to my dearly loved child, Timothy: spiritual blessing, mercy, and peace be with you from God our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I worship, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as I ceaselessly remember you in my prayers. Because I remember the tears you shed for me, I am always longing night and day

to see you again, that I may feel the fullest joy

For this reason I now remind you to rekindle and keep burning the fire of the divine gift which came upon you when I laid my hands upon you.

So you must never be ashamed of me His prisoner, but suffer for the good news in fellowship with me and by the power of God.

Continue to be an example in wholesome instructions which you learned from me, in the faith and love that come through union with Christ Jesus.

You know that everyone here who belongs to the Roman province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

May the Lord show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often cheered me and was not ashamed of the chains I wore.

Yes, when he got to Rome he took pains to look me up and finally found me.

The Lord grant that he may find mercy at His hands on that day. And you very well know yourself how great were the services he rendered me at Ephesus.

So you, my son, must keep renewing your strength in the spiritual blessing that comes through union with Christ Jesus.

The things you learned from me before many witnesses you must commit to trustworthy men who will be competent to teach others too.

No soldier ever allows himself to be involved in the business affairs of life, so that he may please the officer who enlisted him.

For this reason I am bearing anything for the sake of His chosen people, so that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

But you, on your part, have faithfully followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

my persecutions, my sufferings, such as befell me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, such as I endured but the Lord delivered me out of them all.

so that the man of God may be perfectly fit, thoroughly equipped for every good enterprise.

My life, indeed, is already ebbing out, and the time has come for me to sail away.

I have fought the fight for the good, I have run my race, I have kept faith.

Now the crown for doing right awaits me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day, and not only me but also all who have loved His appearing.

Do your best to come to me soon,

for Demas has forsaken me because he loved the present world, and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia;

Luke is the only one who is now with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is of great service to me,

Alexander, a worker in metal, did me ever so much harm. The Lord will repay him for what he did.

You too must be on your guard against him, for he has vigorously opposed my teaching.

When I first defended myself at court, nobody came to help me, but everybody deserted me. May it never be charged to their account.

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.

The Lord will rescue me from every wicked work and save me to His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Remember me to Prisca and Aquila, and to the family of Onesiphorus.