I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
Parallel translations
- WEB I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day
- KJV I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
- NKJV I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,
- NASB I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,
- NLT Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul thanks God, whom he serves with a clear conscience, and assures Timothy of his constant prayers night and day. His ministry flows out of gratitude and unceasing intercession.
Overview
Paul sees his service as continuous with the faith of his ancestors, worshiping the same God of Israel now fully revealed in Christ. A 'pure conscience' marks integrity before God, a recurring concern in the Pastoral Epistles. His relentless prayer for Timothy models how spiritual leaders carry those they love before God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Rom 1:8–9First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.
- Heb 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- Acts 23:1Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.”
- Acts 24:14I do confess to you, however, that I worship the God of our fathers according to the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets,
- Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
- 1 Tim 1:5The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.
- 1 Tim 1:19holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and thereby shipwrecked their faith.
- Acts 24:16In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.
- Acts 27:23For just last night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve, stood beside me
- 2 Tim 3:15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Gal 1:14I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers.
- 2 Tim 1:5I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
- 2 Cor 1:12And this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.
- 1 Th 3:10Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.
- 1 Th 1:2–3We always thank God for all of you, remembering you in our prayers
- Eph 1:16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
- Luke 2:37and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
- Acts 26:4Surely all the Jews know how I have lived from the earliest days of my youth, among my own people and in Jerusalem.
- Rom 9:1I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.
How 2 Timothy 1:3 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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