Read & explore together
Holding to Sound Teaching
In this part of the letter, Timothy is urged to keep hold of true teaching, guard what has been entrusted to him, and notice the difference between people who turned away and a person who stayed loyal.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
These verses address Timothy directly with commands and examples. The writer speaks about “sound words” Timothy has heard, a good thing committed to him, people in Asia who turned away, and Onesiphorus, who brought refreshment, was not ashamed, searched diligently, and served at Ephesus.
2 Timothy 1:13–18Main takeaway
This passage teaches Timothy to preserve sound teaching with faith, love, and the Holy Spirit, while learning from both unfaithfulness and loyal service.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Hold the pattern of sound wordsTimothy is told to “hold the pattern of sound words” he has heard. A pattern is a form or model to keep.
Explanation
Timothy is told to “hold the pattern of sound words” he has heard. A pattern is a form or model to keep. These are called sound words, meaning teaching that is healthy and reliable. Timothy is to hold them “in faith and love”, and those qualities are “in Christ Jesus”.
02Guard what was entrustedThe passage moves from holding sound words to guarding “that good thing” committed to Timothy.
Explanation
The passage moves from holding sound words to guarding “that good thing” committed to Timothy. Something valuable has been placed in his care. He is not told to guard it by himself. The guarding is to happen “through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us”, showing God’s present help.
03A warning from those who turned awayTimothy already knows that people in Asia turned away from the writer, and two are named: Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Explanation
Timothy already knows that people in Asia turned away from the writer, and two are named: Phygelus and Hermogenes. The verse does not explain every detail, but it clearly gives a sad example of turning away. In this letter section, that warning stands beside the call to remain faithful.
04An example of loyal helpOnesiphorus is remembered very differently. The writer asks for mercy on his house because he often refreshed him and was not ashamed of his chain.
Explanation
Onesiphorus is remembered very differently. The writer asks for mercy on his house because he often refreshed him and was not ashamed of his chain. When in Rome, Onesiphorus searched diligently until he found him. His actions show steady, practical loyalty instead of withdrawal or embarrassment.
05Mercy remembered with serviceThe writer asks that Onesiphorus would find the Lord’s mercy “in that day”. He also reminds Timothy that he knows very well how many things Onesiphorus served in at Ephesus.
Explanation
The writer asks that Onesiphorus would find the Lord’s mercy “in that day”. He also reminds Timothy that he knows very well how many things Onesiphorus served in at Ephesus. The passage joins present service, remembered faithfulness, and hope for the Lord’s mercy without separating belief from action.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What is Timothy told to hold, and how is he to hold it?
Look closely at the description “pattern of sound words” and the phrase “in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus”.
02How does verse 14 describe the way Timothy can guard what was entrusted to him?
Notice that the verse points to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, not only to Timothy’s own effort.
03What contrast do you see between the people in Asia and Onesiphorus?
Compare “turned away from me” with “was not ashamed”, “sought me diligently”, and “served at Ephesus”.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Timothy 1:13–18
13Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
14That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,
17but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me
18(the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.