1FROM PAUL,
APOSTLE of Jesus Christ by the will of God, whose promise of life is fulfilled in Christ Jesus,
2to Timothy his dear son.
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
3I thank God—whom I, like my forefathers, worship with a pure intention— 4when I mention you in my prayers; this I do constantly night and day. And when I remember the tears you shed, I long to see you again to make my happiness complete. 5I am reminded of the sincerity of your faith, a faith which was alive in Lois your grandmother and Eunice your mother before you, and which, I am confident, lives in you also.
6That is why I now remind you to stir into flame the gift of God which is within you through the laying on of my hands. 7For the spirit that God gave us is no craven spirit, but one to inspire strength, love, and self-discipline. 8So never be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but take your share of suffering for the sake of the Gospel, in the strength that comes from God. 9It is he who brought us salvation and called us to a dedicated life, not for any merit of ours but of his own purpose and his own grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 10but has now at length been brought fully into view by the appearance on earth of our Saviour Jesus Christ. For he has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.
11Of this Gospel I, by his appointment, am herald, apostle, and teacher. 12That is the reason for my present plight; but I am not ashamed of it, because I know who it is in whom I have trusted, and am confident of his power to keep safe what he has put into my charge, until the great Day. 13Keep before you an outline of the sound teaching which you heard from me, living by the faith and love which are ours in Christ Jesus. 14Guard the treasure put into our charge, with the help of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
15As you know, everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16But may the Lord's mercy rest on the house of Onesiphorus! He has often relieved me in my troubles. He was not ashamed to visit a prisoner, 17but took pains to search me out when he came to Rome, and found me. 18I pray that the Lord may grant him to find mercy is from the Lord on the great Day. The many services he rendered at Ephesus you know better than I could tell you.
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