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Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
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To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Thanksgiving
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
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I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
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Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
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.
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For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
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So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
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He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,
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but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
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And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.
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That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
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What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
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Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty
You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
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May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
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The Appeal Renewed
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
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And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
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Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
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No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.
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Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.
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The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.
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Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
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for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
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Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
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if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;
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if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
