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¹ You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,² and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.⁴ No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him.⁵ An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.⁶ It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel,⁹ the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered.¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.¹¹ The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;¹² if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself.

¹⁴ Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.¹⁶ Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,¹⁷ and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are Hymenae'us and Phile'tus,¹⁸ who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some.

¹⁹ But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."²⁰ In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble.²¹ If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.

²² So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.²³ Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.²⁴ And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing,²⁵ correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,²⁶ and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.