A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
2 Timothy 1
2 Timothy 1 is the opening chapter of the fifty-fifth book of the Bible. The 18-verse chapter opens Paul's most personal and final letter, written from a Roman prison as he expects to be executed. The tone is urgent and affectionate throughout.
The chapter opens with Paul's greeting. He identifies himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. He addresses Timothy as his dear son, with the greeting of grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus the Lord.
Paul says he thanks God, whom he serves with a clear conscience as his ancestors did, and remembers Timothy constantly in his prayers night and day. He longs to see Timothy, recalling his tears, so that he may be filled with joy. He recalls Timothy's sincere faith, which lived first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice and now in Timothy too.
The chapter then becomes a charge. Paul reminds Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God that is in him through the laying on of Paul's hands. God has not given them a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of self-discipline. Timothy should not be ashamed of the testimony about the Lord or of Paul as his prisoner, but should join in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
Paul then meditates briefly on what God has done. God has saved believers and called them with a holy calling, not because of their works but because of his own purpose and grace, which was given them in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, and has now been revealed through the appearing of Christ Jesus.
The chapter closes with Paul's personal news. He has been deserted by many in the province of Asia, including two men he names. But Onesiphorus has been a true friend, refreshing him often and not being ashamed of his chains, even searching diligently to find him in Rome.
Verse 1. Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
Verse 2. To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Verse 3. I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
Verse 4. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
Verse 5. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
Verse 6. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Verse 7. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
Verse 8. So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
Verse 9. He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Verse 10. And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
Verse 11. to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
Verse 12. For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
Verse 13. Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Verse 14. Guard the treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
Verse 15. You know that everyone in the Province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Verse 16. May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he has often refreshed me and was unashamed of my chains.
Verse 17. Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, he searched diligently until he found me.
Verse 18. May the Lord grant Onesiphorus His mercy on that day. You know very well how much he ministered to me in Ephesus.
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