1Thou therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus;
2and the things which thou didst hear from me before many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, such as will be able to teach others also.
3Endure hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4No one serving as a soldier entangleth himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who chose him to be a soldier.
5And if a man contendeth in the games, he is not crowned, unless he contendeth lawfully.
6The husbandman that laboreth must be the first partaker of the fruits.
7Understand what I say; for the Lord will give thee apprehension in all things.
8Bear in mind Jesus Christ of the seed of David, as raised from the dead, according to my gospel;
9in which I suffer hardship even unto bonds as an evil-doer; but the word of God is not bound.
10For this cause I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with everlasting glory.
11True is the saying: for if we died with him, we shall also live with him;
12if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13if we are faithless, he remaineth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord not to carry on a strife of words, to no useful purpose, but rather to the subverting of the hearers.
15Study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman not ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16But shun the profane babblings; for they will go on to a higher degree of ungodliness;
17and their word will eat as doth a canker; of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus,
18who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection hath already taken place, and overthrow the faith of some.
19Nevertheless God's firm foundation standeth, having this seal, “The Lord knoweth them that are his;” and, “Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also wooden and earthen ones; and some for honor, and some for dishonor.
21If then any one shall purge himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, hallowed, useful for the householder, prepared for every good work.
22But flee youthful lusts, and follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23But the foolish and ignorant questionings avoid, knowing that they gender quarrels;
24and a servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, apt in teaching, patient of wrong,
25in meekness admonishing those that oppose themselves; if haply God may give them repentance to attain the full knowledge of the truth,
26and they may awake to their senses out of the snare of the Devil, by whom they have been taken captive to do his will.