¹ As for you, my dear son, take strength from the grace which is in Christ Jesus.

² Pass on to reliable people what you have heard from me through many witnesses so that they in turn will be able to teach others.

³ Bear with your share of difficulties, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

⁴ No one on active service involves himself in the affairs of civilian life, because he must win the approval of the man who enlisted him;

⁵ or again someone who enters an athletic contest wins only by competing in the sports -- a prize can be won only by competing according to the rules;

⁶ and again, it is the farmer who works hard that has the first claim on any crop that is harvested.

⁷ Think over what I have said, and the Lord will give you full understanding.

⁸ Remember the gospel that I carry, 'Jesus Christ risen from the dead, sprung from the race of David';

⁹ it is on account of this that I have to put up with suffering, even to being chained like a criminal. But God's message cannot be chained up.

¹⁰ So I persevere for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they, too, may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ Here is a saying that you can rely on: If we have died with him, then we shall live with him.

¹² If we persevere, then we shall reign with him. If we disown him, then he will disown us.

¹³ If we are faithless, he is faithful still, for he cannot disown his own self.

¹⁴ Remind them of this; and tell them in the name of God that there must be no wrangling about words: all that this ever achieves is the destruction of those who are listening.

¹⁵ Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who has no need to be ashamed, but who keeps the message of truth on a straight path.

¹⁶ Have nothing to do with godless philosophical discussions -- they only lead further and further away from true religion.

¹⁷ Talk of this kind spreads corruption like gangrene, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus,

¹⁸ the men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting some people's faith.

¹⁹ However, God's solid foundation-stone stands firm, and this is the seal on it: 'The Lord knows those who are his own' and 'All who call on the name of the Lord must avoid evil.'

²⁰ Not all the dishes in a large house are made of gold and silver; some are made of wood or earthenware: the former are held in honour, the latter held cheap.

²¹ If someone holds himself aloof from these faults I speak of, he will be a vessel held in honour, dedicated and fit for the Master, ready for any good work.

²² Turn away from the passions of youth, concentrate on uprightness, faith, love and peace, in union with all those who call on the Lord with a pure heart.

²³ Avoid these foolish and undisciplined speculations, understanding that they only give rise to quarrels;

²⁴ and a servant of the Lord must not engage in quarrels, but must be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and patient.

²⁵ He must be gentle when he corrects people who oppose him, in the hope that God may give them a change of mind so that they recognise the truth

²⁶ and come to their senses, escaping the trap of the devil who made them his captives and subjected them to his will.