Chapter 1
1 I, Paul, became an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. God entrusted me to preach about the life that He promised to give to people and that He gave to us through Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy, my dear son, I write to you. God is our Father, and Jesus Christ is our Lord. May God fill you with His grace and mercy, and may Jesus bring peace to your heart.
3 I thank God for you, the God whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
4 I remember how you said goodbye to me with tears in your eyes, and I really want to see you again. Then my heart will be filled with joy.
5 I remember your sincere faith, which first lived in the heart of your grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. I am sure that the same faith now fills your heart as well.
6 So I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which you received when I laid my hands on you and ordained you for ministry.
7 God has given us His Spirit, so that we will not live in fear. Instead, His Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.
8 So do not be afraid to share about our Lord Jesus Christ. Also do not be ashamed of me, because I am imprisoned for preaching about the Lord. Instead, rely on God’s power and be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News about Christ.
9 God saved us and called us to live holy lives. He did this not because we deserved it by our deeds or actions, but according to His plan and grace. And God gave us this grace through Christ Jesus, before He created the world, and before time began.
10 When our Savior Jesus Christ came to earth, God showed us His grace. Jesus destroyed death and gave us life and immortality through the Good News.
11 God has chosen me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News about Christ.
12 I am in prison because I preached about Christ. But I have no regrets, because I know whom I believe in. I am convinced that Jesus is able to keep me and my ministry safe until the day He comes again.
13 Take as your example what you have heard from me. Follow this sound teaching, live by faith, and act in love, because you belong to Jesus Christ.
14 The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts. He will help you keep all the precious things God has entrusted to you.
15 You know that all the believers who live in the Roman province of Asia were afraid of my arrest and turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show His kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family. He has supported me many times and was not afraid to visit me in prison.
17 Instead, he came to Rome and searched for me until he found me.
18 May the Lord show him special kindness on the day when Jesus returns to earth. You know very well how much Onesiphorus helped me in Ephesus.
Chapter 2
1 So, my son, rely on the grace of God and be strong in Jesus Christ.
2 I have taught you and many others. Now pass this knowledge on to other believers who can be trusted and who can teach others.
3 So you are a spiritual warrior. That is why you should endure suffering with me as a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No soldier is distracted by the daily worries. Instead, he obeys his commander’s orders, so that he can win the battle.
5 In the same way, an athlete disciplines himself and obeys the rules of competition so that he can win the prize.
6 In the same way, a farmer works hard, so that he can be the first to enjoy the fruits of his harvest.
7 Meditate on what I am saying. And may the Lord give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember, God promised that the Savior would come from the family of King David. Jesus Christ was indeed a descendant of David, and when Jesus rose from the dead, God fulfilled His promise. So now I preach this Good News about Christ.
9 I suffered because I preached about Jesus. So I was put in chains like a criminal. But God’s Word cannot be bound in chains.
10 So I patiently endure all my sufferings for the sake of those whom God has chosen, so that they also may be saved through Jesus Christ and enter eternal glory.
11 This is a truth that we must accept without any doubt: If we died with Christ, we will also live with Him.
12 If we endure sufferings with Christ, we will also reign with Him. But if we deny Christ and tell others that we do not know Him, Christ will also deny us and tell God that He does not know us.
13 If we stop trusting Christ, He still remains trustworthy, because He cannot change who He is.
14 Remind the believers of all these things. If anyone likes to argue over unimportant matters, warn them in the name of the Lord and do not let them drag others into pointless arguments. Such talk does no good and confuses others.
15 Work hard for God so that He will recognize you as faithful. Serve Him with a clear conscience, and teach others correctly what the truth says.
16 Do not engage in foolish talk that defiles a person and leads him further and further away from God.
17 You know Hymenaeus and Philetus, who spread false doctrine that affects people like cancer.
18 They have turned away from the truth and now claim that God has already raised those who died. In this way, they destroy the faith of some people.
19 But we stand on the truth of God as on a solid foundation that God has laid. On this foundation God has set His seal with these words, “The Lord knows those who belong to Him.” And again, “Everyone who calls on the name of Jesus and acknowledges Him as Lord must stop doing evil.”
20 In any wealthy home there are not only gold and silver utensils, but also wooden and clay ones. Some are used for special occasions, and others are used for dirty work and garbage.
21 He who cleanses himself from sin will be like expensive utensils that are not used for garbage. Such a person lives a holy life. Then God, who has all power, will be able to use him and prepare him for every good work.
22 Avoid everything that stirs up sinful desires and leads young people astray. Instead, strive to do what is right. Strengthen your faith, love people, and live peacefully with them. This is what everyone does who calls on the Lord from a pure heart.
23 Do not engage in foolish and useless conversations with those who always find a reason to argue. You know that such discussions end in quarrels.
