Greeting

1 Paul,^(A) an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command^(B) of God our Savior^(C) and of Christ Jesus our hope:^(D)

¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you,^{(A) 15} and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures,^(B) which are able to give you wisdom for salvation^(C) through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God^[a](D) and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.^(E)

¹⁴ And he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has appointed^(A) you to know his will, to see^(B) the Righteous One,^(C) and to hear the words from his mouth,

Paul’s Testimony

¹² I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened^(A) me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— ¹³ even though I was formerly a blasphemer,^(B) a persecutor,^(C) and an arrogant man.^(D) But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief, ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ This saying is trustworthy^(E) and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world^(F) to save sinners”^(G)—and I am the worst of them.^{(H) 16} But I received mercy^(I) for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary patience^(J) as an example to those who would believe in him for eternal life.^(K)

⁹ He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,^(A) not according to our works,^(B) but according to his own purpose^(C) and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. ¹⁰ This has now been made evident through the appearing^(D) of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death^(E) and has brought life^(F) and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ For this gospel I was appointed^(G) a herald, apostle, and teacher,^{[a] 12} and that is why I suffer^(H) these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me^[b](I) until that day.^(J)