Be Strong in Grace

2 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace^(A) that is in Christ Jesus. ² What you have heard from me^(B) in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful^(C) men^[a] who will be able to teach others also.

³ Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.^{(D) 4} No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. ⁵ Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.^{(E) 7} Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead^(F) and descended from David, according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰ This is why I endure^(G) all things for the elect:^(H) so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^{(I) 11} This saying is trustworthy:^(J)

The New Life in Christ

6 What should we say then?^(A) Should we continue in sin so that grace may multiply?^{(B) 2} Absolutely not!^(C) How can we who died to sin^(D) still live in it? ³ Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized^(E) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?^{(F) 4} Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death,^(G) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead^(H) by the glory of the Father,^(I) so we too may walk in newness^[a] of life.^{(J) 5} For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death,^(K) we will certainly also be^[b] in the likeness of his resurrection. ⁶ For we know that our old self^[c](L) was crucified with him^(M) so that the body ruled by sin^[d] might be rendered powerless^(N) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, ⁷ since a person who has died^(O) is freed^[e] from sin. ⁸ Now if we died with Christ,^(P) we believe that we will also live with him, ⁹ because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead,^(Q) will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.^{(R) 10} For the death he died, he died to sin once for all time; but the life he lives, he lives to God. ¹¹ So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin^(S) and alive to God in Christ Jesus.^[f]

¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey^[g] its desires. ¹³ And do not offer any parts^[h] of it to sin^(T) as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God,^(U) and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. ¹⁴ For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law^(V) but under grace.^(W)

Following Christ

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered^[a] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding^[b]—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished^(A) with sin^[c]— ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.^{(B) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,^(C) drunkenness, orgies,^(D) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander^[d] you. ⁵ They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.^(E)