24 He who serves the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, he must be kind to everyone. He must be able to explain the truth so that others can understand it. He must also be patient when he is treated unfairly.
25 He who serves the Lord must calmly explain the truth to those who oppose it. Remember that God can lead them to repentance so that they could understand the teaching of the truth.
26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who held them captive to do his will.
Chapter 3
1 Timothy, you should know that in the last days there will be very hard times.
2 People will love only themselves and value money more than anything else. They will boast and be proud of themselves. They will insult others and mock the Lord. They will disobey their parents and be ungrateful. Nothing will be sacred to them.
3 They will not love others and will not live in peace with others. They will spread slander and will not control themselves. They will be cruel and will hate everything that is good.
4 They will betray one another, behave foolishly, and show arrogance. They will love pleasure more than God.
5 They will act as if they serve God. But in reality, they will deny God’s power that can change a person’s heart. Stay away from such people.
6 Some of them are so cunning that they easily deceive others, and people open their homes to them. Then they gain the trust of women who are entangled in their sins and follow all sorts of sinful desires.
7 They are always learning, but they can never come to understand the truth.
8 Jannes and Jambres once resisted Moses with their miracles when Moses spoke to Pharaoh in the name of God. In the same way, these people resist the truth. Sin has distorted their ability to understand the truth. So, what they believe has nothing to do with true faith.
9 But they will not be able to mislead others for a long time, because everyone will see how foolishly they act. It was the same with Jannes and Jambres. They repeated the miracles of Moses, but everyone could see how ridiculous and meaningless it was.
10 But you, Timothy, follow my teaching and you know the way I live. You share my goals, and we are united by the same faith. You have learned to be patient, show love for people, and show perseverance when you go through difficulties.
11 I suffered a lot from persecution while preaching in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. But the Lord delivered me from all of it.
12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a holy life and follow Jesus Christ will face persecution.
13 But evil people and deceivers will do even more evil. They will mislead others and be misled themselves.
14 Timothy, you know your teachers well. Live as they taught you. Hold on to the truths you firmly believe.
15 From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures. They can give you wisdom and lead you to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God. That is why it has the power to influence everyone for good. Scripture reveals the truth to us so that we can learn to do what is right. It points out the mistakes we make and corrects us when we are wrong. It transforms our character and teaches us how to live righteously.
17 In this way, a person who belongs to God will become spiritually mature and fully prepared to do every good work.
Chapter 4
1 When Christ comes to earth, He will establish His Kingdom and judge the living and the dead. So, Timothy, I speak to you in the presence of God and our Lord Jesus Christ, and I ask you to follow my instructions.
2 Use every opportunity to preach God’s Word. Speak about Christ at all times, when it is easy for you and when it is difficult. Correct and stop those who do wrong, and encourage others with kind words. Be very patient when you teach others to live according to the truth.
3 The time will come when people will not listen to sound teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will tell them only what they want to hear.
4 People will turn away from the truth and believe in something that has nothing to do with sound teaching.
5 Timothy, stay clear-minded in all circumstances and patiently endure suffering. Preach the Good News about Christ and carry out your ministry.
6 I have voluntarily sacrificed my life for the sake of serving God. Now the time has come for me to leave this world.
7 I did not give up when I faced difficulties or experienced inner struggles. I completed my life’s journey and kept my faith in God.
8 Now the crown of righteousness awaits me. God will give me this reward on the day when He judges all people justly. He will give this reward not only to me, but also to everyone who loves Christ and waits for His return to earth.
9 Timothy, do your best to come to me as soon as possible.
10 Demas loved what this world offers. So he left me and went to Thessalonica. Crescens went to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke remains with me. Come to me with Mark, because he can help me in the ministry.
12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come to me, bring me my cloak, which I left with Carpus in Troas. Also bring me the books, especially the scrolls written on parchment.
14 The blacksmith Alexander has done me a lot of harm. He will receive from the Lord what he deserves for his deeds.
15 Timothy, you should also be on your guard against Alexander, because he strongly opposed everything we preached.
16 Everyone abandoned me, and no one came to support me in court when I first defended my faith in Christ. But I do not blame or condemn anyone.
17 During the trial, the Lord was with me. He strengthened me so that I could fully preach the Good News about Christ and that all nations would hear it. God rescued me from mortal danger, and the lions did not harm me.
18 I believe that the Lord will deliver me from every evil. He will save me and bring me into His Heavenly Kingdom. The Lord is worthy to be glorified forever. Amen.
19 Give my regards to Priscilla and Aquila, and to all the family of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus stayed in Corinth. But Trophimus fell sick, and I left him in Miletus.
21 Timothy, do your best to come to me before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, and Claudia send you greetings. All the other brothers also send you their greetings.
22 May the Lord fill your spirit. And may His grace be with you all. Amen.