Study Desk

Paul, ^(C1)an apostle of ^(C2)Christ Jesus ^(F1)(C3)by the will of God, according to the promise of ^(C4)life in Christ Jesus,

To ^(C1)Timothy, my beloved ^(F1)(C2)son: ^(C3)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

^(C1)I thank God, whom I ^(C2)serve with a ^(C3)clear conscience ^(F1)the way my forefathers did, ^(C4)as I constantly remember you in my ^(F2)prayers night and day,

^(C1)longing to see you, ^(C2)even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.

^(F1)For I am mindful of the ^(C1)sincere faith within you, which first dwelled in your grandmother Lois and ^(C2)your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh ^(C1)the gift of God which is in you through ^(C1)the laying on of my hands.

For God has not given us a ^(C1)spirit of ^(F1)timidity, but of power and love and ^(F2)discipline.

Therefore ^(C1)do not be ashamed of the ^(C2)testimony of our Lord or of me ^(C3)His prisoner, but join with me in ^(C4)suffering for the ^(C5)gospel according to the power of God,

who ^(C1)saved us and ^(C2)called us with a holy ^(C3)calling, ^(C4)not according to our works, but according to His own ^(C2)purpose and grace, which was granted to us in ^(C5)Christ Jesus from ^(C6)all eternity,

but has ^(C1)now been revealed by the ^(C2)appearing of our Savior ^(C3)Christ Jesus, who ^(C4)abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

^(C1)for which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.

For this reason I also suffer these things; but ^(C1)I am not ashamed, for I know ^(C2)whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to ^(C3)protect what I have entrusted to Him ^(F1)until ^(C4)that day.

^(C1)Hold on to the ^(C2)example of ^(C3)sound words ^(C4)which you have heard from me, in the ^(C5)faith and love which are in ^(C6)Christ Jesus.

Protect, through the Holy Spirit who ^(C1)dwells in us, the ^(F1)(C2)treasure which has been entrusted to you.

You are aware of the fact that all who are in ^(F1)(C1)Asia ^(C2)turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

The Lord grant mercy to ^(C1)the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and ^(C2)was not ashamed of my ^(F1)(C3)chains;

but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—

the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on ^(C1)that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at ^(C2)Ephesus.

You therefore, my ^(F1)(C1)son, ^(C2)be strong in the grace that is in ^(C3)Christ Jesus.

The things ^(C1)which you have heard from me in the presence of ^(C2)many witnesses, ^(C3)entrust these to ^(C4)faithful ^(F1)people who will be ^(C5)able to teach others also.

^(C1)Suffer hardship with me, as a good ^(C2)soldier of ^(C3)Christ Jesus.

No soldier in active service ^(C1)entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.

And if someone likewise ^(C1)competes as an athlete, he is not ^(F1)crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules.

^(C1)The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, ^(C1)risen from the dead, ^(C2)descendant of David, ^(C3)according to my gospel,

^(F1)for which I ^(C1)suffer hardship even to ^(C2)imprisonment as a ^(C3)criminal; but ^(C4)the word of God ^(C5)is not imprisoned.

For this reason ^(C1)I endure all things for ^(C2)the sake of ^(F1)those who are chosen, ^(C3)so that they also may obtain the ^(C4)salvation which is in ^(C5)Christ Jesus and with it ^(C6)eternal glory.

^(C1)The statement is trustworthy: For ^(C2)if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

If we endure, ^(C1)we will also reign with Him; If we ^(F1)(C2)deny Him, He will also deny us;

If we are faithless, ^(C1)He remains faithful, for ^(C2)He cannot deny Himself.

Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(C1)exhort them in the presence of God not to ^(C2)dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners.

Be diligent to ^(C1)present yourself approved to God as a worker who ^(F1)does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(C2)the word of truth.

But ^(C1)avoid ^(C2)worldly and empty chatter, for ^(F1)it will lead to further ungodliness,

and their ^(F1)talk will spread like ^(F2)gangrene. Among them are ^(C1)Hymenaeus and Philetus,

men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that ^(C1)the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing ^(C2)the faith of some.

Nevertheless, the ^(C1)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(C2)seal: "^(C3)The Lord knows those who are His;" and, "^(C4)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness."

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and ^(C1)some are for honor while others are for dishonor.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(C1)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(C2)prepared for every good work.

Now ^(C1)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(C2)faith, love, and peace with those who ^(C3)call on the Lord ^(C4)from a pure heart.

But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(C1)speculations, knowing that they ^(C2)produce ^(F1)quarrels.

