⁸ So do not be ashamed^(A) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.^(B) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,^(C) by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved^(D) us and called^(E) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done^(F) but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ¹⁰ but it has now been revealed^(G) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,^(H) who has destroyed death^(I) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

⁸ See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,^(A) which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces^[a] of this world^(B) rather than on Christ.

¹⁸ Do not let anyone who delights in false humility^(A) and the worship of angels disqualify you.^(B) Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. ¹⁹ They have lost connection with the head,^(C) from whom the whole body,^(D) supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.^(E)

²⁰ Since you died with Christ^(F) to the elemental spiritual forces of this world,^(G) why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:^{(H) 21} “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? ²² These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish^(I) with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.^(J)

⁷ Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;^(A) rather, train yourself to be godly.^(B)

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted^(A) to your care. Turn away from godless chatter^(B) and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, ²¹ which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.^(C)

Grace be with you all.^(D)

¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(A) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(B) deceiving and being deceived.^(C)

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,^(A) but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.^(B)