Study Desk

Paul, ^(a)an apostle of ^(b)Christ Jesus ^[a](c)by the will of God, according to the promise of ^(d)life in Christ Jesus,

To ^(e)Timothy, my beloved ^[b](f)son: ^(g)Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

^(h)I thank God, whom I ⁽ⁱ⁾serve with a ^(j)clear conscience ^[c]the way my forefathers did, ^(k)as I constantly remember you in my ^[d]prayers night and day,

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

^[e]For I am mindful of the ⁽ⁿ⁾sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and ^(o)your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

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

For God has not given us a ^(r)spirit of ^[f]timidity, but of power and love and ^[g]discipline.

Therefore ^(s)do not be ashamed of the ^(t)testimony of our Lord or of me ^(u)His prisoner, but join with me in ^(v)suffering for the ^(w)gospel according to the power of God,

who has ^(x)saved us and ^(y)called us with a holy ^(z)calling, ^(aa)not according to our works, but according to His own ^(ab)purpose and grace which was granted us in ^(ac)Christ Jesus from ^(ad)all eternity,

but ^(ae)now has been revealed by the ^(af)appearing of our Savior ^(ag)Christ Jesus, who ^(ah)abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

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

For this reason I also suffer these things, but ^(aj)I am not ashamed; for I know ^(ak)whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to ^(al)guard what I have entrusted to Him ^[h]until ^(am)that day.

^[i](an)Retain the ^(ao)standard of ^(ap)sound words ^(aq)which you have heard from me, in the ^(ar)faith and love which are in ^(as)Christ Jesus.

Guard, through the Holy Spirit who ^(at)dwells in us, the ^[j](au)treasure which has been entrusted to you.

You are aware of the fact that all who are in ^[k](av)Asia ^(aw)turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

The Lord grant mercy to ^(ax)the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and ^(ay)was not ashamed of my ^[l](az)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 ^(ba)that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at ^(bb)Ephesus.

You therefore, my ^[a](a)son, ^(b)be strong in the grace that is in ^(c)Christ Jesus.

The things ^(d)which you have heard from me in the presence of ^(e)many witnesses, ^(f)entrust these to ^(g)faithful men who will be ^(h)able to teach others also.

⁽ⁱ⁾Suffer hardship with me, as a good ^(j)soldier of ^(k)Christ Jesus.

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

Also if anyone ^(m)competes as an athlete, he ^[b]does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

⁽ⁿ⁾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, ^(o)risen from the dead, ^(p)descendant of David, ^(q)according to my gospel,

^[c]for which I ^(r)suffer hardship even to ^(s)imprisonment as a ^(t)criminal; but ^(u)the word of God ^(v)is not imprisoned.

For this reason ^(w)I endure all things for ^(x)the sake of those who are chosen, ^(y)so that they also may obtain the ^(z)salvation which is in ^(aa)Christ Jesus and with it ^(ab)eternal glory.

^(ac)It is a trustworthy statement: For ^(ad)if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

If we endure, ^(ae)we will also reign with Him; If we ^[d](af)deny Him, He also will deny us;

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

Remind them of these things, and solemnly ^(ai)charge them in the presence of God not to ^(aj)wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

Be diligent to ^(ak)present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling ^(al)the word of truth.

But ^(am)avoid ^(an)worldly and empty chatter, for ^[e]it will lead to further ungodliness,

and their ^[f]talk will spread like ^[g]gangrene. Among them are ^(ao)Hymenaeus and Philetus,

men who have gone astray from the truth saying that ^(ap)the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset ^(aq)the faith of some.

Nevertheless, the ^(ar)firm foundation of God stands, having this ^(as)seal, "^(at)The Lord knows those who are His," and, "^(au)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and ^(av)some to honor and some to dishonor.

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from ^(aw)these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, ^(ax)prepared for every good work.

Now ^(ay)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, ^(az)faith, love and peace, with those who ^(ba)call on the Lord ^(bb)from a pure heart.

But refuse foolish and ignorant ^(bc)speculations, knowing that they ^(bd)produce ^[h]quarrels.

^(be)The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, ^(bf)able to teach, patient when wronged,

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

and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(bj)the snare of the devil, having been ^(bk)held captive ^[i]by him to do his will.