¹⁹ Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,^(A) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”^(B) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord^(C) must turn away from wickedness.”

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love^(A) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord^(B) out of a pure heart.^{(C) 23} Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.^{(D) 24} And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.^{(E) 25} Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,^{(F) 26} and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,^(G) who has taken them captive to do his will.

A Final Charge to Timothy

¹⁰ You, however, know all about my teaching,^(A) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,^(B) Iconium^(C) and Lystra,^(D) the persecutions I endured.^(E) Yet the Lord rescued^(F) me from all of them.^{(G) 12} In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,^{(H) 13} while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,^(I) deceiving and being deceived.^{(J) 14} But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,^{(K) 15} and how from infancy^(L) you have known the Holy Scriptures,^(M) which are able to make you wise^(N) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed^(O) and is useful for teaching,^(P) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,^{(Q) 17} so that the servant of God^[a](R) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.^(S)