2 Timothy 1

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

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

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

who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

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

but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me—

may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

← Previous chapter Next chapter →

2 Timothy 1

Paul writes from imprisonment with affectionate urgency, commanding Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God received through prophetic commission and apostolic laying on of hands, using furnace language to intensify dormant grace. The assertion that God gave us not a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control—a sobriety of mind (sophronismos)—reframes Christian courage as rooted not in bravado but in the Spirit's empowerment and the discernment of divine calling. Paul's paradoxical exhortation not to be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord—nor ashamed of his chains—positions suffering as integral to Christian faithfulness, modeling the very vulnerability he commands from Timothy. The affirmation that God saved us and called us to a holy calling not because of our works but according to his own purpose and grace given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began establishes predestination as the guarantee of salvation, making election prior to creation itself. Paul's confidence I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard until that day the deposit which has been entrusted to me shifts the focus from Paul's faithfulness to Christ's faithfulness, making the apostle's perseverance parasitic on divine preservation. The commendation of Onesiphorus who was not ashamed of Paul's chains but refreshed him in Ephesus and sought him earnestly in Rome models the courage and steadfastness Paul demands, making personal loyalty to the imprisoned apostle a test of gospel conviction.

2 Timothy 1:1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus — Paul's apostolate derives from God's will (thelēma) and connects to the promise (epagelia) of eschatological life in Christ. The opening reiterates apostolic authority grounded in divine purpose rather than human election.

2 Timothy 1:2

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord — the intimate form of address (teknon agapētos) deepens the paternal relationship. The triple blessing (charis, eleos, eirēnē) from God and Christ establishes the theological framework for pastoral exhortation.

2 Timothy 1:3

I am grateful to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did, remembering you constantly in my prayers — Paul's gratitude for Timothy echoes ancestral piety (hoi progenoi): he serves with syneidēsis katharō (clean conscience) and maintains unceasing prayer (adialeipton mnēian) for his spiritual son. Continuity of faith spans generations.

2 Timothy 1:4

As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy — the poignant reference to Timothy's tears (dakryon) and Paul's longing (epipotheō) humanizes pastoral relationship: affection and emotional depth characterize apostolic mentoring. Reunion promises mutual joy.

2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1:5

2 Timothy 1:6

2 Timothy 1:7

2 Timothy 1:8

2 Timothy 1:9

2 Timothy 1:10

2 Timothy 1:11

2 Timothy 1:12

2 Timothy 1:13

2 Timothy 1:14

2 Timothy 1:15

2 Timothy 1:16

2 Timothy 1:17

2 Timothy 1:18