¹² Fight the good fight^(A) of the faith. Take hold of^(B) the eternal life^(C) to which you were called when you made your good confession^(D) in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate^(E) made the good confession,^(F) I charge you^{(G) 14} to keep this command without spot or blame^(H) until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,^{(I) 15} which God will bring about in his own time^(J)—God, the blessed^(K) and only Ruler,^(L) the King of kings and Lord of lords,^{(M) 16} who alone is immortal^(N) and who lives in unapproachable light,^(O) whom no one has seen or can see.^(P) To him be honor and might forever. Amen.^(Q)

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.^{(A) 7} For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,^(B) but gives us power,^(C) love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed^(D) of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.^(E) Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel,^(F) by the power of God. ⁹ He has saved^(G) us and called^(H) us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done^(I) 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^(J) through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus,^(K) who has destroyed death^(L) and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹ And of this gospel^(M) I was appointed^(N) a herald and an apostle and a teacher.^{(O) 12} That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame,^(P) because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard^(Q) what I have entrusted to him until that day.^(R)

¹³ What you heard from me,^(S) keep^(T) as the pattern^(U) of sound teaching,^(V) with faith and love in Christ Jesus.^{(W) 14} Guard^(X) the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.^(Y)

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood^(A) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,^(B) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.^{(C) 51} Listen, I tell you a mystery:^(D) We will not all sleep,^(E) but we will all be changed^(F)— ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,^(G) the dead^(H) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable^(I) must clothe itself with the imperishable,^(J) and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”^[a](K)

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin,^(M) and the power of sin is the law.^{(N) 57} But thanks be to God!^(O) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.^(P)

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,^(Q) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.^(R)