ¹⁰for ^(GJ)Demas, having loved ^(GK)this present ^[al]world, has deserted me and gone to ^(GL)Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to ^[am]^(GM)Galatia, ^(GN)Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹^(GO)Only ^(GP)Luke is with me. Take along ^(GQ)Mark and bring him with you, ^(GR)for he is useful to me for service. ¹²But I have sent ^(GS)Tychicus to ^(GT)Ephesus. ¹³When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at ^(GU)Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴^(GV)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ^(GW)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our ^[an]teaching.

¹⁶At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; ^(GX)may it not be counted against them. ¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and ^(GY)strengthened me, so that through me ^(GZ)the proclamation might ^[ao]be ^(HA)fully accomplished, and that all ^(HB)the Gentiles might hear; and I was ^(HC)rescued out of ^(HD)the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will ^[ap]^(HE)bring me safely to His ^(HF)heavenly kingdom; ^(HG)to ^[aq]Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

¹⁹Greet Prisca and ^(HH)Aquila, and ^(HI)the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰^(HJ)Erastus remained at ^(HK)Corinth, but I left ^(HL)Trophimus sick at ^(HM)Miletus. ²¹^(HN)Make every effort to come before ^(HO)winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.