New Testament
The Second Letter to Timothy
The Second Letter to Timothy is the sixteenth of the 27 books of the New Testament: 4 chapters and 83 verses.
About 2 Timothy
About 2 Timothy · Pastoral letter
Second Timothy is cast as Paul's last letter, written from a Roman prison with death in view, to the co-worker he loved like a son: guard the deposit, endure hardship, preach the word in season and out. Like the other pastorals its authorship is discussed, but no letter sounds more like a testament — the time of my dissolution presses close, I have fought the good fight, I have preserved the faith. It was written to pass a torch, and the Church has read it at the deathbed of every generation of her ministers.
| Testament | New Testament — book 16 of 27, 62 of 73 in the Bible |
|---|---|
| Canon | Protocanonical (in every Christian canon) |
| Chapters | 4 |
| Verses | 83, as Bless numbers them |
| Latin | Clementine Vulgate, every chapter |
| Bp. Challoner | Summaries of all 4 chapters · 4 notes |
| Catechism | 18 paragraphs cite it |
Chapter by chapter
All 4 chapters, in brief.
Bishop Richard Challoner’s summary of each chapter, from his revision of the Douay-Rheims (1749–52). Open a chapter for the full text.
2 Timothy 1
18 versesHe admonishes him to stir up the grace he received by his ordination and not to be discouraged at his sufferings, but to hold firm the sound doctrine of the gospel.
2 Timothy 2
26 versesHe exhorts him to diligence in his office and patience in suffering. The danger of the delusions of heretics.
2 Timothy 3
17 versesThe character of heretics of latter days. He exhorts Timothy to constancy. Of the great profit of the knowledge of the scriptures.
2 Timothy 4
22 versesHis charge to Timothy. He tells him of his approaching death and desires him to come to him.
Bp. Richard Challoner · chapter summaries
In the comments
What the saints said.
4 quotations from 4 saints linked to passages of 2 Timothy in Bless. Each names the work it comes from.
St. Bede the Venerable · on 2 Timothy 2:15
On this theme
I have spent my whole life in this monastery, applying myself entirely to the study of the Scriptures.
Ecclesiastical History, V.24, 731
St. John Chrysostom · on 2 Timothy 3:16
On this theme
Ignorance of the Scriptures is a great cliff and a deep abyss.
Homily on Genesis, 2, c. 388
St. Gregory the Great · on 2 Timothy 4:2
On this theme
Let the ruler be, through humility, a companion to those who live well, and through the zeal of righteousness, stern against the vices of the wicked.
Pastoral Rule, II.3, 591
St. Polycarp · on 2 Timothy 4:7
On this theme
Eighty-six years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?
Martyrdom of Polycarp, 9, 155
Coming up
Read at Mass.
From October 29, 2026 to October 28, 2027, 2 Timothy is read at the principal Mass on 11 days in the US calendar. The next 8 readings:
| Date | Celebration | Reading | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 | |
| St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr | Alleluia | 2 Timothy 1:10 | |
| Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops | First Reading | 2 Timothy 1:1-8 | |
| computed | St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Martyrs | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | Cf. 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles | Second Reading | 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 |
| computed | Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | St. Luke, Evangelist | First Reading | 2 Timothy 4:10-17b |
| computed | Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | Cf. 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | St. Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops | First Reading | 2 Timothy 1:1-8 |
| computed | Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12 |
| computed | Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 2 Timothy 2:8-15 |
| computed | Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 2 Timothy 3:10-17 |
| computed | Saturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | First Reading | 2 Timothy 4:1-8 |
| computed | Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles | Second Reading | 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18 |
| computed | Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | See 2 Timothy 1:10 |
| computed | Saturday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time | Alleluia | 2 Timothy 1:10 |
No more readings are listed here; the liturgical calendar has every date through December 31, 2028.
Citations as published in the USCCB liturgical calendar (principal Mass, first option). Dates after May 31, 2027 are computed by Bless from the US Lectionary cycle — confirm with your parish.