01 From Paul. I am a delegate of Christ Jesus. God our Savior and Christ Jesus, our hope ordered this. 02 To Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God, our Father, and Christ Jesus, our Lord, give you help in time of need, mercy, and peace.
03 While I was traveling to the Macedonian area, I urged you to stay in the city of Ephesus. Some men there are teaching a different teaching. I want you to order them to stop doing this. 04 They should not hold onto myths or endless lists of ancestors. These cause arguments. They are not helping God’s plan which comes by faith. 05 Giving yourself to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return, is the real reason for this command. It comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and honest faith.
06 Some of them have wandered away. They are lost in empty talk. 07 They want to be teachers of the law, but they don’t understand what they are talking about or the things they are so sure of. 08 We know that the law is good if a person uses it rightly. 09 We also know this: the law was not made for a good man but for people who are lawless, rebels, ungodly, sinners, unholy, not religious, father-killers, mother-killers, murderers,
10 sexual sinners, homosexuals, slave traders, liars, and those who break promises. These and other things are against the healthy teaching 11 as found in the glorious Good News of the blessed God which He trusted to me.
12 I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord who gave me power. He thought I was faithful so he appointed me for this work. 13 In the past I said evil things against God. I was a persecutor and a man of violence. But I received mercy because, when I was an unbeliever, I didn’t know what I was doing. 14 Then the help in time of need of our Lord came upon me like a flood, with the faith and the giving of self to others for their good, expecting nothing in return, which are in Christ Jesus.
15 This statement is something you can trust; it is worth complete acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." I am the worst one 16 but, because of this, I received mercy. Christ Jesus wanted to show all his patience in me, the worst sinner. This was an example for those who were about to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Give honor and glory forever and ever to the eternal King who cannot die or be seen, the only God. Amen.
18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction. It is like the prophecies which were made earlier about you. Use them to fight the good fight. 19 Hold onto the faith and a good conscience, which some people have rejected. They wrecked their faith, like a ship at sea. 20 Some of them are Hymenaeus and Alexander. I gave them to Satan so that they could be corrected and not say evil things against God anymore.
01 First of all, I beg you to pray for all people. Ask for things. Speak for them. Be thankful to God for them. 02 Pray for kings and all those who have authority so that we may lead peaceful, quiet lives. We want to be godly and serious. 03 This is good and acceptable before God, our Savior. 04 God wants all men to be saved and to begin understanding the truth.
05 There is one God. There is one go-between between God and men — the man Christ Jesus. 06 Christ gave himself for everyone. He was the price. That was God’s proof given at the right time. 07 This is why I was made a preacher, a delegate, (I speak the truth; I’m not lying.) and a teacher of people who are not Jewish. I teach about faith and truth. 08 Everywhere I want men lifting up holy hands to pray. No anger. No arguing.
09 In the same way, I want the women to dress modestly. They should use good sense and be proper, avoiding fancy hairdos and gold, or pearls, or expensive clothes. 10 Instead, use good deeds to
be beautiful. Do what godly women think is right. 11 A woman must learn quietly and with all submission. 12 I don’t allow a woman to teach a man nor rule over him. No, she should be quiet. 13 Adam was made first. Eve was made next. 14 Also, Adam was not seduced; the woman was. She fell into sin. 15 But a woman may be saved through motherhood, if she continues with faith, giving herself to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return, and holiness with good sense.
01 This is something you can trust: "If a man wants to be an overseer, he desires a good work." 02 An overseer:
must be above suspicion; must be a faithful, married man; must be sensible; must have self-control; must be organized; must like people enough to invite them into his home; must be a good teacher; 03 must not be addicted to wine; must not be a violent man; must be gentle; must be peaceful; must not love money; 04 must lead his own family well; must have children who put themselves under his authority with all respect. 05 (If a man doesn’t know how to lead his own family, he would not know how to take care of the called out people of God.) 06 He must not be a new convert. (He might become boastful and fall into the devil’s condemnation.) 07 He must have good things said about him by outsiders. (Then he will not fall into shame and a trap of the devil.)
08 In the same way, servants —
must be respectable; must be sincere; must not drink too much wine; must not be greedy for dirty money; 09 must hold onto the secret of faith with a clear conscience. 10 These men must be tested first. If no one accuses them, then let them serve as servants. 11 Their wives must be the same way — respectable, not gossips, sensible, and faithful in all things. 12 Servants must be faithful, married men. They must lead their children and their homes well. 13 The men who serve well as servants will win for themselves a very good position. And they will be more bold about the faith of Christ Jesus.
