for I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, as it dwells (I feel sure) in yourself.

for God has not given us a timid spirit but a spirit of power and love and discipline.

So do not be ashamed to testify to our Lord, and do not be ashamed of a prisoner of the Lord like me; join me in bearing suffering for the gospel by the power of the God

who has saved us and called us to a life of consecration ??not for anything we have done but because he chose to do it himself, by the grace which he gave us ages ago in Christ Jesus

May the Lord show favour to the household of Onesiphorus, for many a time he braced me up; he was not ashamed of my imprisonment ??17 no, he made eager search for me when he reached Rome, and he found me

for which I have to suffer imprisonment as if I were a criminal. (But there is no prison for the word of God.)

All I endure is for the sake of the elect, to let them obtain their share of the salvation of Christ Jesus and also of eternal glory.

if we are faithless, he remains faithful" ??for he cannot be untrue to himself.

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

In any great house there are indeed vessels not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for noble, some for menial service.

If one will only keep clear of the latter, he will be put to noble use, he will be consecrated and useful to the Owner of the House, he will be set apart for good work of all kinds.

For men will be selfish, fond of money, boastful, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreverent,

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.

For these guides of theirs are hostile to the Truth, just as Jannes and Jambres were hostile to Moses; they are depraved in mind and useless for all purposes of faith.

However, they will get no further, for their aberration will be detected by everyone, as was the case with these magicians.

All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for amendment, and for moral discipline,

to make the man of God proficient and equip him for good work of every kind.

for the time will come when people will decline to be taught sound doctrine and will accumulate teachers to suit themselves and tickle their own fancies;

Now the crown of a good life awaits me, with which the Lord, that just Judge, will reward me on the great Day ??and not only me but all who have loved and longed for his appearance.

for Demas, in his love for this world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens is off to Gaul, Titus to Dalmatia,

Luke is the only one who is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him along with you, for he is of great use in helping me.

Alexander the blacksmith has done me a lot of harm: the Lord will pay him back for what he has done (beware of him),

for he has been bitterly hostile to anything I have said.

The Lord will rescue me from every assault of evil, he will bring me safe to his own realm in heaven. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.