I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day.

For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

He has saved us and called us
with a holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began.

and that is why I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know the One I have believed in and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.

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

I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound.

Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.

The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,

But they will not make further progress, for their lack of understanding will be clear to all, as theirs was also.

Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.

There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.