Exhortation to Share Paul’s Suffering

⁸ Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor me his prisoner, but suffer along with me for the gospel, according to the power of God, ⁹ who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace that was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began^[a], ¹⁰ but has now been disclosed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ,^[b] who has abolished death and brought to light life and immortality through the gospel, ¹¹ for which I was appointed a proclaimer and an apostle and a teacher, ¹² for which reason also I suffer these things. But I am not ashamed, because I know in whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted until that day.