Introduction

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 to Timothy, beloved child: grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thanksgiving and Appeal to Courage

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, as unceasingly I have remembrance of you in my prayers night and day,
4 longing to see you, having been reminded of your tears, so that I may be filled with joy,
5 having received remembrance of the sincere faith that is in you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that it is also in you.

6 For this reason I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of sound-mindedness.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but suffer together with the gospel according to the power of God,
9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
10 but now has been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel,
11 for which I was appointed a herald and apostle and teacher.

12 For which reason also I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard my deposit until that day.
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you heard from me, in faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Examples of Faithfulness and Unfaithfulness

15 You know this, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because many times he refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain,
17 but being in Rome he eagerly sought me out and found me.
18 May the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day, and how many services he rendered in Ephesus you know very well.