1 Timothy

Chapter 1

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

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

3 I give thanks to God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,

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

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

6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

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 us in Christ Jesus before eternal ages,

10 but has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and incorruptibility to light through the gospel,

11 for which I was appointed a herald and apostle and teacher.

12 For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13 Hold to the pattern of sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

14 Guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

15 You know this, that all those in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

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

17 but when he was in Rome he searched for me diligently and found me

18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day. And how many services he rendered at Ephesus, you know very well.

Chapter 2

1 You then, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

2 and the things you heard from me through many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.

5 And if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

6 The hardworking farmer must be the first to partake of the crops.

7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel,

9 for which I suffer hardship even to the point of chains as a criminal; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 The saying is trustworthy: for if we died with him, we shall also live with him;

12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

14 Remind them of these things, solemnly charging them before God not to quarrel about words, which is useful for nothing and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a workman unashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

16 But avoid profane empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,

17 and their word will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18 who have gone astray concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they are overturning the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless, God's firm foundation stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness."

20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.

21 If therefore anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the master, prepared for every good work.

22 Flee youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But refuse foolish and ignorant controversies, knowing that they breed quarrels;

24 and the Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient of wrongs,

25 in meekness instructing those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to knowledge of the truth,

26 and that they may come to their senses out of the snare of the devil, having been captured alive by him to do his will.

Chapter 3

1 But know this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

5 having a form of godliness but denying its power; turn away from such people.

6 For among them are those who creep into households and take captive weak women burdened with sins, led along by various desires,

7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

8 And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind, disqualified regarding the faith.

9 But they will not advance further, for their folly will be plain to all, as theirs also became.

10 But you have followed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance,

11 my persecutions, my sufferings, such as befell me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra, what persecutions I endured; and out of them all the Lord rescued me.

12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

13 But evil men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 But you, remain in the things you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you learned them,

15 and that from infancy you have known the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,

17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Chapter 4

1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is about to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all patience and teaching.

3 For a time will come when they will not endure sound teaching, but according to their own desires they will heap up for themselves teachers, having itching ears,

4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith;

8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

9 Make haste to come to me quickly;

10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present age, and has gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia;

11 Luke alone is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.

12 And I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus.

13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left in Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

15 Be on guard against him yourself as well, for he strongly opposed our words.

16 At my first defense no one stood by me, but all forsook me; may it not be counted against them.

17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished and all the nations might hear, and I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.

18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will save me for his heavenly kingdom; to him be the glory forever and ever, amen.

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus remained in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Miletus, since he was ill.

21 Make haste to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.