^{1 Ref} So then, my child, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.

^{2 Ref} And the things which I have said to you before a number of witnesses, give to those of the faith, so that they may be teachers of others.

^{3 Ref} Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus.

^{4 Ref} A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army.

^{5 Ref} And if a man takes part in a competition he does not get the crown if he has not kept the rules.

^{6 Ref} It is right for the worker in the fields to be the first to take of the fruit.

^{7 Ref} Give thought to what I say; for the Lord will give you wisdom in all things.

^{8 Ref} Keep in mind Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, who came back from the dead, as my good news gives witness:

^{9 Ref} In which I put up with the hardest conditions, even prison chains, like one who has done a crime; but the word of God is not in chains.

^{10 Ref} But I undergo all things for the saints, so that they may have salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

^{11 Ref} This is a true saying: If we undergo death with him, then will we be living with him:

^{12 Ref} If we go on to the end, then we will be ruling with him: if we say we have no knowledge of him, then he will say he has no knowledge of us:

^{13 Ref} If we are without faith, still he keeps faith, for he will never be untrue to himself.

^{14 Ref} Put these things before them, giving them orders in the name of the Lord to keep themselves from fighting about words, which is of no profit, only causing error in their hearers.

^{15 Ref} Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way.

^{16 Ref} But take no part in wrong and foolish talk, for those who do so will go farther into evil,

^{17 Ref} And their words will be like poisoned wounds in the flesh: such are Hymenaeus and Philetus;

^{18 Ref} Men whose ideas are all false, who say that the coming back from the dead has even now taken place, overturning the faith of some.

^{19 Ref} But God's strong base is unchanging, having this sign, The Lord has knowledge of those who are his: and, Let everyone by whom the name of the Lord is named be turned away from evil.

^{20 Ref} Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but others of wood and earth, and some which are honoured and some without honour.

^{21 Ref} If a man makes himself clean from these, he will be a vessel for honour, made holy, ready for the master's use, ready for every good work.

^{22 Ref} But keep yourself from those desires of the flesh which are strong when the body is young, and go after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those whose prayers go up to the Lord from a clean heart.

^{23 Ref} And put away foolish and uncontrolled questionings, seeing that they are a cause of trouble.

^{24 Ref} For it is not right for the Lord's servant to make trouble, but he is to be gentle to all, ready in teaching, putting up with wrong,

^{25 Ref} Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge,

^{26 Ref} And so they may get themselves free from the net of the Evil One, being made the prisoners of the Lord's servant, for the purpose of God.

^{1 Ref} You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

^{2 Ref} The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

^{3 Ref} You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

^{4 Ref} No soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

^{5 Ref} Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn't crowned unless he has competed by the rules.

^{6 Ref} The farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops.

^{7 Ref} Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

^{8 Ref} Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Gospel,

^{9 Ref} in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God's word isn't chained.

^{10 Ref} Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones' sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

^{11 Ref} This saying is faithful: For if we died with him, We will also live with him.

^{12 Ref} If we endure, We will also reign with him. If we deny him, He also will deny us.

^{13 Ref} If we are faithless, He remains faithful. He can't deny himself.

^{14 Ref} Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don't argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

^{15 Ref} Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

^{16 Ref} But shun empty chatter, for they will proceed further in ungodliness,

^{17 Ref} and their word will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

^{18 Ref} men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.

^{19 Ref} However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord{TR reads "Christ" instead of "the Lord"} depart from unrighteousness."

^{20 Ref} Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor.

^{21 Ref} If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master's use, prepared for every good work.

^{22 Ref} Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

^{23 Ref} But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

^{24 Ref} The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient,

^{25 Ref} in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

^{26 Ref} and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.