^(C1)The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(C2)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged,

^(C1)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, ^(C2)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to ^(C3)the knowledge of the truth,

and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(C1)the snare of the devil, having been ^(C2)held captive ^(F1)by him to do his will.

But realize this, that ^(C1)in the last days difficult times will come.

For people will be ^(C1)lovers of self, ^(C2)lovers of money, ^(C3)boastful, ^(C3)arrogant, ^(C4)slanderers, ^(C3)disobedient to parents, ^(C5)ungrateful, ^(C6)unholy,

^(C1)unloving, irreconcilable, ^(C2)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, ^(F1)(C3)haters of good,

^(C1)treacherous, ^(C2)reckless, ^(C3)conceited, ^(C4)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,

holding to a form of ^(F1)(C1)godliness although they have ^(C2)denied its power; ^(C3)avoid such people as these.

For among them are those who ^(F1)(C1)slip into households and captivate ^(F2)(C2)weak women weighed down with sins, led on by ^(C3)various impulses,

always learning and never able to ^(C1)come to the ^(F1)knowledge of the truth.

Just as ^(C1)Jannes and Jambres ^(C2)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, ^(C3)men of depraved mind, ^(F1)worthless in regard to the faith.

But they will not make further progress; for their ^(C1)foolishness will be obvious to all, just ^(C2)as was that also of ^(F1)Jannes and Jambres.

Now you ^(C1)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, ^(C2)love, ^(F1)perseverance,

^(C1)persecutions, and ^(C2)sufferings, such as happened to me at ^(C3)Antioch, at ^(C4)Iconium, and at ^(C5)Lystra; what ^(C6)persecutions I endured, and out of them all ^(C7)the Lord rescued me!

Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus ^(C1)will be persecuted.

But evil people and impostors ^(C1)will proceed from bad to worse, ^(C2)deceiving and being deceived.

You, however, ^(C1)continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them,

and that ^(C1)from childhood you have known ^(C2)the sacred writings which are able to ^(C3)give you the wisdom that leads to ^(C4)salvation through faith which is in ^(C5)Christ Jesus.

^(C1)All Scripture is ^(F1)inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for ^(F2)rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;

so that ^(C1)the man or woman of God may be ^(F1)fully capable, ^(C2)equipped for every good work.

^(C1)I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to ^(C2)judge the living and the dead, and by His ^(C3)appearing and His kingdom:

preach ^(C1)the word; be ready ^(F1)in season and out of season; ^(C2)correct, rebuke, and ^(F2)exhort, with ^(F3)great ^(C3)patience and instruction.

For ^(C1)the time will come when they will not tolerate ^(C2)sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires,

and they ^(C1)will turn their ears away from the truth and ^(C2)will turn aside to myths.

But as for you, ^(C1)use self-restraint in all things, ^(C2)endure hardship, do the work of an ^(C3)evangelist, fulfill your ^(C4)ministry.

For I am already being ^(C1)poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(C2)my departure has come.

^(C1)I have fought the good fight, I have finished ^(C2)the course, I have kept ^(C3)the faith;

in the future there ^(C1)is reserved for me ^(C2)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on ^(C3)that day; and not only to me, but also to ^(C4)all who have loved His ^(C5)appearing.

^(C1)Make every effort to come to me soon;

for ^(C1)Demas, having loved ^(C2)this present ^(F1)world, has deserted me and gone to ^(C3)Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to ^(F2)(C4)Galatia, ^(C5)Titus to Dalmatia.

^(C1)Only ^(C2)Luke is with me. Take along ^(C3)Mark and bring him with you, ^(C4)for he is useful to me for service.

But I have sent ^(C1)Tychicus to ^(C2)Ephesus.

When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at ^(C1)Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.

^(C1)Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; ^(C2)the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.

Be on guard against him yourself too, for he vigorously opposed our ^(F1)teaching.

At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; ^(C1)may it not be counted against them.

But the Lord stood with me and ^(C1)strengthened me, so that through me ^(C2)the proclamation might ^(F1)be ^(C3)fully accomplished, and that all ^(C4)the Gentiles might hear; and I was ^(C5)rescued out of ^(C6)the lion's mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will ^(F1)(C1)bring me safely to His ^(C2)heavenly kingdom; ^(C3)to ^(F2)Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Greet Prisca and ^(C1)Aquila, and ^(C2)the household of Onesiphorus.

^(C1)Erastus remained at ^(C2)Corinth, but I left ^(C3)Trophimus sick at ^(C4)Miletus.

^(C1)Make every effort to come before ^(C2)winter. Eubulus greets you, also Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

^(C1)The Lord be with your spirit. ^(C2)Grace be with you.