The Second Letter to Timothy

The Second Letter to Timothy is the final and most personal letter of Paul and was written when he was facing the end of his life in a Roman prison. It is a poignant message of encouragement that calls Timothy to remain faithful to the Gospel even when others are turning away. We see the importance of the sacred scriptures as being inspired by God and useful for every good work in the life of the believer. This book teaches us that we should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord but should share in the suffering for the sake of the truth.

The narrative contains the famous declaration that Paul has fought the good fight and has finished the race and has kept the faith. He looks forward with confidence to the crown of righteousness that the Lord will award to him on the final day. We are encouraged to be diligent in our search for truth and to avoid the foolish and ignorant debates that only lead to division. The Second Letter to Timothy invites us to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and to pass on the faith to future generations who will be able to teach others.

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Chapters

1 2 3 4

Chapter 1

¹Paul, an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, in accord with the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, ? ²to Timothy, most beloved son. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. ? ³I give thanks to God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. For without ceasing I hold the remembrance of you in my prayers, night and day, ? ⁴desiring to see you, recalling your tears so as to be filled with joy, ? ⁵calling to mind the same faith, which is in you unfeigned, which also first dwelt in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, and also, I am certain, in you. ? ⁶Because of this, I admonish you to revive the grace of God, which is in you by the imposition of my hands. ? ⁷For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of virtue, and of love, and of self-restraint. ? ⁸And so, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. Instead, collaborate with the Gospel in accord with the virtue of God, ? ⁹who has freed us and has called us to his holy vocation, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus, before the ages of time. ? ¹⁰And this has now been made manifest by the illumination of our Savior Jesus Christ, who certainly has destroyed death, and who has also illuminated life and incorruption through the Gospel. ? ¹¹Of this Gospel, I have been appointed a preacher, and an Apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. ? ¹²For this reason, I also suffer these things. But I am not confounded. For I know in whom I have believed, and I am certain that he has the power to preserve what was entrusted to me, unto that day. ? ¹³Hold to the kind of sound words that you have heard from me in the faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. ? ¹⁴Guard the good entrusted to you through the Holy Spirit, who lives within us. ? ¹⁵Know this: that all those who are in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phigellus and Hermogenes. ? ¹⁶May the Lord have mercy on the house of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me, and he has not been ashamed of my chains. ? ¹⁷Instead, when he had arrived in Rome, he anxiously sought me and found me. ? ¹⁸May the Lord grant to him to obtain mercy from the Lord in that day. And you know well in how many ways he has ministered to me at Ephesus. ?

Chapter 2

¹And as for you, my son, be strengthened by the grace which is in Christ Jesus, ? ²and by the things which you have heard from me through many witnesses. These things encourage faithful men, who shall then be suitable to teach others also. ? ³Labor like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ? ⁴No man, acting as a soldier for God, entangles himself in worldly matters, so that he may be pleasing to him for whom he has proven himself. ? ⁵Then, too, whoever strives in a competition is not crowned, unless he has competed lawfully. ? ⁶The farmer who labors ought to be the first to share in the produce. ? ⁷Understand what I am saying. For the Lord will give you understanding in all things. ? ⁸Be mindful that the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the offspring of David, has risen again from the dead, according to my Gospel. ? ⁹I labor in this Gospel, even while chained like an evildoer. But the Word of God is not bound. ? ¹⁰I endure all things for this reason: for the sake of the elect, so that they, too, may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with heavenly glory. ? ¹¹It is a faithful saying: that if we have died with him, we will also live with him. ? ¹²If we suffer, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. ? ¹³If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful: he is not able to deny himself. ? ¹⁴Insist on these things, testifying before the Lord. Do not be contentious about words, for this is useful for nothing but the subversion of listeners. ? ¹⁵Be solicitous in the task of presenting yourself before God as a proven and unashamed worker who has handled the Word of Truth correctly. ? ¹⁶But avoid profane or empty talk. For these things advance one greatly in impiety. ? ¹⁷And their word spreads like a cancer: among these are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ? ¹⁸who have fallen away from the truth by saying that the resurrection is already complete. And so they have subverted the faith of certain persons. ? ¹⁹But the firm foundation of God remains standing, having this seal: the Lord knows those who are his own, and all who know the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. ? ²⁰But, in a large house, there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also those of wood and of clay; and certainly some are held in honor, but others in dishonor. ? ²¹If anyone, then, will have cleansed himself from these things, he shall be a vessel held in honor, sanctified and useful to the Lord, prepared for every good work. ? ²²So then, flee from the desires of your youth, yet truly, pursue justice, faith, hope, charity, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. ? ²³But avoid foolish and undisciplined questions, for you know that these produce strife. ? ²⁴For the servant of the Lord must not be contentious, but instead he must be meek toward everyone, teachable, patient, ? ²⁵correcting with self-restraint those who resist the truth. For at any time God may give them repentance, so as to recognize the truth, ? ²⁶and then they may recover from the snares of the devil, by whom they are held captive at his will. ?

