For it is God's will that you should keep pure in person, that you should practice abstinence from sexual immorality,

that each man among you should learn to take his own wife out of pure and honorable motives,

that no one should do wrong and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord takes vengeance for all such things, as we told you before and solemnly warned you.

so that you may live influentially with the outsiders, and not be dependent on anybody.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then through Jesus, God will bring back with Him those who have fallen asleep.

For on the Lord's own authority we say that those of us who may be left behind and are still living when the Lord comes back, will have no advantage at all over those who have fallen asleep.

for you yourselves know perfectly well that the day of the Lord is coming like a thief in the night.

But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that that day, like a thief, should take you by surprise;

who died for us, so that whether we still live or sleep we may live in fellowship with Him.

Take care that none of you ever pays back evil for evil, but always keep looking for ways to show kindness to one another and everybody.

so that we are always boasting of you among the churches of God for your patient endurance and faith, in spite of your persecutions and crushing sorrows which you are enduring.

in a flame of fire, who will take vengeance on those who do not know God, that is, those who will not listen to the good news of our Lord Jesus.

when on that day He comes to be glorified in His consecrated ones and to be admired by all who believe in Him because our testimony has been confidently accepted among you.

With this in view we are always praying for you too, that our God may make you worthy of His call, and by His power fully satisfy your every desire for goodness, and complete every activity of your faith,

so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you and you through union with Him, in accordance with the favor of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

not to let your minds be easily unsettled or even be excited, whether by some message by the Spirit or by some saying or letter that is claimed as coming from me, saying that the day of the Lord is already here.

Do not let anybody at all deceive you about this, because that cannot take place until the great revolt occurs and the representative of lawlessness is uncovered, the one who is doomed to destruction,

the one who keeps up his opposition and so far exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, that he actually takes his seat in the sanctuary of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

Do you not remember that while I was with you I used to tell you this?

So now you know the power that is holding him back, that he is to be unveiled at His own appointed time.

that is, the representative of lawlessness, whose coming is in accordance with the working of Satan, with his plenitude of power and pretended signs and wonders,

so that all who have refused to believe the truth but have chosen unrighteousness instead might be condemned.

and to this end He called you by our preaching of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and graciously given us encouragement that is eternal, and a hope that is well-founded,

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the message of the Lord may continue to spread and prove its glorious power as it did among you,

and that we may be delivered from unprincipled and wicked men; for not all men have faith.

We have confidence in you through the Lord that you are now practicing the directions which we give you and that you will continue to do so.

Not that I have no right to be supported, but to make myself an example for you to follow.

But we are informed that some among you are living as shirkers, mere busybodies, instead of busy at work.

If anyone refuses to obey what we have said in this letter, mark that person and stop having anything to do with him, so that he will feel ashamed of it.

But the aim of your instruction is to be love that flows out of a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.

Indeed, I know that the law is an excellent thing, if a man makes a lawful use of it;

that is, if he understands that law is not enacted for upright people but for the lawless and disorderly, the godless and sinful, the ignorant and profane, people who kill their fathers or mothers, murderers,

the immoral, men who practice sodomy, men who make other men their slaves, liars, perjurers, or anything else that is contrary to sound teaching,

It is a saying to be trusted and deserves our fullest acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; and I am the foremost of them.

Yet, mercy was shown me for the very purpose that in my case as the foremost of sinners Jesus might display His perfect patience, to make me an example to those who in the future might believe on Him to obtain eternal life.

This is the instruction which I entrust to you, my son Timothy, which is in accordance with the prophetic utterances formerly made about you, that you may, aided by them, continue to fight the good fight,

Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan to be so disciplined that they will stop their abusive speech.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties, prayers, and thanksgiving be offered for all men,

for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead peaceful, quiet lives in perfect piety and seriousness.

who gave Himself as a ransom for all, a fact that was testified to at the proper time,

I want the women, on their part, to dress becomingly, that is, modestly and sensibly, not adorning themselves with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive dresses,

so that, if I am detained, you may know how people ought to conduct themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Now the Spirit distinctly declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, because they continuously give their attention to deceiving spirits and the things that demons teach

Continue cultivating these things; be devoted to them, so that everybody will see your progress.

Continue to give these directions so that the people may be without reproach.

If a Christian woman has widowed relatives, she should help them, and let the church be free from the burden, so that it can help the widows who are really dependent.

Those who are guilty reprove in public, so that others may be warned.

All who are under the yoke of slavery must esteem their masters to be deserving the highest respect, so that the name of God and our teaching may not be abused.

Those who have Christian masters must not pay them less respect because they are brothers; they must serve them all the better, because those who get the benefit of their service are believers and so are dear to them. These are the things that you must continue to teach and urge them to do.

