Paul, apostle of Jesus Christ by God's will, according to promise of life, the life which is in Christ Jesus,

Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

Having in mind your true faith, which first was in your mother's mother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and, I am certain, is now in you.

For this reason let me remind you to rekindle God's gift which is yours through the laying on of my hands.

So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.

[It is] God who saved us and called us to live holy lives [or, "to be dedicated people"], not as a result of our [good] deeds, but in harmony with His own purpose and unearned favor. [This was] given to us through [the atoning work of] Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time. [Note: Salvation through Christ was planned before time began. See Titus 1:2; Rom. 16:25; Eph. 1:4].

For I am suffering these things [See verse 8] for this reason [i.e., because of being a Gospel preacher]. Yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed in [i.e., Jesus], and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him [i.e., Paul's spiritual well-being] until that day [i.e., the day of judgment].

Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

You know this, that all those who are in Asia have turned away from me; all those, I say, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

The Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and showed me kindness [comforting and reviving me like fresh air] and he was not ashamed of my chains [for Christ’s sake];

(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.

So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.

And the things which I have said to you before a number of witnesses, give to those of the faith, so that they may be teachers of others.

No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of [everyday] life, so that he may please the one who enlisted [him].

And if a person competes as an athlete, he is not awarded the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound.

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Christ [i.e., stopped the practice of sin, See Rom. 6:1-11], we will also live with Him [i.e., both here and hereafter].

If we go on to the end, then we will be ruling with him: if we say we have no knowledge of him, then he will say he has no knowledge of us:

Our faith may fail, his never wanes That's who he is, he cannot change!

Bring all this to men's remembrances, solemnly charging them in the presence of God not to waste time in wrangling about mere words, a course which is altogether unprofitable and tends only to the ruin of the hearers.

Do your utmost to let God see that you at least are a sound workman, with no need to be ashamed of the way you handle the word of the Truth.

But take no part in wrong and foolish talk, for those who do so will go farther into evil,

and their teaching will spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus,

In the matter of the truth they have gone astray, saying that the Resurrection is already past, and so they are overthrowing the faith of some.

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:

The Lord knows those who are His, and
Everyone who names the name of the Lord
must turn away from unrighteousness.

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

So shun the lusts of youth and aim at integrity, faith, love and peace, in the company of those who invoke the Lord out of a pure heart.

And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,

with meekness correcting those who are opposers, if at last God may give unto them repentance so as to submit to the conviction of the truth;

and they may awake out of the devil's snare, having been caught by him at his will.

They will maintain the outward appearance of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these.

They are the kind of men who make their way into people's houses and make captives of poor, weak women, loaded down with their sins and under the control of all sorts of impulses,

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

persecutions and sufferings. You know what kind of things happened to me at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra [See Acts 13:13-14:23], and what [severe] persecutions I experienced [there]. But the Lord rescued me from all of them.

But see that you keep to the teaching you have been given and the things of which you are certain, conscious of who has been your teacher;

All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage];

so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

proclaim God's message, be zealous in season and out of season; convince, rebuke, encourage, with the utmost patience as a teacher.

For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people's own desires.

You, however, be self-controlled in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist's work, fulfill your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free.

In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.

for Demas loved this world and [so] has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia.

The cloak which I left behind me in Troas at Carpus's, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.

Alexander, a worker in metal, did me ever so much harm. The Lord will repay him for what he did.

But the Lord stood with me, and gave me power, that through me the proclamation might be fully made, and all those of the nations should hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil assault, and He will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Erastus was stopping at Corinth; but Trophimus, when I last saw him was at Miletus, ill.

Make an effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.