Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in accordance with the promise of the life that comes through union with Christ Jesus,

Grateful, am I, unto God, - unto whom I am rendering divine service from my progenitors in a pure conscience, that, incessant, hold I the remembrance, concerning thee, in my supplications; day and night,

to see you again, that I may feel the fullest joy

on being reminded of your genuine faith, a faith that first found a home in the heart of your grandmother Lois, then in the heart of your mother Eunice, and now in yours too, I am sure.

Because of which reason I remind thee to rekindle the gift of God that is in thee through the laying on of my hands.

For the Spirit that God has given us does not impart timidity but power and love and self-control.

For He saved us and called us with a holy call, not in accordance with anything that we had done, but in accordance with His own purpose and unmerited favor which was shown us through union with Christ Jesus eternal ages ago,

but now [that extraordinary purpose and grace] has been fully disclosed and realized by us through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus who [through His incarnation and earthly ministry] abolished death [making it null and void] and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Of the gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher; and that is the reason I am now undergoing these sufferings.

This is why I am suffering so, but I am not ashamed of it, for I know whom I have trusted and I am absolutely sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

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.

Guard the good consignment through the Holy Spirit that dwells in us.

You know that everyone here who belongs to the Roman province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

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,

The Lord grant that he may find mercy at His hands on that day. And you very well know yourself how great were the services he rendered me at Ephesus.

So you, my son, must keep renewing your strength in the spiritual blessing that comes through union with 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 soldier ever allows himself to be involved in the business affairs of life, so that he may please the officer who enlisted him.

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

Consider what I say, for I pray that the Lord may give you understanding in all things.

Continue to remember Jesus Christ as risen from the dead, and descended from David, in accordance with the good news that I preach,

for that [gospel] I am suffering even to [the point of] wearing chains like a criminal; but the word of God is not chained or imprisoned!

For this reason I am bearing anything for the sake of His chosen people, so that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

it is an undoubted truth, that if we die for him, we shall live with him:

If we endure, we will also reign together. If we renounce him, that man will also renounce us.

If we are unfaithful, that man remains faithful. He cannot renounce himself.

Of these things, be putting them in remembrance, adjuring them before God not to be waging word-battles, - useful, for nothing, occasioning a subversion of them that hearken.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Avoid all that profane jargon, for it leads people still further into irreligion,

and what they say will spread everywhere like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that.

who have missed the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place, are undermining some people's faith.

Howbeit, the firm foundation of God, standeth, having this seal - The Lord hath acknowledged them who are his, and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord stand aloof from unrighteousness.

he that is clear of vice, is a vessel of the first kind, sanctified and fit for the master's use, and qualified for every virtuous action.

Run away from youthful lusts—pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those [believers] who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Always avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, for you know that they breed quarrels,

With gentleness he must correct his opponents, for God might grant them repentance that would lead them to a full knowledge of the truth,

And they should wake up to sobriety out of, the adversary's, snare, - though they have been taken alive by him for, that one's, will.

Now you must know that in the last days there are going to be hard times.

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,

that are always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

As Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so also do these men withstand the truth; being corrupt in mind and worthless in all that concerns the faith.

But they will not advance in much more, for their folly will be evident to all men, as also that of those men came to be.

along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

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;

and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures which can give you wisdom that leads to salvation through the faith that leans on Christ Jesus.

Every Scripture, seeing that it is God-breathed, is also profitable for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

so that the man of God may be perfectly fit, thoroughly equipped for every good enterprise.

for the time will come, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but get teachers of their own corrupt taste, to sooth their ears that itch for flattery:

Now the crown for doing right awaits me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day, and not only me but also all who have loved His appearing.

Bring the cloak that I left behind at Troas with Carpus when thou come, and the books, especially the parchments.

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that the message preached by me might have its full effect and all the heathen might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's jaws.