2 Timothy

2 Timothy 1

1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

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To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

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

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Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.

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I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

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For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

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For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

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So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,

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who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

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but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

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And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.

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That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

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What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.

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Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

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You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

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May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

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On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me.

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May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

2 Timothy 2

1

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

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Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

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No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer.

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Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

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The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

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Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

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Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

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for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.

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Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

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Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;

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if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;

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if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

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Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

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Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

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Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

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who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

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Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," ^[1] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

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In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble.

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If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

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Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

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Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.

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And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

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Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,

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and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

2 Timothy 3

1

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

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People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

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without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,

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treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--

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having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

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They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,

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always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

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Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected.

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But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

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You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,

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persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

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In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

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while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

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But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,

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and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

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so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 4

1

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

2

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

3

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

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They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

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But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

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For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.

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I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

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Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

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Do your best to come to me quickly,

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for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

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Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

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I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

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When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

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Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.

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You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

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At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.

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But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.

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The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19

Greet Priscilla ^[2] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.

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Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus.

21

Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers.

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The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.