¹ Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

² And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

³ Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

⁴ No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

⁵ And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.

⁶ The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.

⁷ Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:

⁹ wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.

¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him:

¹² if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:

¹³ if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.

¹⁴ Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.

¹⁵ Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.

¹⁶ But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,

¹⁷ and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus;

¹⁸ men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.

¹⁹ Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.

²⁰ Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.

²¹ If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.

²² But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

²³ But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.

²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,

²⁵ in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,

²⁶ and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.