Be Strong in Grace

2 You therefore, ^(A)my son, ^(B)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must ^(C)endure^[a] hardship ^(D)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ^4 (E)No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also ^(F)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and ^[b]may the Lord ^(G)give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember that Jesus Christ, ^(H)of the seed of David, ^(I)was raised from the dead ^(J)according to my gospel, ^9 (K)for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, ^(L)even to the point of chains; ^(M)but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore ^(N)I endure all things for the sake of the ^[c]elect, ^(O)that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

Approved and Disapproved Workers

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, ^(T)charging them before the Lord not to ^[d]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ^15 (U)Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and ^[e]idle babblings, for they will ^[f]increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. ^(V)Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, ^(W)saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless ^(X)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord ^(Y)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of ^[g]Christ depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ But in a great house there are not only ^(Z)vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, ^[h]sanctified and useful for the Master, ^(AA)prepared for every good work. ^22 (AB)Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And ^(AC)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, ^(AD)able to teach, ^(AE)patient, ^25 (AF)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, ^(AG)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, ^(AH)so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and ^(AI)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

3 But know this, that ^(AJ)in the last days ^[i]perilous times will come: ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, ^[j]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ^4 (AK)traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ^5 (AL)having a form of godliness but ^(AM)denying its power. And ^(AN)from such people turn away! ⁶ For ^(AO)of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, ⁷ always learning and never able ^(AP)to come to the knowledge of the truth. ^8 (AQ)Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: ^(AR)men of corrupt minds, ^(AS)disapproved concerning the faith; ⁹ but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, ^(AT)as theirs also was.

The Man of God and the Word of God

^10 (AU)But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me ^(AV)at Antioch, ^(AW)at Iconium, ^(AX)at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And ^(AY)out of them all the Lord delivered me. ¹² Yes, and ^(AZ)all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ^13 (BA)But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But you must ^(BB)continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known ^(BC)the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

^16 (BD)All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, ^(BE)and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[k]instruction in righteousness, ^17 (BF)that the man of God may be complete, ^(BG)thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Preach the Word

4 I ^(BH)charge you ^[l]therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, ^(BI)who will judge the living and the dead ^[m]at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. ^(BJ)Convince, ^(BK)rebuke, ^(BL)exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ^3 (BM)For the time will come when they will not endure ^(BN)sound doctrine, ^(BO)but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and ^(BP)be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, ^(BQ)endure afflictions, do the work of ^(BR)an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For ^(BS)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of ^(BT)my departure is at hand. ^7 (BU)I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me ^(BV)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous ^(BW)Judge, will give to me ^(BX)on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Abandoned Apostle

⁹ Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for ^(BY)Demas has forsaken me, ^(BZ)having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get ^(CA)Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ¹² And ^(CB)Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments.

^14 (CC)Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.

¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. ^(CD)May it not be charged against them.

The Lord Is Faithful

^17 (CE)But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, ^(CF)so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered ^(CG)out of the mouth of the lion. ^18 (CH)And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. ^(CI)To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

Come Before Winter

¹⁹ Greet ^(CJ)Prisca and Aquila, and the household of ^(CK)Onesiphorus. ^20 (CL)Erastus stayed in Corinth, but ^(CM)Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

²¹ Do your utmost to come before winter.

Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.

Farewell

²² The Lord ^[n]Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

Greeting

1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and ^(A)the acknowledgment of the truth ^(B)which accords with godliness, ² in hope of eternal life which God, who ^(C)cannot lie, promised before time began, ³ but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

⁴ To ^(D)Titus, a true son in our common faith:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ^[a]the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.

Qualified Elders

⁵ For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should ^(E)set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— ⁶ if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, ^(F)having faithful children not accused of ^[b]dissipation or insubordination. ⁷ For a ^[c]bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, ^(G)not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, ⁹ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

The Elders’ Task

¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle ^(H)talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, ^(I)for the sake of dishonest gain. ^12 (J)One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” ¹³ This testimony is true. ^(K)Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, ¹⁴ not giving heed to Jewish fables and ^(L)commandments of men who turn from the truth. ^15 (M)To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. ¹⁶ They profess to ^(N)know God, but ^(O)in works they deny Him, being ^[d]abominable, disobedient, ^(P)and disqualified for every good work.

Qualities of a Sound Church

2 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: ² that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; ³ the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— ⁴ that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, ⁵ to be discreet, chaste, ^(Q)homemakers, good, ^(R)obedient to their own husbands, ^(S)that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

⁶ Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, ⁷ in all things showing yourself to be ^(T)a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, ^(U)incorruptibility,^{[e] 8} sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of ^[f]you.

⁹ Exhort ^(V)bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, ¹⁰ not ^[g]pilfering, but showing all good ^[h]fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Trained by Saving Grace

¹¹ For ^(W)the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ^13 (X)looking for the blessed ^(Y)hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ^14 (Z)who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed ^(AA)and purify for Himself ^(AB)His own special people, zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Speak these things, ^(AC)exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.