1     Acts 16:1
5     Acts 16:1
8     Romans 1:16
11    1 Timothy 2:7

5-7    Imaging the Word, Vol. 2, p. 42-45
6-8    John Michael Talbot, “Fan into Flame,” Meditations in the Spirit
10      Athanasius, quoted in The Way of Jesus Christ, p. 48

14      Francis Patrick Sullivan, “A Superior Being,” A Time To Sow, p. 184

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by 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 with a clear conscience, as did my fathers, when I remember you constantly in my prayers.  4 As I remember your tears, I long night and day to see you, that I may be filled with joy.  5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you.  6 Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; 7 for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.  8 Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, 10 and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  11 For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 and therefore I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.  13 Follow the pattern of the sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus; 14 guard the truth that has been entrusted to you by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, and among them Phygelus and Hermogenes.  16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me; he was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me eagerly and found me -18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day — and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

1:1 παυλος αποστολος ιησου χριστου δια θεληματος θεου κατ επαγγελιαν ζωης της εν χριστω ιησου

1:2 τιμοθεω αγαπητω τεκνω

χαρις ελεος ειρηνη απο θεου πατρος και χριστου ιησου του κυριου ημων

1:3 χαριν εχω τω θεω ω λατρευω απο προγονων εν καθαρα συνειδησει ως αδιαλειπτον εχω την περι σου μνειαν εν ταις δεησεσιν μου νυκτος και ημερας 1:4 επιποθων σε ιδειν μεμνημενος σου των δακρυων ινα χαρας πληρωθω 1:5 υπομνησιν λαμβανων της εν σοι ανυποκριτου πιστεως ητις ενωκησεν πρωτον εν τη μαμμη σου λωιδι και τη μητρι σου αβπεπεισμαι δε οτι και εν σοι 1:6 δι ην αιτιαν αναμιμνησκω σε αναζωπυρειν το χαρισμα του θεου ο εστιν εν σοι δια της επιθεσεως των χειρων μου 1:7 ου γαρ εδωκεν ημιν ο θεος πνευμα δειλιας αλλα δυναμεως και αγαπης και σωφρονισμου

1:8 μη ουν επαισχυνθης το μαρτυριον του κυριου ημων μηδε εμε τον δεσμιον αυτου αλλα συγκακοπαθησον τω ευαγγελιω κατα δυναμιν θεου 1:9 του σωσαντος ημας και καλεσαντος κλησει αγια ου κατα τα εργα ημων αλλα κατ ιδιαν προθεσιν και χαριν την δοθεισαν ημιν εν χριστω ιησου προ χρονων αιωνιων 1:10 φανερωθεισαν δε νυν δια της επιφανειας του σωτηρος ημων ιησου χριστου καταργησαντος μεν τον θανατον φωτισαντος δε ζωην και αφθαρσιαν δια του ευαγγελιου 1:11 εις ο ετεθην εγω κηρυξ και αποστολος και διδασκαλος εθνων 1:12 δι ην αιτιαν και ταυτα πασχω αλλ ουκ επαισχυνομαι οιδα γαρ ω πεπιστευκα και πεπεισμαι οτι δυνατος εστιν την παραθηκην μου φυλαξαι εις εκεινην την ημεραν 1:13 υποτυπωσιν εχε υγιαινοντων λογων ων παρ εμου ηκουσας εν πιστει και αγαπη τη εν χριστω ιησου 1:14 την καλην παραθηκην φυλαξον δια πνευματος αγιου του ενοικουντος εν ημιν

1:15 οιδας τουτο οτι απεστραφησαν με παντες οι εν τη ασια ων εστιν φυγελος και ερμογενης 1:16 δωη ελεος ο κυριος τω ονησιφορου οικω οτι πολλακις με ανεψυξεν και την αλυσιν μου ουκ επαισχυνθη 1:17 αλλα γενομενος εν ρωμη σπουδαιοτερον εζητησεν με και ευρεν 1:18 δωη αυτω ο κυριος ευρειν ελεος παρα κυριου εν εκεινη τη ημερα και οσα εν εφεσω διηκονησεν βελτιον συ γινωσκεις

11-13    2 Chronicles 15:2; Psalm 18:25-26; Mark 8:38
12         Matthew 10:33; Luke 12:9
12         Psalm 89:33; Romans 3:13
19         Numbers 16:5
22         Mark 5:8

13    Franz Wright, “I Am Listening,” God’s Silence, p. 140

13               Francis Patrick Sullivan, “Great Danes and Shitty Shoes,” A Time To Sow, p. 187
23-26        Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 308

1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  4 No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him.  5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.  6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.  7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel, 9 the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered.  10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.  11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.

