to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I give praise to God, whose servant I have been, with a heart free from sin, from the time of my fathers, because in my prayers at all times the thought of you is with me, night and day

I remember your sincere and unqualified faith [the surrendering of your entire self to God in Christ with confident trust in His power, wisdom and goodness, a faith] which first lived in [the heart of] your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am confident that it is in you as well.

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Do you then, my son, strengthen you heart in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

The hard-working farmer [who labors to produce crops] ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge,

But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own inclinations will set up a herd of teachers for themselves, having the itch of hearing;

I have struggled hard in the honourable contest, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith:

Nevertheless the Lord Jesus stood by me, and strengthened my heart, that through me full proclamation of the gospel might be made, and the Gentiles might hear it; and I was rescued from the lion's jaws.