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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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May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
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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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Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
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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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Dealing With False Teachers
Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
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Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
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Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
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Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
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Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,
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and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
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But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.
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People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
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having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
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But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
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In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
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while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
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For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
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They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
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Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
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Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.
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The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
