¶ Paul an apostle of Iesu Christ, by the will of God, to preach the promise of life, which life is in Christ Iesu.
¶ To Timothy his beloved son. Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the father, and from Iesus Christ our Lord.
¶ I thank God, whom I serve from mine elders with pure conscience, that without ceasing I make mention of thee in my prayers night and day, desiring to see thee, mindful of thy tears: so that I am filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunica: and am assured that it dwelleth in thee also.
¶ Wherefore I warn thee that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands. For God hath not given to us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of honest behavior. Be not ashamed to testify our Lord, neither be ashamed of me, which am bound for his sake: but suffer adversity with the gospell also thorow the power of God, which saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not after our deeds, but for his purpose and grace, which grace was given us thorow Christ Iesu before the world was, but is now declared openly by the appearing of our saviour Iesu Christ, which hath put away death, and hath brought life and immortality unto light thorow the gospell, whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles: for the which cause I also suffer this. Nevertheless I am not ashamed. For I know whom I have believed, and am sure that he is able keep that which I have committed to his keeping against that day.
¶ See thou have the example of the wholesome words which thou heardest of me, in faith and love which is in Iesu Christ. That good thing which was committed to thy keeping, keep in the holy ghost which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest how that all they which are in Asia be turned from me. Of which sort are Phigellos and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but when he was at Rome he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy with the Lord at that day. And in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus thou knowest very well.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526