I thank God, whom I worship, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as I ceaselessly remember you in my prayers. Because I remember the tears you shed for me, I am always longing night and day

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but of power, and of love, and of soberness.

for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago],

and was made manifest now through the manifestation of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who indeed did abolish death, and did enlighten life and immortality through the good news,

thou hast known this, that they did turn from me -- all those in Asia, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes;

may the Lord give kindness to the house of Onesiphorus, because many times he did refresh me, and of my chain was not ashamed,

(May he have the Lord's mercy in that day); and of all he did for me at Ephesus you have full knowledge.

no one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please;

who concerning the truth did swerve, saying the rising again to have already been, and do overthrow the faith of some;

Moses did not meet with greater opposition from Jannes and Jambres, than truth does from men so corrupted in their mind, and so adulterated in their faith.

but they shall not advance any further, for their folly shall be manifest to all, as theirs also did become.

But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,

the persecutions, the afflictions, that befell me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of all the Lord did deliver me,

The coat which I did not take from Troas and which is with Carpus, get when you come, and the books, specially the papers.

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

of whom do you also beware; for greatly did he withstand our words.

and the Lord stood by me, and did strengthen me, that through me the preaching might be fully assured, and all the nations might hear, and I was freed out of the mouth of a lion,

Erastus did remain in Corinth, and Trophimus I left in Miletus infirm;