I thank God, whom I serve from mine elders with pure conscience, that without ceasing I make mention of thee in my prayers night and day,

when I call to mind your affliction, it makes me ardently desire the exceeding pleasure I shall have in seeing you:

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 which cause I put thee in mind to rekindle the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

Keep in mind Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, who came back from the dead, as my good news gives witness:

Always call these truths to men's mind; adjuring them in the presence of God to avoid controversy. It is a useless thing, and subverts those who listen to it.

But have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant speculations [useless disputes over unedifying, stupid controversies], since you know that they produce strife and give birth to quarrels.

He must be gentle when instructing opponents; for possibly God may give them a change of mind for the recognition of the truth,

and they may yet come to a sober mind, and escape from the snares of the Devil, when captured by the Lord's Servant to do the will of God.

False to their friends, acting without thought, lifted up in mind, loving pleasure more than God;

Just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, these people resist the truth, for they are depraved in mind and so counterfeits in the faith.