Timothy was a young man who met Paul in Lystra. His father was a Greek gentile. His mother was Jewish. His mother was named Eunice, and his grandmother's name was Lois. After Timothy met Paul, he became a Christian. He traveled with Paul and help set up many new churches.
Timothy traveled with Paul, but then later, he led churches on his own. He was young, and some of the older Christians did not accept him. He felt discouraged. Paul wrote him 2 letters that became the books of the Bible, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy. These letters were to encourage Timothy and to teach him more about leading the churches.
2 Timothy 1 - 4
Do not be ashamed of the Gospel.
People who obey God will be pure and special.
How people will behave in the last days.
Personal greetings and instructions to Timothy.
2 Timothy 1
This letter is from Paul, an
apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will. I write according to the
promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.
[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will
of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
This letter is to Timothy, whom I dearly love. I send you grace,
mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
[2] To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and
peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I have served God with a clear conscience.
I thank God for you and pray for you night and day.
[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;
I would very much like to see you. I
would cry because I would be so happy.
[4] Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears,
that I may be filled with joy;
I remember your pure faith. I remember that
your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, also had a lot of faith.
[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.
Remember when I put my hands on you and
gave you the gift of God (anointed you). God does not give us the
spirit of fear. He gives us the gift of power and love and
clear thinking.
[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.
Don't be embarrassed to talk about the
Lord. Don't be embarrassed to talk about me in jail. Use God's
power to talk about our Lord and suffer with me.
[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;
God saved us and called us to be His
people. We did not earn this by working. It was grace from
Christ Jesus. God planned this even before the world began. Now it
has happened when Jesus Christ saved us. He defeated death. He
brought life and gives us life forever.
[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,
[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:
I have been made a preacher, an
apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
[11] Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and
a teacher of the Gentiles.
That is why I am suffering now. Even
so, I am not ashamed. I know who I have believed in. I trust
Him to keep me safe until the last day.
[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.
Hang onto the true words you have heard
me say. Keep faith and love in Christ Jesus. You have been
trusted with the good news. The Holy Spirit will help you
guard the good news.
[13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard
of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
[14] That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by
the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
You know that the people in Asia have
turned away from me. Two of them are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
[15] This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be
turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
I pray for the Lord to give mercy to
Onesiphorus and his family. He helped me a lot. He was not ashamed
of me being in jail. When he came to Rome, he looked for me until he
found me. I pray for the Lord to show him mercy on the day of
judgment. You know he helped me a lot at Ephesus also.
[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.
[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 Timothy 2
So, my son, be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach about Jesus to many people. Now, you tell these things to faithful men. Then, they can teach other people, too.[1] Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
[2] 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.
Be patient when you go through hard times. Be strong like a soldier of Jesus Christ. Soldiers in wars don't worry about other things. They focus on following their leaders.
[3] Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
[4] 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.
A man in a competition cannot win unless he follows the rules.
[5] And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Farmers who work in their farms must be the first to eat what they grow. Listen to what I say. The Lord will help you understand.
[6] The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
[7] Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Remember this: Jesus Christ was from
the family of David. He was dead and became alive again. That
is the good news.
[8] Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was
raised from the dead according to my gospel:
I suffer and I am treated like a
criminal. I am put into prison. But God's word is not locked in
prison.
[9] Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto
bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
That is why I continue even though I
suffer. I continue for God's special people. I continue so
they will be saved and be with Christ Jesus forever.
[10] 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.
This is true. If we die with Christ, we will also live with Him. If
we suffer, we will also reign (rule) with Him when He comes back.
If we tell people we don't know Him, He will say He doesn't know us.
[11] It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we
shall also live with him:
[12] If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny
him, he also will deny us:
If we don't believe, He continues to be
faithful. He cannot be less than He is.
[13] If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot
deny himself.
Remember these things. Encourage
the believers to use positive words. Negative words don't help. They
only destroy people.
[14] 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 and behave so that God will
approve you. You should be a worker who follows the truth and has
good behavior to be proud of.
[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Stay away from bad talk. This will make
you ungodly.
[16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will
increase unto more ungodliness.
People who talk bad will make evil
spread. That is like the men named Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have
not told the truth. They say that Jesus has already come back.
This confuses other people and makes them lose faith.
[17] And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is
Hymenaeus and Philetus;
[18] Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Even so, God's foundation stands. It has
these words, "The Lord knows the people who are His. Let everyone
who uses Christ's name stay away from evil."
[19] 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.
Here is an example: in a big
house, there are fancy plates and bowls that are made out of gold
and silver. There are also plain plates and bowls made out of
wood and clay. Some plates and bowls are special, and some are
not special.
[20] 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.
People are also special or not special.
If people stop sinning and having evil behavior, they will be
special to God. They will do good work.
