2 Timothy

Timothy Charged to Guard His Trust

Paul, an emissary of Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒ by the will of the Almĭghty, according to the promise of life in Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒, ^1:2to Timothy, my beloved son. Loving-kindness, mercy and shalōm from the Almĭghty the Făther and Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒ our ’Adŏnai̱.

³I thank the Almĭghty, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, ⁴longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy, ⁵because I am mindful of the sincere faithfulness within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

⁶And for this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of the Almĭghty which is in you through the laying on of my hands, ⁷because the Almĭghty has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. ⁸Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our ’Adŏnai̱, or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the good news according to the power of the Almĭghty, ⁹who saves us, and calls with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, even loving-kindness which was given to us by Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒ in times before times most immemorial, ¹⁰but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒, who undoes death, and brings life and immortality to light through the good news, ¹¹for which I am appointed a proclaimer and an emissary and a teacher.

¹²For this reason I also am suffering these things, but I am not ashamed, because I know in whom I have affirmed faithfulness and I have been convinced, because he is able to guard my trust (the legacy of his faithful work) unto that day. ¹³Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faithfulness and love which are in Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒. ¹⁴The good trust you must now guard through the Holy Spĭrit who dwells in us.

¹⁵You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ¹⁶Yăhwēh grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains, ¹⁷but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me, and found me. ¹⁸Yăhwēh grant to him to find mercy from Yăhwēh on that day. And you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

Be Strong

You therefore, my son, be strong in the loving-kindness that is in Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒. ^2:2And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. ³Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒. ⁴No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. ⁷Consider what I say, because Yăhwēh will give you understanding in everything.

⁸Remember Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah, risen from the dead, a descendant of Daυi̱d, according to my good news, ⁹for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal, but the word of the Almĭghty is not imprisoned. ¹⁰For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒ and with it everlasting glory. ¹¹It is a trustworthy statement, because if we died with him, we will also live with him. ¹²If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. ¹³If we are faithless, he remains faithful, because he cannot deny himself.

An Unashamed Workman

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of the Almĭghty not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself approved to the Almĭghty as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, interpreting the word of truth straightly. ¹⁶But avoid worldly and empty chatter, because it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faithfulness of some. ¹⁹Nevertheless, the firm foundation of the Almĭghty stands, having this seal. Yăhwēh knows those who are his, and, let everyone who names the name of Yăhwēh abstain from wickedness.

²⁰Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. ²¹Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. ²²Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue justice, faithfulness, love and shalōm, with those who call on Yăhwēh from a pure heart. ²³But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. ²⁴And Yăhwēh’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, ²⁵with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps the Almĭghty may grant them opportunity for repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the Accuser, having been held captive by him to do his will.

Difficult Times Will Come

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come, ^3:2because men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, ⁴treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of the Almĭghty, ⁵holding to a form of piety, although they have denied its power. So avoid such men as these.

⁶Because among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, ⁷always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸And just as (Khayan) Iannas and (Sheshi) Iambre opposed Mōshēh, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected as regards the faith. ⁹But they will not make further progress, because their folly will be obvious to all, as also that of those men came to be.

¹⁰But you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faithfulness, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured, and out of them all Yăhwēh delivered me! ¹²And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒ will be persecuted. ¹³But evil men and impostors will continue to worsen, deceiving and being deceived.

¹⁴You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned, ¹⁵and that from childhood you have known the holy writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faithfulness, which is in Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒. ¹⁶Every writing inspired by the Almĭghty is [also] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷so that the man of the Almĭghty may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Proclaim the Word

Isolemnly charge you in the presence of the Almĭghty and of Mĕssiah Yĕshūa̒, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom, ^4:2proclaim the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

³Because the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, ⁴and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.

⁵But you, be sober in all things. Endure hardship. Do the work of one announcing good news. Fulfill your ministry.

⁶Because I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. ⁸In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which Yăhwēh, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Personal Concerns

⁹Make every effort to come to me soon, ¹⁰because Demas, having loved this present age, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, because he is useful to me for service. ¹²But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the scrolls, especially the parchments. ¹⁴Alexander the copper-smith did me much harm. Yăhwēh will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵Be on guard against him yourself, because he vigorously opposed our teaching.

¹⁶At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me. May it not be considered against them. ¹⁷But Yăhwēh stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the nations might hear, and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸Yăhwēh will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory onward the times most immemorial of the times most immemorial. ’Amēn.

¹⁹Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. ²¹Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

²²Yăhwēh be with your spirit. Loving-Kindness be with you.