1 T hou, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that in Christ Jesus,

2 a nd the things that thou didst hear from me through many witnesses, these things be committing to stedfast men, who shall be sufficient also others to teach;

3 t hou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;

4 n o one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please;

5 a nd if also any one may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully;

6 t he labouring husbandman it behoveth first of the fruits to partake;

7 b e considering what things I say, for the Lord give to thee understanding in all things.

8 R emember Jesus Christ, raised out of the dead, of the seed of David, according to my good news,

9 i n which I suffer evil -- unto bonds, as an evil-doer, but the word of God hath not been bound;

10 b ecause of this all things do I endure, because of the choice ones, that they also salvation may obtain that in Christ Jesus, with glory age-during.

11 S tedfast the word: For if we died together -- we also shall live together;

12 i f we do endure together -- we shall also reign together; if we deny, he also shall deny us;

13 i f we are not stedfast, he remaineth stedfast; to deny himself he is not able.

14 T hese things remind of, testifying fully before the Lord -- not to strive about words to nothing profitable, but to the subversion of those hearing;

15 b e diligent to present thyself approved to God -- a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;

16 a nd the profane vain talkings stand aloof from, for to more impiety they will advance,

17 a nd their word as a gangrene will have pasture, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18 w ho concerning the truth did swerve, saying the rising again to have already been, and do overthrow the faith of some;

19 s ure, nevertheless, hath the foundation of God stood, having this seal, `The Lord hath known those who are His,' and `Let him depart from unrighteousness -- every one who is naming the name of Christ.'

20 A nd in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour, and some to dishonour:

21 i f, then, any one may cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified and profitable to the master -- to every good work having been prepared,

22 a nd the youthful lusts flee thou, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart;

23 a nd the foolish and uninstructed questions be avoiding, having known that they beget strife,

24 a nd a servant of the Lord it behoveth not to strive, but to be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient under evil,

25 i n meekness instructing those opposing -- if perhaps God may give to them repentance to an acknowledging of the truth,

26 a nd they may awake out of the devil's snare, having been caught by him at his will.