If anyone teaches different doctrines and refuses to agree with the wholesome messages of our Lord Jesus Christ, the teaching that is in accordance with true religion,

and perpetual friction between people who are depraved in mind and deprived of truth, who imagine that religion is only a means of gain.

in this way amassing for themselves the riches that forever endure in the life to come, so that at last they may grasp the life that is life indeed.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in accordance with the promise of the life that comes through union with Christ Jesus,

to see you again, that I may feel the fullest joy

on being reminded of your genuine faith, a faith that first found a home in the heart of your grandmother Lois, then in the heart of your mother Eunice, and now in yours too, I am sure.

For the Spirit that God has given us does not impart timidity but power and love and self-control.

For He saved us and called us with a holy call, not in accordance with anything that we had done, but in accordance with His own purpose and unmerited favor which was shown us through union with Christ Jesus eternal ages ago,

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.

Continue to be an example in wholesome instructions which you learned from me, in the faith and love that come through union with Christ Jesus.

You know that everyone here who belongs to the Roman province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

The Lord grant that he may find mercy at His hands on that day. And you very well know yourself how great were the services he rendered me at Ephesus.

So you, my son, must keep renewing your strength in the spiritual blessing that comes through union with Christ Jesus.

No soldier ever allows himself to be involved in the business affairs of life, so that he may please the officer who enlisted him.

Continue to remember Jesus Christ as risen from the dead, and descended from David, in accordance with the good news that I preach,

For this reason I am bearing anything for the sake of His chosen people, so that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

who have missed the truth by saying that the resurrection has already taken place, are undermining some people's faith.

Always avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, for you know that they breed quarrels,

With gentleness he must correct his opponents, for God might grant them repentance that would lead them to a full knowledge of the truth,

Now you must know that in the last days there are going to be hard times.

and that from childhood you have known the sacred Scriptures which can give you wisdom that leads to salvation through the faith that leans on Christ Jesus.

so that the man of God may be perfectly fit, thoroughly equipped for every good enterprise.

Now the crown for doing right awaits me, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day, and not only me but also all who have loved His appearing.

But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that the message preached by me might have its full effect and all the heathen might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's jaws.

but at the proper time made known as His message through the message that I preach with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Saviour;

I left you in Crete for this express purpose, to set in order the things that are lacking, and to appoint elders in each town, as I directed you --

and a man who continues to cling to the trustworthy message as he was taught it, so that he may be competent to encourage others with wholesome teaching and to convict those who oppose him.

Now this tendency is true. So continue correcting them severely, that they may be healthy in faith,

let your message be wholesome and unobjectionable, so that our opponent may be put to shame at having nothing evil to say about us.

He saved us, not for upright deeds that we had done, but in accordance with His mercy, through the bath of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

so that we might come into right standing with God through His unmerited favor and become heirs of eternal life in accordance with our hope.

It is a message to be trusted, and I want you to be emphatic about these things, so that those who believe in God may be careful to take the lead in doing good. These things are right and render service to mankind.

for you may be sure that such a man is crooked and sinful, even self-condemned.

Give a hearty send-off to Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, so that they may want for nothing.

to our sister Apphia, to our fellow-soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets at your house:

and I pray that their sharing of your faith may result in their recognition in us of everything that is right with reference to Christ.

but I would not do a single thing about it without your consent, so that this kindness of yours to me might not seem to come by compulsion but voluntarily.

For perhaps it was for this reason that he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,

I, Paul, write it with my own hand, I will pay it in full -- not to mention the fact that you owe me your very self besides.

I write you in perfect confidence in your compliance with my wish, because I am sure that you will do even more than I ask.

And have a guest-room ready for me, too, for I hope that through your prayers I shall have the gracious privilege of coming to you.

It was bit by bit and in many different ways that God in olden times spoke to our forefathers through the prophets,

how can we escape, if we pay no attention at all to a salvation that is so great? This is so because it was first proclaimed by the Lord Himself, and then it was proved to us to be valid by the very men who heard Him themselves,

For it was not to angels that He gave authority over that world to be, of which we are speaking.

For someone somewhere has solemnly said: "What is man that you should think of him, or the Son of Man that you should care for Him?

You have put all things under His feet!" Now when He gave Him authority over everything, He did not leave a single thing that was not put under His authority. But as yet we do not see everything actually under His authority,

but we do see Jesus, who was made inferior to the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by God's favor He might experience death for every human being.

Since then the children mentioned share our mortal nature, He too took on Himself a full share of the same, in order that He by His death might put a stop to the power of him who has the power of death, that is, the devil,

For of course it is not angels but descendants of Abraham that He is to help.

Therefore He had to be made like His brothers, so that He could be a sympathetic High Priest, as well as a faithful one, in things relating to God, in order to atone for the people's sins.