2 Timothy 1

Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus, by God's will according to promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, ² to Timotheus [my] beloved child: Grace, mercy, peace, from God [the] Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. ³ I thank God Whom I serve from [my] forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasingly I have the remembrance of thee in my supplications, ⁴ night and day longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy, ⁵ calling to mind the unfeigned faith that [is] in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in thee also. ⁶ For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands ⁷ For God gave us not a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and love, and sobriety of mind. ⁸ Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner; but suffer hardship with the gospel, according to the power of God, ⁹ Who saved us, and called [us] with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times everlasting1, ¹⁰ but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, Who abolished death, and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel, ¹¹ whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher [of Gentiles]. ¹² For which cause also I suffer these things; yet I am not ashamed; for I know Whom I have believed; and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have entrusted [or, my deposit] against that day. ¹³ Have an outline of sound words, which [words] thou heardest from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ The good thing entrusted [or, the good deposit] keep through [the] Holy Spirit that dwelleth in us. ¹⁵ Thou knowest this, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom is Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶ The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus; for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain; ¹⁷ but being in Rome he sought me out diligently and found [me]; ¹⁸ (the Lord grant him to find mercy from [the] Lord in that day.) And in how many things he ministered at Ephesus thou knowest very well.

2 Timothy 2

Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men, such as shall be able to teach others also. ³ Take thy share² of suffering hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one on service entangleth himself with the businesses of life, that he may please him that enlisted [him]. ⁵ But if one also contend [in the games], he is not crowned unless he have contended lawfully. ⁶ The labouring husbandman must first partake of the fruits. ⁷ Apprehend what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things. ⁸ Remember Jesus Christ raised out of [the] dead, of David's seed, according to my gospel, ⁹ in which I suffer unto bonds as an evil-doer; but the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰ For this cause I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation, that [is] in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ¹¹ Faithful [is] the word: for if we died together with [Him], we shall also live together; ¹² if we endure, we shall also reign together; if we shall deny [Him], He also will deny us; ¹³ if we are unfaithful, He abideth faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. ¹⁴ Of these things put in remembrance, testifying earnestly before the Lord that they fight not about words, to no profit, for subversion of those that hear. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present thyself approved to God, a workman not to be ashamed, cutting straightly the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane babblings, for they will advance unto greater ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their word will eat up as a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ [men] who concerning the truth went astray, saying that the resurrection hath already taken place, and overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the firm³ foundation of God standeth, having this seal, [The] Lord knoweth those that are His; and, Let every one that nameth the name of [the] Lord⁴ depart from unrighteousness. ²⁰ Now in a great house there are vessels not only of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earthenware, and some unto honour, and some unto dishonour. ²¹ If one therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified,⁵ serviceable for the master, prepared unto every good work. ²² But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with⁶ those that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But foolish and ignorant questionings avoid, knowing that they beget contentions. ²⁴ And a bondman of [the] Lord must not contend, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, ²⁵ in meekness instructing those that oppose, if haply God may give them repentance unto acknowledgment of truth, ²⁶ and they may wake up out of the snare of the devil, taken as they are by him, for His will.

2 Timothy 3

But this know, that in [the] last days grievous times shall be there. ² For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, uncontrolled, fierce, haters of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, puffed up, pleasure-lovers rather than God-lovers, ⁵ having a form of piety [godliness], but having denied the power thereof; and from these turn away. ⁶ For of these are they that enter into houses and lead captive⁷ silly women, laden with sins, led by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able to come unto knowledge of truth. ⁸ And in the manner that Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁹ But they shall not advance farther; for their folly⁸ shall be very manifest to all, as theirs also became. ¹⁰ But thou hast followed⁹ closely my teaching, course, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, patience, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yea, and all that desire to live piously in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted. ¹³ But wicked men and impostors shall advance for the worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But abide thou in those things which thou didst learn and wast persuaded of, knowing of whom¹⁰ thou didst learn [them]; ¹⁵ and that from a babe thou knowest the¹¹ sacred writings that are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ Every scripture [is] God-inspired, and profitable for teaching, for conviction,¹² for correction, for instruction that is in righteousness; ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, furnished thoroughly unto every good work.