14 Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.  15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  16 Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some.  19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble.  21 If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.  22 So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.  23 Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

2:1 συ ουν τεκνον μου ενδυναμου εν τη χαριτι τη εν χριστω ιησου 2:2 και α ηκουσας παρ εμου δια πολλων μαρτυρων ταυτα παραθου πιστοις ανθρωποις οιτινες ικανοι εσονται και ετερους διδαξαι 2:3 συ ουν κακοπαθησον ως καλος στρατιωτης ιησου χριστου 2:4 ουδεις στρατευομενος εμπλεκεται ταις του βιου πραγματειαις ινα τω στρατολογησαντι αρεση 2:5 εαν δε και αθλη τις ου στεφανουται εαν μη νομιμως αθληση 2:6 τον κοπιωντα γεωργον δει πρωτον των καρπων μεταλαμβανειν 2:7 νοει α λεγω δωη γαρ σοι ο κυριος συνεσιν εν πασιν

2:8 μνημονευε ιησουν χριστον εγηγερμενον εκ νεκρων εκ σπερματος δαυιδ κατα το ευαγγελιον μου 2:9 εν ω κακοπαθω μεχρι δεσμων ως κακουργος αλλ ο λογος του θεου ου δεδεται 2:10 δια τουτο παντα υπομενω δια τους εκλεκτους ινα και αυτοι σωτηριας τυχωσιν της εν χριστω ιησου μετα δοξης αιωνιου 2:11 πιστος ο λογος ει γαρ συναπεθανομεν και συζησομεν 2:12 ει υπομενομεν και συμβασιλευσομεν ει αρνουμεθα κακεινος αρνησεται ημας 2:13 ει απιστουμεν εκεινος πιστος μενει αρνησασθαι εαυτον ου δυναται

2:14 ταυτα υπομιμνησκε διαμαρτυρομενος ενωπιον του κυριου μη λογομαχειν εις ουδεν χρησιμον επι καταστροφη των ακουοντων 2:15 σπουδασον σεαυτον δοκιμον παραστησαι τω θεω εργατην ανεπαισχυντον ορθοτομουντα τον λογον της αληθειας 2:16 τας δε βεβηλους κενοφωνιας περιιστασο επι πλειον γαρ προκοψουσιν ασεβειας 2:17 και ο λογος αυτων ως γαγγραινα νομην εξει ων εστιν υμεναιος και φιλητος 2:18 οιτινες περι την αληθειαν ηστοχησαν λεγοντες την αναστασιν ηδη γεγονεναι και ανατρεπουσιν την τινων πιστιν 2:19 ο μεντοι στερεος θεμελιος του θεου εστηκεν εχων την σφραγιδα ταυτην εγνω κυριος τους οντας αυτου και αποστητω απο αδικιας πας ο ονομαζων το ονομα κυριου

2:20 εν μεγαλη δε οικια ουκ εστιν μονον σκευη χρυσα και αργυρα αλλα και ξυλινα και οστρακινα και α μεν εις τιμην α δε εις ατιμιαν 2:21 εαν ουν τις εκκαθαρη εαυτον απο τουτων εσται σκευος εις τιμην ηγιασμενον και ευχρηστον τω δεσποτη εις παν εργον αγαθον ητοιμασμενον 2:22 τας δε νεωτερικας επιθυμιας φευγε διωκε δε δικαιοσυνην πιστιν αγαπην ειρηνην μετα των επικαλουμενων τον κυριον εκ καθαρας καρδιας 2:23 τας δε μωρας και απαιδευτους ζητησεις παραιτου ειδως οτι γεννωσιν μαχας 2:24 δουλον δε κυριου ου δει μαχεσθαι αλλ ηπιον ειναι προς παντας διδακτικον ανεξικακον 2:25 εν πραοτητι παιδευοντα τους αντιδιατιθεμενους μηποτε δω αυτοις ο θεος μετανοιαν εις επιγνωσιν αληθειας 2:26 και ανανηψωσιν εκ της του διαβολου παγιδος εζωγρημενοι υπ αυτου εις το εκεινου θελημα

