Paul Writes to Timothy

Paul’s final letter, written near death, passing the torch to Timothy and charging him to preach the word.

Chapter 1.

Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of our Father, by the promise of life in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from our Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fan the Flame Our Father Gave You

I thank our Father, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, remembering you constantly in my prayers, night and day. Remembering your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I recall your sincere faith—alive first in your grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, and now, I'm convinced, in you too.

So I remind you to fan into flame the gift of our Father in you, through the laying on of my hands. For our Father gave us no spirit of fear, but the Spirit of power, love, and self-control. So don't be ashamed of our Lord's testimony, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by our Father's power. He saved and called us with a holy calling, not by our works but by his own purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before time began, and now made known through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who ended death and illuminated life and immortality through the gospel. For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. That's why I suffer this way. But I'm not ashamed, for I know whom I've believed, and am convinced he can guard what's entrusted to me until the day he returns.

Hold the pattern of sound words you heard from me, in faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.

You know this: everyone in the province of Asia turned away from me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. May our Lord Jesus grant mercy to Onesiphorus's household, for he often refreshed me and wasn't ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he arrived in Rome he searched eagerly for me until he found me. May our Lord Jesus grant that he finds mercy from the Lord on that day. You know very well how much he served in Ephesus.