14 As I write these things to you, I am hoping to come to you soon. 15 But if I’m late, you will know how we must live in God’s family, the called out people of the living God. God’s family is the pillar and foundation of truth. 16 We must agree that the secret of our faith is great: Christ appeared in a human body. He was shown to be right by the Spirit. He was seen by angels. He was preached among the nations. He was believed in the world. He was taken up to glory.
01 The Spirit clearly says that some people will pull away from the faith in later times. They will follow lying spirits and teachings of demons. 02 Like hypocrites they will tell lies. Their consciences feel nothing, as though they have been branded with a hot iron. 03 They try to stop people from getting married. They tell people to stay away from certain foods. God created these foods to be eaten by thankful believers who know the truth. 04 Everything that God created is good. If anything is received with thanksgiving, it should be accepted. 05 It is made holy through God’s message and prayer.
06 If you present these things to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus. You are being fed by the words of faith and good teaching which you have followed. 07 Stay away from unholy stories and old wives’ tales. Train yourself to be godly. 08 Physical training has some importance, but being godly is much more important for everything else. It promises life for now and in the future.
09 This statement is something you can trust; it is worth complete acceptance: 10 "We have put our hope on the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially believers. This is why we work hard and try so hard." 11 Order that these things be done. Teach them.
12 Don’t let anyone think that, just because you are young, what you say is not important. Instead, be an example for the believers by what you say and how you live, by giving of yourself to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return, by faith and purity.
13 Until I come, spend time reading the Scriptures publicly, comforting people, and teaching them. 14 Don’t neglect the spiritual gift that is inside you. It was given to you through a prophetic message when the group of elders put their hands on you. 15 Care about these things. Stay with them so that your progress will be clear to everyone. 16 Watch yourself and what you teach. Stay with them because if you do these things, you will save yourself and the people who listen to you.
01 Don’t criticize an older man. Instead, comfort him like a father. Treat younger men like brothers. 02 Treat older women like mothers and younger women like sisters, with all purity. 03 Honor widows who are truly widows. 04 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, then they should learn to be godly first with their own family. They should repay what they owe to their grandparents because this is acceptable before God. 05 The widow who is truly a widow and who is all alone has put her hope in God. Day and night she continues praying and asking God for help. 06 But the widow who lives for pleasure has already died (while she is still living). 07 Give these orders so that they will not be accused.
08 If a man does not support his relatives — and especially his own family — he shows that he does not believe; he is worse than an unbeliever.
09 Don’t put a widow on the list for help if she is under 60 years old. She must have been faithful to her husband. 10 It should be clear to all that she has done good deeds: Did she raise children? Did she welcome strangers? Did she wash the feet of saints? Did she help people who were suffering? Did she practice all kinds of good deeds? 11 Don’t put the young widows on the list because, after their sexual desires become stimulated again, they want to marry and leave Christ. 12 They become condemned because they reject their first faith. 13 Also, they learn to be lazy. They go from one house to the next. Not only are they lazy but they are gossips and meddlers. They talk about things they shouldn’t talk about. 14 I want the young widows to get married again, have children, and make a home. This will not give the enemy a chance to say bad things about us. 15 (Some have already turned away to follow Satan.)
16 If a believing woman has widows in her family, she should support them. Don’t let the called out people take this burden. Then, the called out people can support widows who are truly widows.
17 The elders who are good leaders deserve double the pay. This is especially true for those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
18 The Scripture says, "Don’t put something over the ox’s mouth while it is walking around on the wheat straw." and "A worker should be given his pay."
19 When someone accuses an elder, don’t accept it unless two or three people are saying the same thing. 20 There are some people who continue to sin. Prove them wrong publicly. Then the others will show respect. 21 Before God, Christ Jesus, and the chosen angels, I order you to obey these things. Don’t pre-judge or give any special favors to anyone.
22 Don’t confirm someone too quickly. Don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 You are often sick. Do not drink water only. Instead, use a little wine because of your stomach.
24 The sins of some men are clear. They are punished now. The sins of others appear later. 25 In the same way, good deeds are clear. Even secret good deeds cannot be hidden.
01 All slaves should feel that their masters deserve all honor. Then no one can say something evil about God’s name or the teaching. 02 Slaves who have believing masters should not look down on their masters because they are brothers. Instead, these slaves should serve them even better because the masters are getting some good from their help. These masters are believers
who give themselves to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return. Comfort people. Teach these things.
