HolyStudy
Bible IndexRead BibleNotesChurchesMissionPrivacyTermsContact
© 2026 HolyStudy
HomeRead BibleBible NotesChurchesSign in
HolyStudy
HomeRead BibleBible NotesChurches
Sign in

2 Timothy 1

1

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

1
2

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

1
3

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;

1
1
4

Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

1
1
5

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.

1
1
6

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.

7

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1
8

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;

1
9

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,

1
10

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:

1
1
11

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

1
12

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.

13

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1
14

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

15

This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

16

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

17

But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

1
18

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.

2
← Previous ChapterNext 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 1:5

I am reminded of your genuine faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, in you as well — the genealogy of faith: from Lois through Eunice to Timothy traces both literal descent and spiritual inheritance. Anupokritos pistis (genuine, non-hypocritical faith) spans generations.

2 Timothy 1:6

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 — Paul exhorts Timothy to anazōpureō (fan into flame) the charisma (gift) bestowed through cheirotonia (laying on of hands). The metaphor suggests dormant capacity requiring active rekindling.

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control — the fundamental principle: the Holy Spirit (pneuma) imparted by God opposes phobos (fear) and embodies dynamis (power), agapē (love), and sophrosynē (self-control). Courage, affection, and temperance characterize Spirit-filled ministry.

2 Timothy 1:8

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 — Paul's exhortation forbids aischynē (shame) regarding martyria (testimony) and himself as desmios (prisoner). Instead, Timothy must koinnōneō (participate) in suffering (pathēmata) through divine power.

2 Timothy 1:9

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 — God's redemptive action (sōzō) precedes faith, flowing from purpose (prothesis) and grace (charis) eternally decreed in Christ. Election transcends works and precedes cosmic time.

2 Timothy 1:10

and which now has been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel — the epiphaneia (appearing) of Christ accomplished telos (outcome): thanatos (death) abolished, zōē (life) and aphtharsia (incorruption) manifested through the gospel. Incarnation constitutes cosmic reversal.

2 Timothy 1:11

for which I was appointed a herald and apostle and teacher — Paul's threefold commission (kēryx, apostolos, didáskalos) particularizes his apostolic role: proclaiming the gospel, bearing apostolic authority, and instructing communities. The titles compound his authority.

2 Timothy 1:12

For this reason I suffer as I am suffering; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard my deposit until that day — Paul's suffering (paschō) does not induce shame; his conviction (peithomai) rests on intimate knowledge (ginōskō) of Christ and confidence in his faithfulness (phylassein tēn parathēkēn). Trust transcends circumstance.

2 Timothy 1:13

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus — Timothy must follow (hypotypōsis) the pattern (typos) of Paul's orthodox teaching: sound words (hygiainontes logoi) rooted in faith and love. Transmitted doctrine requires perpetuation.

2 Timothy 1:14

Guard the good deposit entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells in you — the parathēkē (deposit) committed to Timothy through the indwelling Holy Spirit requires phylassō (guarding). Apostolic tradition becomes Timothy's sacred trust, internalized through the Spirit.

2 Timothy 1:15

You are aware that all who are in Asia have turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes — the painful reality: Asian believers have apostatized (apostrephō), including Phygelus and Hermogenes. Geographic scope and named individuals underscore the gravity of defection.

2 Timothy 1:16

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains — the contrasting example: Onesiphorus embodies fidelity, bringing refreshment (anapsyxis) despite Paul's imprisonment. His household merits divine mercy (eleos) for his courageous fidelity.

2 Timothy 1:17

but when he came to Rome, he sought me out eagerly and found me — Onesiphorus's journey to Rome and earnest search (spoudaios) for Paul's presence demonstrate active love transcending danger and inconvenience.

2 Timothy 1:18

May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day — and you well know all the service he rendered in Ephesus. — Paul's intercessory prayer (didōmi) for Onesiphorus's ultimate eschatological mercy (eleos) and acknowledgment of his services (diakonos) in Ephesus reinforce how pastoral fidelity generates divine reward.