[21] 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.
Run away from childish, evil things.
Follow people who are righteous, faithful, generous, peaceful, and
prayerful. Stay away from people who are foolish and don't know
anything. They only cause trouble.
[22] Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness,
faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure
heart.
[23] But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that
they do gender strifes.
The Lord's servants should not cause
trouble. They should be gentle to everyone and be patient teachers. Be
patient with people who don't agree with you. God may
turn them around. God may help them escape the devil.
[24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
[25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if
God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of
the truth;
[26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of
the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 3
We know that bad times will come in the
last days.
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come.
People will only love themselves. They will
be jealous of other people. They will be too proud and
brag about themselves. They will talk bad about God. They will
not obey their parents. They will not be thankful to God.
They will sin. They will not care about other people.
They will not keep their promises. They will lie. They will hate
everything that is good.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
They will betray other people. They
will think too highly of themselves. They will love pleasure
more than they love God.
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more
than lovers of God;
They will pretend to be Christian, but they
are not real. Don't be around these kinds of people.
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power
thereof: from such turn away.
This kind of
person will affect families. They will try to lead the women
away. They will want to learn something new, but they will never
learn the truth.
[6] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and
lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers
lusts,
[7] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of
the truth.
| Jannes and Jambres were magicians. They worked for Pharaoh back when the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. They didn't believe Moses. They were against Moses and tried to copy his miracles. |
These people don't want to know the
truth. They are like Jannes and Jambres who didn't want to listen to
Moses.
[8] Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these
also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning
the faith.
But these people will get blocked.
Everyone will know how foolish they are.
[9] But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall
be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
You have known about everything I teach.
You know how I live my life. You know about my mission, my faith, my
suffering, my generosity, and my patience. You know the
bad things I have been through at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. You
know about the bad treatment and persecutions I have been through.
But, the Lord saved me from all of them.
[10] But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life,
purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
[11] 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.
So, everyone who lives a godly life in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But evil men will behave
worse and worse. They will lie and be lied to.
[12] Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution.
[13] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived.
You should continue in the things you have
learned and been promised. Continue because you know
God. Ever since you were born, you have learned the holy scriptures.
They can make you wise so that you can be saved through faith in
Christ Jesus.
[14] But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
[15] 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 from God. It is good for
teaching, discipline, and training for righteousness.
The scripture makes men of God perfect and ready to do God's work.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
[17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works.
2 Timothy 4
I tell you this in front of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord will judge living and dead people when He comes back.[1] 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 God's word. Be prepared at any time. Don't let anything stop you.
[2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
The time will come when people won't listen to teaching about God. They will want to only hear what they want to hear.
[3] 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;
They won't listen to the truth. They will only listen to stories that are not true.
[4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Be
careful and stay alert always. Be patient when you suffer. Work hard
to tell people about Jesus. Use your time well.
[5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
My time to die is getting closer.
I am getting ready to be an offering. I have fought a good fight.
I have finished my job. I have kept faith in God.
[6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my
departure is at hand.
[7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I
have kept the faith:
When God judges me, he will give me a crown
of righteousness. He won't only give it to me. He will also
give it to people who love seeing Him.
[8] 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.
Come visit me as soon as you can. The
man named Demas has left me. He loved the world more than he loved
helping me. He went to the place named Thessalonica. The man
named Crescens went to Galatia. Titus went to Dalmatia. The
only one with me now is Luke. When you come, bring Mark with you.
He can help me with my ministry a lot.
[9] Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
[10] For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present
world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus
unto Dalmatia.
[11] Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with
thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
I sent the man named Tychicus to
Ephesus.
[12] And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
I left my cloak (coat) at Troas with
Carpus. When you come, please bring it to me. Please also
bring the books and especially the scrolls.
[13] The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou
comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the
parchments.
There is man named Alexander. He
is a coppersmith who makes things with copper metal. He has done bad
things to me. God will punish him for this. He is against us, so you
need to be careful around him.
[14] Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord
reward him according to his works:
[15] Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood
our words.
When I was on trial and gave my first answer, no one stood by me.
Everyone left me. I pray for God not to punish them for this. But
the Lord stood with me. He made me stronger so that I could
preach the message. I could preach to the Gentiles. I was kept
safe from the lions.
[16] 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.
[17] 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.
The Lord will save me from all evil
things. He will save me until I go to His heavenly kingdom. I
will praise Him forever.
[18] 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.
Say hello to Priscilla and Aquilla and
the family of Onesiphorus.
[19] Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of
Onesiphorus.
Erastus stayed at Corinith, but Trophimus was left at Miletum
because he was sick.
[20] Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at
Miletum sick.
Try hard to come before winter.
Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers say hello.
[21] Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth
thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ be
with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
[22] The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with
you. Amen.
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