1I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, 2that you receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.
3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles. 5Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. 6Greet Mary, who labored much for us. 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who were also in Christ before me. 8Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. 10Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. 13Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. 14Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.
17Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. 18For those who are such don’t serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent. 19For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. 20And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
21Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. 22I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. 23Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. 24The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen. 25
Timothy was born to a pagan Greek father and Jewish Christian mother, Eunice (Acts 16:1). His mother, along with his grandmother Lois, taught him about faith in God and the Scriptures (2 Tim 1:5). Timothy proved to be very helpful to Paul, whom Paul calls "my own son." Timothy joined Paul and Silas on Paul's second missionary journey. The Apostle's "son" Timothy joined Paul and Silas on Paul's second missionary journey. The Apostle sent Timothy to the Philippians to inquire about how they were doing (Phil 2:19-23). Paul also sent Timothy as a representative to Macedonia (Acts 19:22), Corinth (1 Cor 4:17), Thessalonica (1 Thes 3:2), and Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3). In the letters that Paul sent to Timothy it appears that Timothy was timid and fearful, perhaps because of his young age (1 Tim 4:12), but Paul calls him to be bold in standing for the truth. Knowing he was coming to the end of his life, Paul’s second letter is intensely personal and his love for his “son” in the faith comes through in vivid detail. He exhorts Timothy to stand firm, tells Timothy how he has been all but abandoned, and asks him to bring personal items before winter. (2 Tim. 4:13)