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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according
to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace,
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure
conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in
my prayers night and day;
Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that
I may be filled with joy;
When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee,
which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother
Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift
of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and
of love, and of a sound mind.
Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor
of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of
the gospel according to the power of God;
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and
grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began,
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus
Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel:
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a
teacher of the Gentiles.
For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I
am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him against that day.
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me,
in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy
Ghost which dwelleth in us.
This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned
away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft
refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and
found me.
The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in
that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at
Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in
Christ Jesus.
And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to
teach others also.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus
Christ.
No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this
life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a
soldier.
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned,
except he strive lawfully.
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the
fruits.
Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in
all things.
Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from
the dead according to my gospel:
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but
the word of God is not bound.
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they
may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with
eternal glory.
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall
also live with him:
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he
also will deny us:
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny
himself.
Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before
the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to
the subverting of the hearers.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase
unto more ungodliness.
And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus
and Philetus;
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this
seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one
that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of
silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and
some to dishonour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a
vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use,
and prepared unto every good work.
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith,
charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure
heart.
But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do
gender strifes.
And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto
all men, apt to teach, patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God
peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of
the truth;
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the
devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall
come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than
lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead
captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers
lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth.
Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also
resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning
the faith.
But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be
manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose,
faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at
Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of
them all the Lord delivered me.
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving,
and being deceived.
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and
hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures,
which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto
all good works.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his
kingdom;
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to
themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned unto fables.
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work
of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure
is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:
and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing.
Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world,
and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus
unto Dalmatia.
Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for
he is profitable to me for the ministry.
And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest,
bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him
according to his works:
Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our
words.
At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook
me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me;
that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the
Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of
the lion.
And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will
preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.
Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum
sick.
Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee,
and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you.
Amen.
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