8     Exodus 7:11
11    Acts 13:14-52, 14:1-20

14-17     Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 309
16-17     C. Norman Kraus, “Toward a Theology for the Disciple Community,” Kingdom, Cross and Community, p. 114

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress.  2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 inhuman, implacable, slanderers, profligates, fierce, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding the form of religion but denying the power of it. Avoid such people.  6 For among them are those who make their way into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and swayed by various impulses, 7 who will listen to anybody and can never arrive at a knowledge of the truth.  8 As Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of corrupt mind and counterfeit faith; 9 but they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

10 Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions, my sufferings, what befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.  12 Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceivers and deceived.  14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  16 All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

3:1 τουτο δε γινωσκε οτι εν εσχαταις ημεραις ενστησονται καιροι χαλεποι 3:2 εσονται γαρ οι ανθρωποι φιλαυτοι φιλαργυροι αλαζονες υπερηφανοι βλασφημοι γονευσιν απειθεις αχαριστοι ανοσιοι 3:3 αστοργοι ασπονδοι διαβολοι ακρατεις ανημεροι αφιλαγαθοι 3:4 προδοται προπετεις τετυφωμενοι φιληδονοι μαλλον η φιλοθεοι 3:5 εχοντες μορφωσιν ευσεβειας την δε δυναμιν αυτης ηρνημενοι και τουτους αποτρεπου 3:6 εκ τουτων γαρ εισιν οι ενδυνοντες εις τας οικιας και αιχμαλωτευοντες γυναικαρια σεσωρευμενα αμαρτιαις αγομενα επιθυμιαις ποικιλαις 3:7 παντοτε μανθανοντα και μηδεποτε εις επιγνωσιν αληθειας ελθειν δυναμενα 3:8 ον τροπον δε ιαννης και ιαμβρης αντεστησαν μωυσει ουτως και ουτοι ανθιστανται τη αληθεια ανθρωποι κατεφθαρμενοι τον νουν αδοκιμοι περι την πιστιν 3:9 αλλ ου προκοψουσιν επι πλειον η γαρ ανοια αυτων εκδηλος εσται πασιν ως και η εκεινων εγενετο

3:10 συ δε παρηκολουθηκας μου τη διδασκαλια τη αγωγη τη προθεσει τη πιστει τη μακροθυμια τη αγαπη τη υπομονη 3:11 τοις διωγμοις τοις παθημασιν οια μοι εγενετο εν αντιοχεια εν ικονιω εν λυστροις οιους διωγμους υπηνεγκα και εκ παντων με ερρυσατο ο κυριος 3:12 και παντες δε οι θελοντες ευσεβως ζην εν χριστω ιησου διωχθησονται 3:13 πονηροι δε ανθρωποι και γοητες προκοψουσιν επι το χειρον πλανωντες και πλανωμενοι 3:14 συ δε μενε εν οις εμαθες και επιστωθης ειδως παρα τινος εμαθες 3:15 και οτι απο βρεφους τα ιερα γραμματα οιδας τα δυναμενα σε σοφισαι εις σωτηριαν δια πιστεως της εν χριστω ιησου 3:16 πασα γραφη θεοπνευστος και ωφελιμος προς διδασκαλιαν προς ελεγχον προς επανορθωσιν προς παιδειαν την εν δικαιοσυνη 3:17 ινα αρτιος η ο του θεου ανθρωπος προς παν εργον αγαθον εξηρτισμενος

10    2 Corinthians 8:23; Galatians 2:3; Colossians 4:14; Philemon 24
11    Acts 12:12; Colossians 4:10, 4:14; Philemon 24
12    Acts 20:4; Ephesians 6:21-22; Colossians 4:7-8
13    Acts 20:6
14    Psalm 62:12; Romans 2:6; 1 Timothy 1:20
19    Acts 18:2; 2 Timothy 1:16-17
20    Acts 19:22, 20:4, 21:29; Romans 16:23

