For the sake of this gospel I was appointed to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the gentiles.

Continue to be an example in wholesome instructions which you learned from me, in the faith and love that come through union with Christ Jesus.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

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.

The servant of the Lord must not participate in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone [even-tempered, preserving peace, and he must be], skilled in teaching, patient and tolerant when wronged.

Know this also, that in the last days grievous times will be at hand.

For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane,

For among them are those who worm their way into households and capture idle women burdened down with sins, led along by a variety of passions,

But they will have no further success; for their folly will be as clearly manifest to all men, as that of the opponents of Moses came to be.

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 there shall be a season when the sound teaching they will not suffer, but according to their own desires to themselves they shall heap up teachers -- itching in the hearing,