[It is being sent] to Timothy, my dearly loved son. May you have unearned favor, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

When I remember the tears you shed I long night and day to see you again, and have the perfect happiness

I [also] remember the sincere faith you have in your heart, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am convinced, lives in you [too].

For this reason I say to you, Let that grace of God which is in you, given to you by my hands, have living power.

Have no feeling of shame, then, for the witness of our Lord or for me, his prisoner: but undergo all things for the good news in the measure of the power of God;

for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],

to which I have been appointed a herald and apostle and teacher of the nations.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Have an outline of sound words, which words thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Thou knowest this, that all who are in Asia, of whom is Phygellus and Hermogenes, have turned away from me.

(May he have the Lord's mercy in that day); and of all he did for me at Ephesus you have full knowledge.

As for you, my son, strenuously acquit yourself of the charge you have receiv'd from Christ Jesus.

The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others.

And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.

Furthermore, it is the hard working farmer who should have the first share of the crops.

for which I have to suffer imprisonment as if I were a criminal. (But there is no prison for the word of God.)

But I undergo all things for the saints, so that they may have salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

The word is faithful; for if we have died together with him, we shall also live together;

If we go on to the end, then we will be ruling with him: if we say we have no knowledge of him, then he will say he has no knowledge of us:

Of these things put in remembrance, testifying earnestly before the Lord not to have disputes of words, profitable for nothing, to the subversion of the hearers.

Do your best to present yourself as a worker who is approved by God [and] does not have to be ashamed, [because you are] accurately handling [i.e., explaining] the message of truth.

and their word as a gangrene will have pasture, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus,

Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

If therefore one shall have purified himself from these, in separating himself from them, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work.

But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.

And they should wake up to sobriety out of, the adversary's, snare, - though they have been taken alive by him for, that one's, will.

destitute of natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers. They will have no self-control, but will be brutal, opposed to goodness,

they will be treacherous, reckless and conceited, preferring pleasure to God ??5 for though they keep up a form of religion, they will have nothing to do with it as a force. Avoid all such.

They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.

Just as Jannes and Jambres [the court magicians of Egypt] opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, unqualified and worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith.

But they will have no further success; for their folly will be as clearly manifest to all men, as that of the opponents of Moses came to be.

Now you have diligently followed [my example, that is] my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,

and the persecutions and sufferings which I have endured; the things which happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra. You know the persecutions I endured, and how the Lord delivered me out of them all.

Yes, and all who aim at living a religious life in union with Christ Jesus will have to suffer persecution;

But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them,

and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings (Hebrew Scriptures) which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus [surrendering your entire self to Him and having absolute confidence in His wisdom, power and goodness].

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge [both] those still alive and those who have already died, and in view of His appearing [i.e., at His second coming] and His kingdom [i.e., when it is revealed in its eternal splendor], I solemnly urge you:

For there will be a time when they will not put up with sound teaching, but in accordance with their own desires, they will accumulate for themselves teachers, {because they have an insatiable curiosity},

and they will turn away their ear from the truth, and will have turned aside to fables.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.

Luke is the only friend I now have with me. Call for Mark on your way and bring him with you, for he is a great help to me in my ministry.

And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

for he has been bitterly hostile to anything I have said.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that the message preached by me might have its full effect and all the heathen might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's jaws.

Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.