³² But recall the former days when, after ^(A)you were enlightened, you endured ^(B)a hard struggle with sufferings,

⁴ For it is impossible, in the case of those ^(A)who have once been enlightened, who have tasted ^(B)the heavenly gift, and ^(C)have shared in the Holy Spirit,

⁴ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

^7 (A)I have fought the good fight, ^(B)I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is ^(C)laid up for me ^(D)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ^(E)the righteous judge, will award to me on ^(F)that day, and not only to me but also to all ^(G)who have loved his appearing.

³ Are you so foolish? ^(A)Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[a] the flesh? ^4 (B)Did you suffer^[b] so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

⁸ Watch yourselves, ^(A)so that you may not lose what we^[a] have worked for, but ^(B)may win a full reward.

^3 (A)Share in suffering as ^(B)a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier ^(C)gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ^5 (D)An athlete is not ^(E)crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ It is ^(F)the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, ^(G)risen from the dead, the ^(H)offspring of David, ^(I)as preached in my gospel, ^9 (J)for which I am suffering, ^(K)bound with chains as a criminal. But ^(L)the word of God is not bound! ¹⁰ Therefore ^(M)I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain ^(N)the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with ^(O)eternal glory. ¹¹ The saying is ^(P)trustworthy, for:

for ^(W)he cannot deny himself.

¹⁶ Only ^(A)let us hold true to what we have attained.

²⁹ For ^(A)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also ^(B)suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same ^(C)conflict that ^(D)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.