1 Paul, anapostle ofJesusChrist† through
the will of God, according to the promise of
the life which is in Christ Jesus,

2 to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace,
mercy, and peace,from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God, whom I serve as my
forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How
unceasing is my memory of you in my
petitions, night and day

4 longing to see you, remembering your
tears, that I may be filled with joy;

5 having been reminded of the sincere
faith thatis in you, which lived firstin your
grandmotherLois andyourmotherEunice
and, I am persuaded, in you also.

6 For this cause, I remind you that you
should stir up the gift of God which is in
you through the laying on of my hands.

7 For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear,
but of power, love, and self-control.

8 Therefore don’t be ashamed of the
testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner;
but endure hardship for the Good News
according to the power of God,

9 who saved us and called us with a holy
calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before times eternal,