1 From Paul, an ·apostle [messenger] of Christ Jesus by the will of God. ·God sent me to tell about [L …according to] the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus.
2 To Timothy [Acts 16:1–5; 1 Cor. 16:10–11; Phil. 2:19–24], a ·dear [beloved] child to me [1 Tim. 1:2]:
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Encouragement for Timothy
3 I thank God as I always ·mention [remember] you in my prayers, day and night. I serve him, ·doing what I know is right [with a clear conscience] as my ancestors did. 4 Remembering your tears [C probably at Paul’s departure], I ·want very much [long] to see you so I can be filled with joy. 5 I remember your ·true [sincere] faith. That faith first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I ·know [am sure/persuaded] you now have that same faith. 6 This is why I remind you to ·keep using [rekindle; fan into flames] the gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you [C a way of dedicating someone to Christian service; 1 Tim. 4:14]. 7 [L For] God did not give us ·a spirit [or the Spirit] that makes us ·afraid [timid] but ·a spirit [or the Spirit] of power and love and ·self-control [self-discipline; or good judgment].
8 So do not be ashamed to ·tell people [testify; bear witness] about our Lord, and do not be ashamed of me, ·in prison for the Lord [L his prisoner; C Paul was in prison in Rome for a second time and would soon be executed]. But suffer with me for the ·Good News [Gospel]. God, who gives us the strength to do that, 9 saved us and ·made us his holy people [L called us to a holy calling]. That was not because of anything we did ourselves but because of ·God’s [L his own] purpose and grace. That grace was given to us through Christ Jesus before ·time began [L eternal times], 10 but it is now ·shown [revealed; manifested] to us by the ·coming [appearing; manifestation] of our Savior Christ Jesus. He ·destroyed [broke the power of; abolished] death, and through the ·Good News [Gospel] he ·showed us the way to have [L illuminated; brought to light] ·life that cannot be destroyed [immortal life; L life and immortality]. 11 I was ·chosen [appointed] ·to tell that Good News [L a preacher/herald] and to be an apostle and a teacher. 12 I am suffering now ·because I tell the Good News [L for this reason], but I am not ashamed, because I know the One in whom I have ·believed [put my trust/faith]. And I am ·sure [convinced; confident] he is able to ·protect [guard; keep safe] what ·he has trusted me with [or I have entrusted with him; L my deposit/entrustment] until that day [C the final day of judgment and reward]. 13 ·Follow the pattern [or Hold to the standard/norm] of true teachings that you heard from me ·in [or accompanied by the] faith and love, which are ·available in [L in] Christ Jesus. 14 ·Protect [Guard] the ·truth that you were given [L the good deposit entrusted to you]; ·protect [guard] it ·with the help of [by the power of; L through; by] the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
15 You know that everyone in Asia [C a Roman province in present-day western Turkey] has left me, even Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord show ·mercy [kindness] to the family of Onesiphorus [4:20; C the reference to the “family” rather than the man may indicate that Onesiphorus has since died], who has often ·helped [encouraged; refreshed] me and was not ashamed ·that I was in prison [L of my chains]. 17 When he came to Rome, he ·looked eagerly [searched diligently] for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord ·allow him to find [grant/give him] mercy from the Lord on that day [C the final day of judgment and reward]. You know very well how many ways he ·helped [served] me in Ephesus [C a major port city in the Roman province of Asia, present-day western Turkey; Acts 19].