2 Timothy 1 : Easy-to-Read Version
1 1Greetings from Paul, an apostle* of Christ Jesus. I am an apostle because God wanted me to be. God sent me to tell people about the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus. 2To Timothy. You are [like] a dear son to me. Grace (kindness), mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving and Encouragement
3I always remember you in my prayers day and night. I thank God for you in those prayers. He is the God my ancestors* served. I have always served him, doing what I know is right. 4I remember that you cried for me. I want very much to see you so that I can be filled with joy. 5I remember your true faith. That kind of faith first belonged to your grandmother Lois and to your mother Eunice. I know that you now have that same faith. 6That is why I want you to remember the gift God gave you. God gave you that gift when I put my hands on* you. Now I want you to use that gift and let it grow more and more, like a small flame grows into a fire. 7God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid. God gave us a spirit of power and love and self control. 8So don't be ashamed to tell people about our Lord [Jesus]. And don't be ashamed of me--I am in prison for the Lord. But suffer with me for the Good News.* God gives us the strength to do that. 9God saved us and made us his holy people.* That happened not because of anything we did ourselves. No! God saved us and made us his people because that was what he wanted and because of his grace (kindness). That grace was given to us through Christ Jesus before time began. 10That grace was not shown to us until now. It was shown to us when our Savior Christ Jesus came. Jesus destroyed death and showed us the way to have life. Yes! Through the Good News Jesus showed us the way to have life that cannot be destroyed. 11I was chosen to tell that Good News. I was chosen to be an apostle* and a teacher of that Good News. 12And I suffer now because I tell that Good News. But I am not ashamed. I know the One (Jesus) that I have believed. I am sure that he is able to protect the things that he has trusted me with until that Day.* 13Follow the true teachings you heard from me. Follow those teachings with the faith and love we have in Christ Jesus. Those teachings are an example [that shows you what you should teach]. 14Protect the truth that you were given. Protect those things with the help of the Holy Spirit.* That Holy Spirit lives inside us. 15You know that every person in the country of Asia* has left me. Even Phygelus and Hermogenes have left me. 16I pray that the Lord will show mercy to the family of Onesiphorus. Many times Onesiphorus helped me. He was not ashamed that I was in prison. 17No. He was not ashamed. When he came to Rome, he looked and looked for me until he found me. 18I pray that the Lord will allow Onesiphorus to have mercy from the Lord on that Day.* You know how many ways Onesiphorus helped me in Ephesus.
apostle A person Jesus chose to represent him in a special way. ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the people they are descended from. put my hands on A sign to show that Paul had power from God to give Timothy a special blessing. Good News The news that God has made a way for people to have their sins forgiven and live with him forever. holy people God's people are called holy because they are made pure through Christ and belong only to God. Day The day Christ will come to judge all people and take his people to live with him. Spirit, Holy Spirit Also called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, and the Comforter. Joined with God and Christ, he does God's work among people in the world. Asia The western part of Asia Minor.