03 Someone may teach a different teaching. If he doesn’t hold onto healthy words (the words of our Lord Jesus Christ) and godly teaching, 04 he is boastful. He doesn’t understand anything; he is sick. He likes arguments and fights about words. Jealousy, fighting, words against God, and evil thoughts occur. 05 There is always trouble with men who have polluted minds. They don’t have the truth anymore. They think that religion is a way of making money.
06 If one is godly and content, there is great profit! 07 We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of it. 08 If we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with these things. 09 But the people who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish desires that hurt them. These things drown men in ruin and destruction. 10 Loving money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people want money so badly that they have wandered away from the faith. They have so painfully wounded themselves.
11 But you, O man of God, run away from these things. Follow after faith, what is good, godly, gentle, enduring, and giving yourself to others for their good, expecting nothing in return.
12-13 Fight the good fight of the faith. Hold onto eternal life. (God gives life to everything.) You were called into this life when you made the good confession in front of many witnesses. Before God and Christ Jesus, who made the good confession to Pontius Pilate, I command you 14 to be pure and clear from all shame, to obey this order until our Lord Jesus Christ appears. 15 God will show this at the right time. God is blessed. He is the only Ruler, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. 16 Only God never dies. He lives in light. No one can come near it. No human being has seen Him. No human being is able to see Him. Honor and power belong to Him forever. Amen.
17 Tell the rich people ("rich" in this world) not to brag. They shouldn’t place their hope upon wealth. That is not a sure thing. Instead, they should put their hope in God who abundantly gives us everything to enjoy. 18 Rich people should do good things to others. They should be "rich" in good deeds to others. They must be generous and want to share with others. 19 They will store up a good foundation for themselves in the future. Then they can get hold of real life.
20 Timothy, guard what you were given! Turn away from unholy stories, old wives’ tales, and the opposition of so-called "knowledge". 21 Some believers of the faith have claimed to have this "knowledge", but they have strayed away from the faith. Help in time of need be with you.
01 From Paul. I am a delegate of Christ Jesus because this is what God wanted. This was by the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. 02 To Timothy, my son to whom I give myself. May help in time of need, mercy, and peace come from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
03 Like my ancestors, I serve God with a clear conscience. I thank Him. Day and night I always mention you in my prayers. 04 I yearn to see you. That would make me so very happy. I remember your tears. 05 I remember the true faith that is in you. It lived first in Lois, your grandmother, and then in Eunice, your mother. I’m sure it is still in you too. 06 This is why I am reminding you to keep the fire of God’s spiritual gift burning. It is in you because I put my hands on you. 07 God did not give us a cowardly attitude. No, God gave us one of power, of giving of self to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return, and good sense. 08 So don’t be ashamed to tell the truth about our Lord Jesus or about me, his prisoner. Instead, suffer for the Good News by God’s power.
09 God saved us and called us with a holy calling. This was not by our efforts. Instead, it was by God’s own purpose and help in time of need which was
given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 10 Now it has been made clear since Christ Jesus, our Savior, appeared. He destroyed death. Through the Good News, he has made it clear that we will live and never die. 11 I was made a preacher, a delegate, and a teacher of the Good News. 12 This is why I am now suffering these things. But I’m not ashamed because I know the One I have believed in. And I’m sure that He is able to guard what I have trusted to Him until that Day.
13 The healthy words you heard me speak should be kept as an example with the faith and giving of self to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return, that is in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard what you were trusted with through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 You know this: everyone in the land of Asia abandoned me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord give mercy to Onesiphorus’ family. He often made me feel better. My being in jail did not make him feel ashamed. 17 No, when he was in Rome, he searched and searched until he found me. 18 May the Lord Jesus allow him to find mercy from the Lord God on the Judgment Day. You know exactly how much he helped me in the city of Ephesus.
01 So you, my son —
08 Don’t forget the Descendant of David, Jesus Christ, who was raised from death. This is the Good News I tell. 09 Like a criminal I suffer for the Good News — even if it means prison! But God’s message has not been confined. 10 Why do I endure all of these things? It is for the people chosen by God. I want them also to receive the safety from danger which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 This is the Word you can believe in: "If we died with Christ, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure, we will also rule with him. If we say no to him, he will say no to us. 13 If we are not faithful, he is always faithful because he must remain true to himself."
14 Continue reminding the people about these things. Warn them before God not to have fights about words, for that is useless. It destroys the people who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one who has passed the test. Be a worker who has nothing to be ashamed of. Interpret the message of truth in the proper way.
