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.

As your example in wholesome instruction, keep before you what you learned from me, in the faith and love that come through union with Christ Jesus.

the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord on that [great] day. You know very well how many things he did for me and what a help he was at Ephesus [you know better than I can tell you].

And what thou have heard from me through many witnesses, these things commit thou to faithful men who will be competent to teach others also.

Keep on thinking about what I am saying, for the Lord will grant you understanding of it in all its phases.

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

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things [which are dishonorable—disobedient, sinful], he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified [set apart for a special purpose and], useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

and that they will come to their senses and escape from being trapped by the devil, who had captured them to do what he wanted.

unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good,

Ever learning, and never coming to the knowledge of what is true.

And as James and Jambres went against Moses, so do these go against what is true: men of evil minds, who, tested by faith, are seen to be false.

persecutions, sufferings, what manner of things, befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what manner of persecutions, I endured, - and, out of all, the Lord, rescued me; -

But you, on your part, must continue to abide by what you have learned and been led to rely upon, because you know from whom you learned it

All Scripture is inspired by God, and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in doing what is right,

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 the time will come when people will not tolerate sound teaching, but will assemble to themselves teachers who will satisfy what their "itching ears" want to hear.

And shutting their ears to what is true, will be turned away to belief in foolish stories.

In the future there is reserved for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.

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