1-7     John Michael Talbot, “Apostolic Charge,” Meditations in the Spirit
2-3    Ivan Steiger, Ivan Steiger Sees the Bible, p. 310
2        Meister Eckhart, “German Sermons,” Preacher and Teacher, p. 292-295
2        Francis Patrick Sullivan, “The Big Lie,” A Time To Sow, p. 189

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  2 preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching.  3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.  5 As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

6 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come.  7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

9 Do your best to come to me soon.  10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.  11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me.  12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.  13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.  14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will requite him for his deeds.  15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense no one took my part; all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!  17 But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the message fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.  18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.  20 Erastus remained at Corinth; Trophimus I left ill at Miletus.  21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

4:1 διαμαρτυρομαι ουν εγω ενωπιον του θεου και του κυριου ιησου χριστου του μελλοντος κρινειν ζωντας και νεκρους κατα την επιφανειαν αυτου και την βασιλειαν αυτου 4:2 κηρυξον τον λογον επιστηθι ευκαιρως ακαιρως ελεγξον επιτιμησον παρακαλεσον εν παση μακροθυμια και διδαχη 4:3 εσται γαρ καιρος οτε της υγιαινουσης διδασκαλιας ουκ ανεξονται αλλα κατα τας επιθυμιας τας ιδιας εαυτοις επισωρευσουσιν διδασκαλους κνηθομενοι την ακοην 4:4 και απο μεν της αληθειας την ακοην αποστρεψουσιν επι δε τους μυθους εκτραπησονται 4:5 συ δε νηφε εν πασιν κακοπαθησον εργον ποιησον ευαγγελιστου την διακονιαν σου πληροφορησον

4:6 εγω γαρ ηδη σπενδομαι και ο καιρος της εμης αναλυσεως εφεστηκεν 4:7 τον αγωνα τον καλον ηγωνισμαι τον δρομον τετελεκα την πιστιν τετηρηκα 4:8 λοιπον αποκειται μοι ο της δικαιοσυνης στεφανος ον αποδωσει μοι ο κυριος εν εκεινη τη ημερα ο δικαιος κριτης ου μονον δε εμοι αλλα και πασιν τοις ηγαπηκοσιν την επιφανειαν αυτου

4:9 σπουδασον ελθειν προς με ταχεως 4:10 δημας γαρ με εγκατελιπεν αγαπησας τον νυν αιωνα και επορευθη εις θεσσαλονικην κρησκης εις γαλατιαν τιτος εις δαλματιαν 4:11 λουκας εστιν μονος μετ εμου μαρκον αναλαβων αγε μετα σεαυτου εστιν γαρ μοι ευχρηστος εις διακονιαν 4:12 τυχικον δε απεστειλα εις εφεσον 4:13 τον βον απελιπον εν τρωαδι παρα καρπω ερχομενος φερε και τα βιβλια μαλιστα τας μεμβρανας 4:14 αλεξανδρος ο χαλκευς πολλα μοι κακα ενεδειξατο αποδωη αυτω ο κυριος κατα τα εργα αυτου 4:15 ον και συ φυλασσου λιαν γαρ ανθεστηκεν τοις ημετεροις λογοις

4:16 εν τη πρωτη μου απολογια ουδεις μοι συμπαρεγενετο αλλα παντες με εγκατελιπον μη αυτοις λογισθειη 4:17 ο δε κυριος μοι παρεστη και ενεδυναμωσεν με ινα δι εμου το κηρυγμα πληροφορηθη και ακουση παντα τα εθνη και ερρυσθην εκ στοματος λεοντος 4:18 και ρυσεται με ο κυριος απο παντος εργου πονηρου και σωσει εις την βασιλειαν αυτου την επουρανιον ω η δοξα εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων αμην

4:19 ασπασαι πρισκαν και ακυλαν και τον ονησιφορου οικον 4:20 εραστος εμεινεν εν κορινθω τροφιμον δε απελιπον εν μιλητω ασθενουντα 4:21 σπουδασον προ χειμωνος ελθειν ασπαζεται σε ευβουλος και πουδης και λινος και κλαυδια και οι αδελφοι παντες

4:22 ο κυριος ιησους χριστος μετα του πνευματος σου η χαρις μεθ υμων αμην