PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, 2to Timothy, my beloved son: grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience, that I keep up a constant remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4earnestly desiring to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I might be filled with joy; 5recalling to my memory the unfeigned faith which was in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that it is in thee also. 6For which cause I remind thee that thou fan into a flame the divine gift, which is in thee by the imposition of my hands. 7For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of courage, and of love, and of sobriety.
8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer affliction with me in the gospel, supported by the power of God; 9who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before time had a beginning; 10but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and brought to light life and immortality by the gospel: 11whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12For which cause also I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed: for I know on whom I have placed my confidence, and am persuaded that he is mighty to guard my deposit unto the great day.
13Model thy teaching according to the pattern of the sound discourses, which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14The glorious deposit committed to thy trust, guard by the Holy Ghost who dwelleth in us.
15Knowest thou this, that all those of Asia have deserted me? among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16The Lord grant mercy unto the household of Onesiphorus because he frequently was a refreshment to my soul, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17but, when he was at Rome, he sought me out diligently, and found me. 18The Lord grant that he may find mercy with the Lord in the great day; and how liberally he ministered to me at Ephesus, thou knowest better than any other person.
[CHAP. II.]
THOU therefore, my son, be mighty in the grace which is in Jesus Christ. 2And the things which thou hast heard of me before many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who shall be qualified to teach others also. 3Thou therefore endure hardships, as a brave soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No man who enters the army involves himself with secular affairs; that he may please the person who hath enlisted him. 5And if a man contend in the public games, he is not crowned victor, unless he contend according to the laws. 6The husbandman who toils is the first who ought to partake of the fruits. 7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead, according to my gospel: 9for which I suffer affliction, even unto chains as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound. 10Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Jesus Christ with eternal glory.
11It is a faithful saying: for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12if we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him: if we renounce him, he also will renounce us: 13if we are unbelieving, he abideth faithful; he cannot contradict himself. 14Put them in mind of these things, adjuring them before the Lord not to quarrel about words of no use, but tending to the perversion of the audience.
15Be diligent to present thyself before God approved, a workman that need not blush, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16But profane vain bablings avoid: for they will proceed to greater lengths of impiety. 17And their discourse will eat like as a gangrene; of whom are Hymeneus and Philetus; 18who with respect to the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection hath been already; and pervert the faith of some. 19Nevertheless the stable foundation of God standeth firm, having this seal, the Lord knoweth those who belong to him. And, let every man who mentions the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.