2 Timothy 1
1. Paul, the apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God and through the Kingdom of everlasting life in Jesus Christ,
2. To Timothy, beloved son -- grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. I confess to the God whom I served from [the time of] my ancestors with a pure conscious, that I always remember you in my prayers by night and day,
4. And I yearn to see you and I remember your tears full of joy.
5. I was so impressed by your genuine faith, that which was vouchsafed beforehand to your mother's mother, Lois, and your mother Eunice, that I commend you with it also.
6. That is why I remind you to contemplate God's endowment that is in you, as I consecrated my hand over you.
7. For God did not give me the spirit of submissiveness, except the spirit of empowerment, of love and of bequest.
8. Therefore, neither be embarrassed by the testimony of our Lord, nor by me as I am among prisoners, except confront evil by the Revelation of God* -- by the power of God,
9. He who gave us Life and called us by the holy calling, not according to our works, except according to His will and His grace, that which was given to us by Jesus Christ before the age of the universes,
10. And you shall reveal it now through the Revelation of our Creator* Jesus Christ, who nullified death, and you shall show this Life and the immortality through God's Revelation,*
11. Through Whom I was consecrated a preacher, apostle and teacher of the nations.
12. That is why I preach the Hope of such things without embarrassment, for I know in Whom I believe, and I trust that my bequest will reach His hands so as He shall protect me on that Day.
13. [This bequest is] yours also, a friend of the healing words you heard from me by the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
14. Guard the blessed bequest through the holy Spirit that abides in us.
15. This I know, that all of them is Asia were trained by me,* such as Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16. May our Lord bless the house of Onesiphorus where I rested on many occasions and who was not embarrassed by my imprisonment.
17. Not only that, but even when he came to Rome,* he searched for me with diligence and found me.
18. May our Lord grant him to find mercy with our Lord on that Day and all my helpers in Ephesus, you know them better.*
*1:8 Lit. Aramaic word: "Awen-galee-yun."
*1:10.1 Lit Ar. id.: "Life-giver."
*1:10.2 Lit. Aramaic word: "Awen-galee-yun."
*1:15 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Returned from me," or "turned back from me."
*1:17 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "Except also when he came to Rome."
*1:18 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction: "And how many my those who ministered to me in Ephesus, moreover you know them."
2 Timothy 2
1. Thus, my son, be strengthened by the grace of Jesus Christ.
2. And these things that you hear from me through the testimony of many, bequeath them to the people of faith, those to whom is granted* that they also teach others.
3. And expect evil to befall you as a good worker of Jesus Christ.
4. Nobody works and curses the pleasures* of the world, so as to praise those who employ him.*
5. And if a person wrestles with something, they are not given the wreath if they did not wrestle with the Law.
6. The farmers who sow the seed are due their fruit as expected.
7. Learn what I am telling you so as our Lord may grant you wisdom in everything.
8. Remember Jesus Christ who rose from the dead,* who was of the seed of David, according to God's Revelation* that was vouchsafed me,
9. Because of which I have been persecuted* by evil-doers, to the point of imprisonment, like a criminal,* except the Manifestation of God is not a prisoner.
10. Because of that I anticipate everything for the sake of the elect, so as they may also find the everlasting life through Jesus Christ, together with the glory to [the end of] the universe.
11. "For faithful is that Manifestation,
... that if I die with Him,
...... likewise I shall Live with Him."
12. "And if I preach [the Kingdom,]
... likewise I shall rule with Him;
....... if, however, we reject* Him,
......... likewise He shall reject* us."
13. "And if we do not have faith in Him,
... He shall remain Faithful,
...... for He does not know what it is to be unfaithful* Himself."
14. Remind them of these things and witness before our Lord, so as they may not tear each other down with useless words, to the detriment of those who are listening,
15. Nor that you should become frustrated as you develop your standing before God, such as you are an unabashed worker who preaches the wholesome Manifestation of the Truth.
16. Depart from empty words that have no worth, for they are moreover borne by those people who earn money with them.
17. And their manifestation like a gangrene has infected many, one of whom is Hymenaeus and the other Philetus.
18. These who are lost to the truth, as they claim that the resurrection from the dead is never going to happen,* and they turn back the faith of one person after another.*
19. The true foundation that God has established is that very resurrection, however, and it has a conclusion, and the Lord knows those who are His, and He shall save from oblivion all those who call on the name of the Lord.
20. In a house, then, there are not only vessels of gold and [vessels] inlaid with silver, except there are also those of wood and clay -- some for honorable use and some for desecration.
21. If a person thus cleanses themselves [from the latter,] they will become a clean vessel that deserves to be used for the honorable purposes of its owner and is appreciated for every good use.
22. Run away from all the lusts of youth and chase after righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace with those who call after our Lord with a clean heart.
23. And the foolish perversions, that are non-edifying -- have nothing to do with them, for you know they breed strife.
24. A servant of our Lord need not get involved in strife, except to be gentle to every human being and a teacher, possessing a generous spirit,
25. So as they may be able to tolerate* those who act foolishly against them, to understand why God did not grant them goodness and why they know not the truth,
26. And to rediscover* themselves and escape the traps of Satan, by whom they were entrapped for the sake of his purpose.*
*2:2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "To those whose hands were to receive."
*2:4.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Satisfactions."
*2:4.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "To adorn those who selected him/her."
*2:8.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "House of the dead."
*2:8.2 Lit. Aramaic word: "Awen-galee-yun."