Chapter 3

¹And know this: that in the last days perilous times will press near. ? ²Men will be lovers of themselves, greedy, self-exalting, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, ? ³without affection, without peace, false accusers, unchaste, cruel, without kindness, ? ⁴traitorous, reckless, self-important, loving pleasure more than God, ? ⁵even having the appearance of piety while rejecting its virtue. And so, avoid them. ? ⁶For among these are ones who penetrate houses and lead away, like captives, foolish women burdened with sins, who are led away by means of various desires, ? ⁷always learning, yet never achieving knowledge of the truth. ? ⁸And in the same manner that Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so also will these resist the truth, men corrupted in mind, reprobates from the faith. ? ⁹But they will not advance beyond a certain point. For the folly of the latter shall be made manifest to all, just as that of the former. ? ¹⁰But you have fully comprehended my doctrine, instruction, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, ? ¹¹persecutions, afflictions; such things as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; how I endured persecutions, and how the Lord rescued me from everything. ? ¹²And all those who willingly live the piety in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ? ¹³But evil men and deceivers will advance in evil, erring and sending into error. ? ¹⁴Yet truly, you should remain in those things which you have learned and which have been entrusted to you. For you know from whom you have learned them. ? ¹⁵And, from your infancy, you have known the Sacred Scriptures, which are able to instruct you toward salvation, through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ? ¹⁶All Scripture, having been divinely inspired, is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in justice, ? ¹⁷so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work. ?

Chapter 4

¹I testify before God, and before Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead through his return and his kingdom: ? ²that you should preach the word urgently, in season and out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke, with all patience and doctrine. ? ³For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine, but instead, according to their own desires, they will gather to themselves teachers, with itching ears, ? ⁴and certainly, they will turn their hearing away from the truth, and they will be turned toward fables. ? ⁵But as for you, truly, be vigilant, laboring in all things. Do the work of an Evangelist, fulfilling your ministry. Show self-restraint. ? ⁶For I am already being worn away, and the time of my dissolution presses close. ? ⁷I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith. ? ⁸As for the remainder, a crown of justice has been reserved for me, one which the Lord, the just judge, will render to me in that day, and not only to me, but also to those who look forward to his return. Hurry to return to me soon. ? ⁹For Demas has abandoned me, out of love for this age, and he has departed for Thessalonica. ? ¹⁰Crescens has gone to Galatia; Titus to Dalmatia. ? ¹¹Luke alone is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you; for he is useful to me in the ministry. ? ¹²But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ? ¹³When you return, bring with you the supplies that I left with Carpus at Troas, and the books, but especially the parchments. ? ¹⁴Alexander the coppersmith has shown me much evil; the Lord will repay him according to his works. ? ¹⁵And you should also avoid him; for he has strongly resisted our words. ? ¹⁶At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them! ? ¹⁷But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the preaching would be accomplished, and so that all the Gentiles would hear. And I was freed from the mouth of the lion. ? ¹⁸The Lord has freed me from every evil work, and he will accomplish salvation by his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen. ? ¹⁹Greet Prisca, and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ? ²⁰Erastus remained at Corinth. And Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. ? ²¹Hurry to arrive before winter. Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers greet you. ? ²²May the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. May grace be with you. Amen. ?