To Timothy, my dearly loved son.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.

Remembering your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy,

Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.

So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.

and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

This you know: All those in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me.

May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from Him on that day. And you know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. This is according to my gospel.

This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.

But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,

along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.

There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

Make every effort to come to me soon,

for Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.

Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.

Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works.

At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.

But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the proclamation might be fully made through me and all the Gentiles might hear. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.