2 Timothy

Greetings and Thanksgiving

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God, for the sake of his promise of eternal life in Christ Jesus, 

to my dear son Timothy. May grace, mercy, and peace be with you from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience just as my ancestors did, and I constantly remember you in my prayers, night and day.

I recall your tears and long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure it also lives in you.

Therefore, I encourage you to rekindle the gift of God you received through the laying on of my hands.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound judgment. 

Do not be ashamed of testifying about our Lord or of my being in chains. Instead, share in the work of spreading the gospel with the strength that God provides. 

He saved us and called us—a calling that flows from his holiness. This did not depend on our merits but on his generosity and initiative. This calling, given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

has now been revealed through the glorious appearance of Christ Jesus, our Lord, who defeated death and brought life and immortality to light in his gospel. 

Of this message, I was made a herald, apostle, and teacher. 

For its sake, I now endure this trial, but I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have trusted, and I am confident that he is capable of taking care of all I have entrusted to him, until that day. 

Follow the pattern of sound doctrine, which you heard from me about faith and love in Christ Jesus. 

Keep this precious deposit safe through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

You should know that people from Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

May the Lord show his mercy to the household of Onesiphorus because he often comforted me and was not ashamed when he found out that I was in prison.

On the contrary, he demonstrated courage, looked for me, and found me. 

May the Lord grant him mercy on that day. You know better than I do all the service he rendered in Ephesus.