Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy my beloved

son. Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve from my ancestors with a pure conscience, that I mention you incessantly in my prayers night and day, desiring to see you, remembering your tears, that I might be filled with joy, having a remembrance of the unfeigned faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that [it dwells] also in you. For which cause I admonish you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the imposition of my hands. For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but endure affliction with us in the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus from eternity, but made known now through the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, of which I was made a herald, and an apostle, and a teacher of the nations; for which cause I suffer these things; but I am not ashamed; for I know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep my trust to that day.

Retain the form of sound words which you heard from me in faith and the love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good trust, through the Holy Spirit which dwells in us. You know this, that all those in Asia left me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord show mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains, but being at Rome he sought most diligently, and found me. The Lord grant him to find mercy with the Lord in that day. And what services he performed at Ephesus, you know very well.

Do you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus, and what you heard from me through many witnesses, these things commit to faithful men, who shall be competent to teach others also. Endure evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one who serves as a soldier is involved in the business of life, that he may please him who has employed him as a soldier. And if a man contends as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he contends lawfully. The husbandman who labors must first partake

of the fruits of the earth. Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give you understanding in all things.

Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, a descendant of David, according to my gospel, in which I suffer even to chains as an evil doer; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect, that they may obtain the salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is true, For if we died together we shall live together; if we endure patiently we shall reign together; if we deny him he will deny us; if we believe not he continues faithful; for he cannot deny himself.

Call to mind these things, charging [men] before the Lord not to debate about words, to no profit, to the subversion of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman that will not be put to shame, rightly dividing the word of truth. But profane and vain words, avoid; for they greatly increase impiety, and their word will eat like a gangrene; of whom are Hymenæus and Philetus, who have erred from the truth, saying that the resurrection has passed already, and overturn the faith of some. But the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his; and, Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from wickedness. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but those also of wood and clay, and some for honor and some for dishonor; if therefore any one purifies himself from these [errors], he shall be a vessel for honor, sanctified, of good use to the master, prepared for every good work.

But avoid youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But foolish and trifling disputes avoid, knowing that they produce contentions; and the servant of the Lord must not contend, but must be gentle to all, apt to teach, patient under evil, in meekness correcting the adversaries, that God may give them a change of mind to a knowledge of the truth, and that they may recover themselves from the snare of the devil, who are made captives by him to his will.

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