Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Think, as to what I am speaking; for the Lord will give thee discernment in all things.

Remember Jesus Christ [the ever-living Lord who has] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David [king of Israel], according to my gospel [the good news that I preach],

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

Remind people of all this; urge them solemnly, as in the sight of God, to avoid controversy, a useless thing and the ruin of those who listen to it.

Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

discountenance such as hold vain irreligious discourse; for they will grow bold in impiety,

And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

men who as to the truth have gone astray, saying that the resurrection has taken place already; and overthrow the faith of some.

If, then, a man has escaped from the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, he will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose.

But avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, knowing--as you do--that these lead to quarrels;

with meekness correcting those who are opposers, if at last God may give unto them repentance so as to submit to the conviction of the truth;

and that they awake out of the snare of the Devil, having been taken captive by him, so as to do the will of that one.

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.

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

Among them are included the men who make their way into private houses and carry off weak women as their prisoners--women who, weighed down by the burden of their sins, are led by ever-changing caprice,

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

But you took as your example my teaching, behaviour, purpose, and faith; my long waiting, my love, my quiet undergoing of trouble;

persecutions, and sufferings—such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, but the Lord rescued me from them all!

And indeed every one who is determined to live a godly life as a follower of Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

But evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse as they deceive others and are themselves deceived.

But as for you, continue in the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced [holding tightly to the truths], knowing from whom you learned them,

And forasmuch also as thou hast known holy scripture of a child, which is able to make thee wise unto salvation through the faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

I adjure thee before God, and Christ Jesus - Who is about to be judging living and dead, - both as to his forthshining and his kingdom,

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 they will not endure healthy teaching; but according to their own lusts they will heap to themselves teachers itching as to their hearing;

But as for you, be clear-headed in every situation [stay calm and cool and steady], endure every hardship [without flinching], do the work of an evangelist, fulfill [the duties of] your ministry.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free.

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.

Hurry up and come to me as soon [as possible],

For Demas has deserted me--loving, as he does, the present age--and has gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

At my first trial no one supported me [as an advocate] or stood with me, but they all deserted me. May it not be counted against them [by God].

Try your best to come [to me] before winter. Eubulus wishes to be remembered to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.

and at the appointed time has made known His word and revealed it as His message, through preaching, which was entrusted to me according to the command of God our Savior—

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

to chuse such as are without reproach, married to but one wife, whose children are obedient, not accused of debauchery, nor unruly.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

but given to hospitality, as lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled;

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

as said one of themselves, a prophet of their own, "The Cretans are always liars, mischievous beasts, sluggish gluttons."

so as to make them sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.

They profess to know God, but in works deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and found worthless as to every good work.

But as for you, teach the things which are in agreement with sound doctrine [which produces men and women of good character whose lifestyle identifies them as true Christians].

The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

that they should teach what is right, so as to train the younger women to love their husbands and children,

and to be sensible, pure-minded, domestic, kind, and submissive to their husbands, so as not to bring reproach on God's message.

in all things affording thyself as a pattern of good works; in teaching uncorruptedness, gravity,

Teach them not to contradict or to pilfer, but to show such praiseworthy fidelity in everything, as to recommend the teaching about God our Savior by all that they do.

as we wait for the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus the Messiah.

Who gave himself up in our behalf, that he might redeem us from all manner of lawlessness, and purify for himself a people as his own treasure - zealous of noble works.

Tell them these things. Encourage and rebuke with full authority. Let no one disregard or despise you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].

Constantly remind people to submit to and obey the rulers who have authority over them, so as to be ready for any good enterprise,

But when the goodness and kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared [in human form as the Man, Jesus Christ],

as righteous men, had done, but as the result of His own mercy He saved us by means of the bath of regeneration and the renewal of our natures by the Holy Spirit,

so that we would be justified [made free of the guilt of sin] by His [compassionate, undeserved] grace, and that we would be [acknowledged as acceptable to Him and] made heirs of eternal life [actually experiencing it] according to our hope (His guarantee).

Faithful is the Word, and as to these things, I desire that you strongly affirm that those believing God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

After a first and second warning reject a divisive man [who promotes heresy and causes dissension—ban him from your fellowship and have nothing more to do with him],

for, as you know, a man of that description has turned aside from the right path and is a sinner self-condemned.

As soon as I shall send Artemus unto thee, or Tychicus, give diligence to come to me unto Nicopolis; for, there, have I determined to winter.

And let ours also learn to excel in good works as far forth as need requireth, that they be not unfruitful.

All who are with me wish to be remembered to you. Remember me to all who love me as Christians. Spiritual blessing be with you all.

and to our sister Apphia and our comrade Archippus--as well as to the Church in your house.

I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,

for as I hear of your love and loyalty to the Lord Jesus and to all the saints,

praying as I do, that their participation in your faith may result in others fully recognizing all the right affection that is in us toward Christ.

I have indeed found great joy and encouragement in your love, knowing, as I do, how the hearts of Christ's People have been cheered, brother, by you.

So although as a Christian I feel quite free to order you to do what ought to be done,

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Once he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you as well as to me.

As I send him back, it's like I'm coming along with him.

It was my wish to keep him at my side for him to attend to my wants, as your representative, during my imprisonment for the Good News.

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Perhaps it was for this reason that he was separated from you for a while, so that you would have him back forever,

Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?

If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

If he has wronged you as to anything, or owes you anything, charge this to me.

I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).

Come, brother, let me make something out of you, in a Christian sense! Cheer my heart as a Christian.

I write to you [perfectly] confident of your obedient compliance, since I know that you will do even more than I ask.

At the same time, moreover, be also getting ready for me, a lodging; for I am hoping that, through your prayers, I shall be granted as a favour unto you.

as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

but in these days at the end he has spoken to us by a Son ??a Son whom he appointed heir of the universe, as it was by him that he created the world.

Who, being the outshining of his glory, the true image of his substance, supporting all things by the word of his power, having given himself as an offering making clean from sins, took his seat at the right hand of God in heaven;

Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

And as to the angels he says, Who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire;

but as to the Son, Thy throne, O God, is to the age of the age, and a sceptre of uprightness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong, therefore God, your God [i.e., the Father], has placed you above your companions when He anointed you [i.e., specially chose you] with the oil of joy [i.e., your selection as king was a joyous occasion]."

They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

But as to which of the angels said he ever, Sit at my right hand until I put thine enemies as footstool of thy feet?

Are they not all helping spirits, who are sent out as servants to those whose heritage will be salvation?

for if the law deliver'd by angels was put in execution, and every transgression and disobedience was justly punish'd as it deserv'd;

how will we escape [the penalty] if we ignore such a great salvation [the gospel, the new covenant]? For it was spoken at first by the Lord, and it was confirmed to us and proved authentic by those who personally heard [Him speak],

God also testified, along with those people, by [giving them] both signs and wonders and various miracles, and by [supernatural] gifts distributed [to them] by the Holy Spirit, as He desired.

For God did not place the coming inhabited world [Note: "The coming inhabited world" here probably refers to the present Christian age. It was viewed as "coming" from the perspective of Old Testament times], under the control of angels [and] that is the world we are talking about.

But, as we know, a writer has solemnly said, "How poor a creature is man, and yet Thou dost remember him, and a son of man, and yet Thou dost come to him!

You made him a little bit lower than the angels [i.e., a little less exalted]. [Note: Although these Psalms passages referred to mankind, they are here applied to Jesus. See verse 9]. You crowned him with splendor and honor {{some ancient manuscripts add "and placed him as ruler over what you made"}}.

and subjected everything under his feet.

For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.