To Timothy, my dear Child, from Paul who, by the will of God, is an Apostle of Christ Jesus, charged to proclaim the Life that comes from union with Christ Jesus. May God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace.

as I think of your tears, longing to see you, that my happiness may be completed,

Do not, therefore, be ashamed of the testimony which we have to bear to our Lord, nor yet of me who am a prisoner for him; but join with me in suffering for the Good News, as far as God enables you.

and has now been made apparent through the Appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus; who has made an end of Death, and has brought Life and Immortality to light by that Good News,

Guard by the help of the Holy Spirit, who is within us, the glorious trust that has been committed to you.

and what you learnt from me, in the presence of many listeners, entrust to reliable men, who will be able in their turn to teach others.

The labourer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.

If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!'

Do your utmost to show yourself true to God, a workman with no reason to be ashamed, accurate in delivering the Message of the Truth.

If, then, a man has escaped from the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, he will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose.

and a Servant of the Lord should never quarrel. He ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to every one, a skillful teacher, and forbearing.

and they may yet come to a sober mind, and escape from the snares of the Devil, when captured by the Lord's Servant to do the will of God.

Be sure of this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

Men will be selfish, mercenary, boastful, haughty, and blasphemous; disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, impure,

For among them are to be found those who creep into homes and captivate weak women--women who, loaded with sins, and slaves to all kinds of passions,

They will not, however, make further progress; for their wicked folly will be plain to every one, just as that of Jannes and Jambres was.

You, however, must stand by what you learnt and accepted as true. You know who they were from whom you learnt it;

so that the Servant of God may be perfect himself, and perfectly equipped for every good action.

I solemnly charge you, in the sight of God and of Christ Jesus, who will one day judge the living and the dead--I charge you by his Appearing and by his Kingdom:--

Proclaim the Message, be ready in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, encourage, never failing to instruct with forbearance.

But you, Timothy, must always be temperate. Face hardships; do the work of a Missionary; discharge all the duties of your Office.

Do you also, be on your guard against him, for he is strongly opposed to our teaching.

At my first trial no one stood by me. They all deserted me. May it never be counted against them!

But the Lord came to my help and strengthened me, in order that, through me, the proclamation should be made so widely that all the Gentiles should hear it; and I was rescued 'out of the Lion's mouth.'

May the Lord be with your soul. God bless you all.