Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the Titus 1:2promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, a 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 2:1; Titus 1:4beloved son:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Timothy’s Faith and Heritage
3 I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as myActs 24:14forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, 4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, 5 when I call to remembrance 1 Tim. 1:5; 4:6the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and Acts 16:1your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you 1 Tim. 4:14to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For John 14:27; Rom. 8:15; 1 John 4:18God has not given us a spirit of fear, (Acts 1:8)but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Not Ashamed of the Gospel
8 (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Rom. 1:16); 2 Tim. 1:12, 16Therefore do not be ashamed of 1 Tim. 2:6the testimony of our Lord, nor of me Eph. 3:1; 2 Tim. 1:16His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, (Rom. 3:20); Eph. 2:8, 9not according to our works, but Rom. 8:28according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:4; Titus 1:2before time began, 10 but Eph. 1:9has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 Acts 9:15to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, 1 Pet. 4:19for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Be Loyal to the Faith
13 2 Tim. 3:14; Titus 1:9Hold fast Rom. 2:20; 6:17the pattern of 1 Tim. 6:3sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord grant mercy to the 2 Tim. 4:19household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; 17 but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.18 The Lord Matt. 6:4; Mark 9:41grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord 2 Thess. 1:10in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he Heb. 6:10ministered tome at Ephesus.