I render thanks to God, the God of my fathers whom I worship with a pure conscience, as I mention you constantly in my prayers.

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

and has now revealed in the appearance of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has put down death and brought life and immortality to light by the gospel.

and this is why I am suffering. Still, I am not ashamed of it; I know whom I have trusted and I am certain he is able to keep what I have put into his hands till the great Day.

Join the ranks of those who bear suffering, like a loyal soldier of Christ Jesus.

The farmer who has done the work must have the first share of the fruit.

But the solid foundation laid by God remains, and this is its inscription: the Lord knows who are his, and 'let everyone who names the name of the Lord give up evil.'

So shun the lusts of youth and aim at integrity, faith, love and peace, in the company of those who invoke the Lord out of a pure heart.

And the Lord's servant must not be a man of strife; he must be kind to everybody, a skilled teacher, a man who will not resent injuries;

Some of them worm their way into families and get hold of the women-folk who feel crushed by the burden of their sins ??wayward creatures of impulse,

who are always curious to learn and never able to attain the knowledge of the Truth.

Yes, and all who want to live the religious life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

but hold you to what you have been taught, hold to your convictions, remember who your teachers were,

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead, in the light of his appearance and his reign,

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.

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.