{I am thankful} to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience {as my ancestors did}, when {I remember you constantly} in my prayers night and day,

and as I recall your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.

A reminder, having received, of the unfeigned faith, that is in thee, - such, as dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and in thy mother Eunice, - I am persuaded, moreover, that it dwelleth , in thee also.

The reason I am reminding you [of these things] is so that you will rekindle the gift from God, which is in your life through the laying on my hands. [Note: This "gift" was probably his ordination to serve as an evangelist (See 4:1-5), and in addition, may have included a supernatural "spiritual gift" bestowed by the apostle Paul].

Do not, therefore, be ashamed of the testimony which we have to bear to our Lord, nor yet of me who am a prisoner for him; but join with me in suffering for the Good News, as far as God enables you.

[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 this, I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

This is why I suffer as I do. Still, I am not ashamed; for I know Him [and I am personally acquainted with Him] whom I have believed [with absolute trust and confidence in Him and in the truth of His deity], and I am persuaded [beyond any doubt] that He is able to guard that which I have entrusted to Him until that day [when I stand before Him].

Keep before you, as an example of sound teaching, all that you learnt from me as you listened with that faith and love which come from union with Christ Jesus.

The Lord grant mercy unto the house, of Onesiphorus, in that, ofttimes, hath he refreshed me, and, as regardeth my chain, hath not been put to shame,

May the Lord grant unto him to find mercy with the Lord in that day. And so many things as he ministered in Ephesus, you know better.

As for you, my child, be strong by the grace that is in the Messiah Jesus.

And the things thou hast heard of me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, such as shall be competent to instruct others also.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Think, as to what I am speaking; for the Lord will give thee discernment in all things.

Remember Jesus Christ [the ever-living Lord who has] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David [king of Israel], according to my gospel [the good news that I preach],

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

Remind people of all this; urge them solemnly, as in the sight of God, to avoid controversy, a useless thing and the ruin of those who listen to it.

Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

discountenance such as hold vain irreligious discourse; for they will grow bold in impiety,

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

men who as to the truth have gone astray, saying that the resurrection has taken place already; and overthrow the faith of some.

If, then, a man has escaped from the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, he will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose.

But avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, knowing--as you do--that these lead to quarrels;

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 that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one.

they will be treacherous, reckless and conceited, preferring pleasure to God ??5 for though they keep up a form of religion, they will have nothing to do with it as a force. Avoid all such.

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Among them are included the men who make their way into private houses and carry off weak women as their prisoners--women who, weighed down by the burden of their sins, are led by ever-changing caprice,

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

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

But you took as your example my teaching, behaviour, purpose, and faith; my long waiting, my love, my quiet undergoing of trouble;

persecutions, and sufferings—such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, but the Lord rescued me from them all!

And indeed every one who is determined to live a godly life as a follower of Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.

But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them,

And forasmuch also as thou hast known holy scripture of a child, which is able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

I adjure thee before God, and Christ Jesus - Who is about to be judging living and dead, - both as to his forthshining and his kingdom,

preach the word [as an official messenger]; be ready when the time is right and even when it is not [keep your sense of urgency, whether the opportunity seems favorable or unfavorable, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether welcome or unwelcome]; correct [those who err in doctrine or behavior], warn [those who sin], exhort and encourage [those who are growing toward spiritual maturity], with inexhaustible patience and [faithful] teaching.

For the time will come when they will not endure healthy teaching; but according to their own lusts they will heap to themselves teachers itching as to their hearing;

But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] 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.

Hurry up and come to me as soon [as possible],

For Demas has deserted me--loving, as he does, the present age--and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

At my first trial no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God].

Try your best to come [to me] before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.