Fight the Good Fight

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love,^(A) endurance,^(B) and gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight^(C) of the faith. Take hold of eternal life^(D) to which you were called and about which you have made a good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the presence of God, who gives life to all,^(E) and of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate,^(F) I charge you ¹⁴ to keep this command without fault or failure until the appearing^(G) of our Lord^(H) Jesus Christ. ¹⁵ God will bring this about in his own time.^(I) He is the blessed and only^(J) Sovereign, the King of kings,^(K) and the Lord of lords,^{(L) 16} who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light,^(M) whom no one has seen or can see,^(N) to him be honor and eternal power.^(O) Amen.^(P)

Instructions to the Rich

¹⁷ Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant^(Q) or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God,^[a] who richly provides us with all things^(R) to enjoy. ¹⁸ Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works,^(S) to be generous and willing to share,^{(T) 19} storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age,^(U) so that they may take hold of what is truly life.

Guard the Heritage

²⁰ Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you,^(V) avoiding^(W) irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge.^{(X) 21} By professing it, some^(Y) people have departed from the faith.^(Z)

Grace be with you all.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, ⁶ knowledge with self-control,^(A) self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, ⁷ godliness with brotherly affection,^(B) and brotherly affection with love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless^(C) or unfruitful^(D) in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. ¹⁰ Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election,^(E) because if you do these things you will never stumble. ¹¹ For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom^(F) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Exhortation and Benediction

²⁰ But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,^{(A) 21} keep yourselves in the love of God,^(B) waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. ²² Have mercy on those who waver; ²³ save others by snatching them from the fire;^(C) have mercy on others but with fear,^(D) hating^(E) even the garment^(F) defiled by the flesh.

²⁴ Now to him^(G) who is able to protect you from stumbling^(H) and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish^(I) and with great joy, ²⁵ to the only^(J) God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord,^[a] be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time,^[b] now and forever. Amen.