*2:9.1 Lit. Ar. id.: "Crucified."
*2:9.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Evil doer."
*2:13 Lit. Ar. id.: "Blaspheme."
*2:12.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Blaspheme."
*2:12.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Blaspheme," or in this context, "curse."
*2:18.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Is done for."
*2:18.2 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Human, human return."
*2:25 Lit. Ar. expression: "Put up kindly with."
*2:26.1 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Recall."
*2:26.2 Lit. Ar. id.: "Will."
2 Timothy 3
1. This then you should know, that in the final days there will come hard seasons.
2. And people will look out for themselves,* and become obsessed with money, proud and haughty, blasphemous, unfaithful to their folk, ungrateful toward good deeds, belligerent;
3. They will be devils, worshippers of pleasures, brutal, haters of all that is good,
4. Ritualistic,* opinionated, bigoted, seeking pleasure more than the love of God,
5. As they possess a feigned* fear of God, but they distance themselves from the power of God -- these who are so, keep them away from you.
6. For some of them go from house to house and spend the night with women mired in sin and engaged in perverse pleasures,
7. That they practice* in every season, and they can never discover the knowledge of the imminent Truth.
8. Just as Jannes and Jambres stood against Moses, however, so also these stand against the Truth, men with corrupt minds and thus fallen from faith.
9. Except they do not come up in the forefront, for their perversion is well known to all people, whereas you too shall know these men for what they are.
10. You, however, follow my knowledge and ministry, my wishes and faith, my faith and endowment of Spirit, and my love and preaching [of the Kingdom,]
11. And follow my tribulations and sorrow, and you know those to whom I preached [the Kingdom] in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, and under what tribulations I preached,* and yet my Lord delivered me from everything.
12. And all those who wish to live by submission to God must be persecuted through Jesus Christ.*
13. Evil and misleading people, however, will augment their evil doing, as they lead others to oblivion and themselves likewise.
14. You, however, be strengthened in what you have learned and by Whom you were confirmed. For you know from whom you have learned,
15. And from your boyhood, you have learned the holy Scriptures that could impart to you the wisdom of the everlasting life through the faith in Jesus Christ.
16. For every Letter that is written through the holy Spirit is effective in teaching and illustration, and for building and the edification of righteousness,
17. So that the men and women of God may be fully evolved,* to perform every good deed and become faithful adherents.
*3:2 Lit. Ar. expression: "Have mercy on themselves."
*3:4 Lit. Ar. id.: "Blind followers."
*3:5 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Scheme."
*3:7 Lit. Ar. idiomatic figure of speech: "Teach."
*3:11 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "What tribulations I preached."
*3:12 Lit. Ar. idiomatic construction retained: "Shall be persecuted like Jesus Christ," in other words, literally relive His persecution at the hands of the world.
*3:17 Lit. Ar. id.: "Developed," or "cured."
2 Timothy 4
1. I hold you as witness before our God and Lord Jesus Christ, He who is destined to judge the Living and the Dead through the Revelation of His Kingdom,
2. Preach the Manifestation and rise to the occasion in season and out of season, with all the outpouring of Spirit and knowledge.
3. For there will come a season when they will not listen to that wholesome knowledge, except they will attract to themselves teachers that invent new ideas that they would like to hear,
4. And their ears shall turn away from the truth, however, as they stick to little ritualistic ceremonies.*
5. You, however, beware of everything, and expect evil acts to occur, and duly proffer [the Kingdom,] in fulfilling your mission.
6. For I am already drinking up the cup and the season of my deliverance has arrived.
7. I fought the beautiful battle, I ran the full course and I protected my faith.
8. And henceforth the wreath of righteousness shall protect me, that which my Lord shall compensate me with on that Day of righteous Judgment, and not just for me, except to all those who loved His Revelation.
9. There is no need in rushing to come to me now.
10. For Demas has gone and left me to Thessalonia, and he loves this world; Crescene* has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11. Luke alone is with me. Find Mark and bring him with you, for he is my solace in the ministry.
12. Tychicus, however, I have sent to Ephesus.
13. My library* which I have left in Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring it, and the Scriptures, especially the parchment scrolls.
14. Alexander the jeweler showed me much evil; our Lord shall repay him according to his deeds.
15. You too be aware of him, for he is a good cross against our words.
16. The first time I emerged in the Spirit, no one* was with me, except they all left me alone, but this was not counted against them.
17. However, my Lord raised and recalled me, so as the preaching of the final word shall be through me and that all the nations shall hear and be delivered from the mouth of the lion.*
18. And my Lord shall deliver me from every evil doer, and give me rest in His heavenly Kingdom, for Whom is the glory to the end of the universe, of all the universes, amen.
19. Say shalom to Priscilla and Aquila and to their house, and to Onesiphorus.
20. Let Erastus remain in Corith, let Trophimus, however, stay in the town of Miletus as he is ill.
21. Do not rush to come before winter -- Eubulus says shalom -- Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brethren likewise.
22. May our Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit. May the Grace be with us, amen.(End of the Second Letter to Timothy that was written from Rome.)
*5:4 Lit. Ar. idiomatic expression: "Little holocausts."
*5:10 Crespos in Aramaic.
*5:13 Lit. Ar. id.: "House of Books."
*5:16 Lit. Ar. id.: "Human [being.]"
*5:17. With this passage, Paul again is signaling the end of the Apostolic Age.
Return to Index
-- Translated from the Ancient Aramaic by Victor Alexander ©2001