2 Timothy 4

I testify earnestly [or, charge] before God and Christ¹³ Jesus that is about to judge living and dead, and¹⁴ by His appearing and His kingdom: ² preach the word; be instant in season, out of season, convict, rebuke,¹⁵ encourage with all long-suffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will be when they will not endure sound teaching; but according to their own lusts they will heap up to themselves teachers, having an itching ear; ⁴ and from the truth they will turn away their ear, and will be turned aside unto fables. ⁵ But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship [evils], do an evangelist's work, fully perform thy ministry. ⁶ For I am already being poured out, and the time of my departure is all but come. ⁷ The good combat I have combated, the course I have finished, the faith I have kept: ⁸ henceforth is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me in that day; and not to me only, but also to all those that love His appearing. ⁹ Use diligence to come unto me quickly; ¹⁰ for Demas, having loved the present age, forsook me and went unto Thessalonica; Crescens unto Galatia, Titus unto Dolmatia. ¹¹ Luke alone is with me. Take up and bring Mark with thee, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² But Tychicus I sent unto Ephesus. ¹³ The cloak which I left behind in Troas with Carpus bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander, the coppersmith, did (lit. showed) many evil things against me: the Lord will render to him according to his works; ¹⁵ of whom be thou ware also, for he exceedingly withstood our words. ¹⁶ At my first defence no one took my part, but all deserted me: may it not be laid to their account. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, that through me the proclamation might be fully made, and all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of a lion's mouth. ^{18 16}The Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve for His heavenly kingdom; to Whom [be] the glory unto the ages of the ages. Amen. ¹⁹ Salute Prisca and Aquila and the house of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick. ²¹ Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. ²² The Lord [Jesus Christ be] with thy spirit. Grace be with you.

^[1] I have given "everlasting" rather than "eternal" as in the Revised Version, because it fairly admits of a modified sense when applied to "times," as in Rom. 16:25, and Titus 1:2, as well as here, just as "for ever" when spoken of living man on earth is similarly used. Others who hold the same sense prefer "age-times" or "ages of times." "Eternal" though certainly the unmodified meaning, hardly consists with "times.

^[2] The best authorities give συν — (or συγ — ) κακοπάθησον for the common reading σὺ οὖν.

^[3] The Alexandrian uncial has the strange error of "the foundation of God standeth to the firm."

^[4] Very few and poor cursives give "of Christ."

^[5] The copulative is wrongly inserted by many authorities, as in the text. rec.

^[6] Even Lachmann edited "all" here, on considerable authority, but not the best. It is a gloss from Acts 9:14; 1 Cor. 1:2.

^[7] The article appears in Text. Rec. on very poor evidence, against the mass of the oldest, best, and even most numerous witnesses.

^[8] The Alexandrian has for ἄνοια the strange various reading of διάνοια "thought," or "purpose."

^[9] The main witnesses ACFG support the aorist; the majority give the perfect, as in 1 Tim. 4:6 (with but small exception), which has a greater present force.

^[10] τίνων (plural) ABpm. Fgr G P, etc.; τίνος (sing.) as in Text. Rec., with the majority of uncials, cursives, versions, and Fathers.

^[11] The article does not appear in Ccorr. Dpm F G, etc., contrary to the great stream of authority, Lachmann bracketing, and Tischendorf omitting in his eighth edition.

^[12] The Greek witnesses differ slightly as to the form of the word.

^[13] The Text. Rec. gives οὖν ἐγώ, as do most cursives, and two or three uncials (Dcorr. KL), etc.; but the great preponderance of authority in MSS. and Vv., not to speak of careful citations of old, excludes the particle of reference as well as the emphatic subject, which really weaken the solemnity of the protest intrinsically. So too the order Χριστοῦ, Ἰησοῦ is better supported than the inverse in the Text. Rec., not to speak of the addition τοῦ κυρίου, or, as some in better accordance with usage, omitting the article before κυρίου, while others add ἡμῶν.

^[14] Text. Rec. has κατά corr. DCorr. EKLP, most cursives, and ancient Vv. But καί is best sustained, and by the western versions, Aeth. being altogether loose.

^[15] The order in pm. FG, etc., etc., differs in putting παρακάλεσον, {encourage) before ἐπιτίμησον, (rebuke).

^[16] The copula is not found in the highest authorities, but was probably inserted later to make the passage more flowing.