1 PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God and by the promise of life which is in Jesus Christ,

2 To Ti-mo'the-us, a dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Jesus Christ our LORD.

3 I thank God, whom I have served from boyhood with a pure conscience, that I have always remembered you in my prayers night and day.

4 I am anxious to see you; I still remember your tears; I am filled with joy,

5 Especially when I am reminded of your true faith, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice; and I am sure now in you also.

6 For this reason, I remind you to stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the laying on of my hand.

7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of good discipline.

8 Be not, therefore, ashamed of the testimony of our LORD, nor of me his prisoner; but bear the hardships that go along with the preaching of the gospel through the power of God;

9 Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own will and his grace, which was given us in Jesus Christ before the world began,

10 And is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death, and has revealed life and immortality through the gospel;

11 To which I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For this cause I suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have trusted, and I am sure he will take care of me until that day.

13 Let these bright and sound words which you have heard from me abide with you in the faith and love which is in Jesus Christ.

14 That good thing which was committed to you keep by the help of the Holy Spirit which dwells in us.

15 This you know: that all those in Asia Minor have turned away from me; of whom are Phy-gel'lus and Her-mog'e-nes.

16 Let our LORD grant mercy to the house of On-e-siph'o-rus; for he has often refreshed me, and he was not ashamed of the chains of my imprisonment:

17 But when he was in Rome, he searched for me diligently, and found me.

18 Let our LORD grant to him, that he may find mercy in heaven, where our LORD is, in that day: and of how he ministered to me at Eph'e-sus, you know very well.