16 Stay away from unholy stories and empty talk. Those who continue doing this will only become more ungodly. 17 Their message spreads like cancer. Some of them are Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have wandered away from the truth. They claim that the resurrection of the dead has already come! And they have turned some people away from the faith. 19 But God’s solid foundation stands firm. It has this mark: "The Lord God knows who belongs to him." and "Every person who wears the name of the Lord God must pull away from wrong."
20 In a large house there are different bowls. Some are made of gold or silver, but some are made of wood or clay. Some are for nice things, but some are for ugly purposes. 21 So if a person cleans himself up from these evil things, he will be like a bowl for nice things. He is special and useful for the Master, ready to do any good work. 22 Run away from the evil desires which some young people have. Follow (a) being made right, (b) faith, (c) giving of self to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return, and (d) peace.
Do this with people who trust in the Lord with a pure heart.
23 Stay away from foolish and silly arguments. You know they cause fights. 24 The Lord’s slave must not fight. No, he should be kind to everyone. He should be a good teacher. He shouldn’t want to pay somebody back with evil. 25 He must gently correct people who are against him. Perhaps God will allow them to have a change of heart, leading them to know the truth. 26 Then they will wake up and get away from the devil’s trap. The devil has captured them to do what he wants them to do.
01 Know this: there will be hard times during the last days. 02 People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobeying their parents, unthankful, unholy, 03 without natural love, unforgiving, gossips, violent, mean, hating good, 04 traitors, wild, and conceited. They will love pleasures more than they love God. 05 They will hold the outer form of religion but say no to its inner power. Stay away from these people. 06 Some of these men creep into homes and "capture" women who are heavy with sins and easily led into many types of evil desires. 07 These people are "always learning", but they are never able to come to truth.
08 They are like Jannes and Jambres, the men who were against Moses. In the same way, these people are against the truth. Their minds are completely polluted. As far as the faith is concerned, they are rejected. 09 But they will not make much progress because their stupidity, like that of Jannes and Jambres, will become clear to everyone .
10 You have followed my teaching, my life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my giving of myself to others, for their good, expecting nothing in return, and my endurance. 11 You know my persecutions, the kinds of things I suffered in the cities of Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, and Lystra. I put up with all kinds of persecutions, but the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 Evil men and cheaters will become worse and worse. They will fool people and others will fool them. 14 But you must stay with the things you trust, the things you were taught. You know the people from whom you learned them.
15 You have known the Holy Scriptures since you were a child. The Scriptures are able to make you wise through safety from danger through believing in Christ Jesus. 16 Every Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for proving sinners wrong, for correcting errors, and for training people to be right with God. 17 Then the man of God will be made right, prepared for any good work.
01 In the future, Christ will judge people who are now alive and people who have died. Because of the nearness of his appearance and his kingdom, I warn you before God and Christ Jesus: 02 preach the message! Be ready in good times and times that are not so good. Prove sinners wrong. Correct and comfort, with all kinds of patience and teaching. 03 The time will come when people will not put up with healthy teaching. Instead, following their own evil desires, they will gather to themselves many, many teachers to say what they want to hear. 04 And they will turn away from listening to the truth. They will go after myths.
05 Use self-control in everything. Endure. Do the work of one who preaches the Good News. Finish your ministry. 06 I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time has come for me to die. 07 I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 08 At last there is a crown of being made right waiting for me. The Lord Jesus will reward me on that Judgment Day. He is a fair judge. Not only will he reward me, but he’ll reward all people who have given themselves to God, for His good, expecting nothing in return, and look for his appearance.
09 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 Demas abandoned me; he gave himself to this world for its good, expecting something in return. He went to the city of Thessalonici, and Crescens left for the land of Galatia. Titus went to the Dalmatian area. 11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark along with you because he is useful for the work. 12 I sent Tychicus to the city of Ephesus. 13 I left a heavy robe with Carpus in the city of Troas. When you come, bring the robe, the books, and especially the leather scrolls.
14 Alexander, the copper-worker, hurt me very much; the Lord will pay him back for what he did. 15 You should be on guard too. He was very much against our teachings. 16 No one came to help me at my first defense trial; they all abandoned me. (May the Lord not hold this against them!) 17 But the Lord stood beside me. He made me strong so that the message would be fully preached through me, and so that all the non-Jewish people would listen. The Lord rescued me from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack. He will save me for His heavenly kingdom. Give glory to Him forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Priscilla and Aquila. Greet the family of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in the city of Corinth. I left Trophimus in the city of Miletus. He was sick. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all of the brothers here send their greetings.
22 May the Lord be with your spirit. May help in time of need be with you.