Paul, by God's will an apostle of Christ Jesus in fulfilment of the promise of that life which is found in union with Christ Jesus,

The things you learned from me before many witnesses you must commit to trustworthy men who will be capable of teaching others.

Think over what I say. For the Lord will help you to understand it perfectly.

How true those words are! "If we have died with him, we will live with him!

If we endure, we will reign with him! If we disown him, he will also disown us!

If we are unfaithful, he will remain faithful, for he cannot be false to himself!"

So if a man will cleanse himself from these things, he will be put to great uses, consecrated and used by the master of the house himself, and ready for any good use.

and they may yet return to their senses and escape from the toils of the devil, who has caught them to make them do his will.

People will be selfish, avaricious, boastful, arrogant, abusive, undutiful, ungrateful, irreverent,

But they will not make much progress, for everyone will perceive their folly, just as they did that of those others.

But everyone who wants to live a godly life as a follower of Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

and bad men and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving others and deceived themselves.

so that the man of God will be adequate, and equipped for any good work.

For a time will come when they will not listen to wholesome instruction, but will overwhelm themselves with teachers to suit their whims and tickle their fancies,

and they will turn from listening to the truth and wander off after fictions.

Now the crown of uprightness awaits me, which the Lord, the upright judge, will award me on that Day, and not only me but also all who have loved and hoped for his appearing.

Alexander, the metal-worker, did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he did.

The Lord will rescue me from any harm and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.