1 P aul, an apostle (special messenger) of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

This letter is from Paul, a missionary of Jesus Christ. God has sent me to tell that He has promised life that lasts forever through Christ Jesus.

2 T o Timothy, beloved child: Grace (favor and spiritual blessing), mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord!

I am writing to you, Timothy. You are my much-loved son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you His loving-favor and loving-kindness and peace. Timothy’s Special Gift

3 I thank God Whom I worship with a pure conscience, in the spirit of my fathers, when without ceasing I remember you night and day in my prayers,

I thank God for you. I pray for you night and day. I am working for God the way my early fathers worked. My heart says I am free from sin.

4 A nd when, as I recall your tears, I yearn to see you so that I may be filled with joy.

When I remember your tears, it makes me want to see you. That would fill me with joy.

5 I am calling up memories of your sincere and unqualified faith (the leaning of your entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness), that first lived permanently in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am persuaded, in you also.

I remember your true faith. It is the same faith your grandmother Lois had and your mother Eunice had. I am sure you have that same faith also.

6 T hat is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the gift of God, that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands '> with those of the elders at your ordination].

For this reason, I ask you to keep using the gift God gave you. It came to you when I laid my hands on you and prayed that God would use you.

7 F or God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.

8 D o not blush or be ashamed then, to testify to and for our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for His sake, but '> with me] take your share of the suffering of the Gospel in the power of God.

Do not be ashamed to tell others about what our Lord said, or of me here in prison. I am here because of Jesus Christ. Be ready to suffer for preaching the Good News and God will give you the strength you need.

9 W ho delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness; not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

He is the One Who saved us from the punishment of sin. He is the One Who chose us to do His work. It is not because of anything we have done. But it was His plan from the beginning that He would give us His loving-favor through Christ Jesus.

10 w hich He now has made known and has fully disclosed and made real through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who annulled death and made it of no effect and brought life and immortality (immunity from eternal death) to light through the Gospel.

We know about it now because of the coming of Jesus Christ, the One Who saves. He put a stop to the power of death and brought life that never dies which is seen through the Good News.

11 F or this I was appointed a herald (preacher) and an apostle (special messenger) and a teacher of the Gentiles.

I have been chosen to be a missionary and a preacher and a teacher of this Good News.

12 A nd this is why I am suffering as I do. Still I am not ashamed, for I know (perceive, have knowledge of, and am acquainted with) Him Whom I have believed (adhered to and trusted in and relied on), and I am persuaded that He is able to guard and keep that which has been entrusted to me and which I have committed until that day.

For this reason, I am suffering. But I am not ashamed. I know the One in Whom I have put my trust. I am sure He is able to keep safe that which I have trusted to Him until the day He comes again.

13 H old fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Keep all the things I taught you. They were given to you in the faith and love of Jesus Christ.

14 G uard and keep the precious and excellently adapted which has been entrusted, by the Holy Spirit Who makes His home in us.

Keep safe that which He has trusted you with by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us. Onesiphorus Was Faithful

15 Y ou already know that all who are in Asia turned away and forsook me, Phygelus and Hermogenes among them.

I am sure you have heard that all the Christians in the countries of Asia have turned away from me. Phygelus and Hermogenes turned away also.

16 M ay the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, for he often showed me kindness and ministered to my needs! He was not ashamed of my chains and imprisonment.

Onesiphorus was not ashamed of me in prison. He came often to comfort me. May the Lord show loving-kindness to his family.

17 N o, rather when he reached Rome, he searched diligently and eagerly for me and found me.

When he came to Rome, he looked everywhere until he found me.

18 M ay the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus.

You know what a help he was to me in Ephesus. When the Lord comes again, may He show loving-kindness to Onesiphorus.