2 Timothy 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,

From Paul who, by the will of God, is an apostle of Christ Jesus, charged to proclaim the life that comes from union with Christ Jesus,

2 to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

to Timothy, my dear child: may God, the Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, bless you, and be merciful to you, and give you peace.

3 I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day

I am thankful to God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, when I remember you, as I never fail to do, in my prayers – night and day alike,

4 longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy;

as I think of your tears, longing to see you, that my happiness may be completed,

5 having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also.

now that I have been reminded of the sincere faith that you have shown. That faith was seen first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and is now, I am convinced, in you also.

6 For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

And that is my reason for reminding you to stir into flame that gift of God, which is yours through your ordination at my hands.

7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

For the Spirit which God gave us was not a spirit of cowardice, but a spirit of power, love, and self-control.

8 Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God,

Do not, therefore, be ashamed of the testimony which we have to bear to our Lord, or of me imprisoned for his sake; but join with me in suffering for the good news, as far as God enables you.

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, (aiōnios g166)

It was God who saved us, and from him we received our solemn call – not as a reward for anything that we had done, but in fulfilment of his own loving purpose. For that love was extended to us, through Christ Jesus, before time began, (aiōnios g166)

10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News.

and has now been made apparent through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus; who has made an end of death, and has brought life and immortality to light by that good news,

11 For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

of which I was myself appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher.

12 For this cause I also suffer these things. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.

That is why I am undergoing these sufferings; yet I feel no shame, for I know in whom I have put my faith, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13 Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Keep before you, as an example of sound teaching, all that you learnt from me as you listened with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus.

14 That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Guard by the help of the Holy Spirit, who is within us, the glorious trust that has been committed to you.

15 This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

You know, of course, that all our friends in Roman Asia turned their backs on me, including Phygellus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,

May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus; for he often cheered me and was not ashamed of my chains.

17 but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me

On the contrary, when he arrived in Rome, he sought eagerly for me until he found me.

18 (the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.

The Lord grant that he may find mercy at the hands of the Lord on that day. The many services that he rendered at Ephesus you have the best means of knowing.