1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is by Jesus the Messiah. 2And the things thou hast heard from me by many witnesses, these commit thou to faithful men, who are competent to teach others also. 3And endure evils, as a good soldier of Jesus the Messiah. 4No man, on becoming a soldier, entangleth himself with the business of the world; that he may please him who enlisted him. 5And if one contend in the games, he is not crowned, unless he contendeth according to the rules. 6The husbandman who laboreth, ought first to feed on his fruits. 7Consider what I say. Our Lord give thee wisdom in all things. 8Be mindful of Jesus the Messiah, that he arose from the dead; who was of the seed of David, according to my gospel, 9in which I suffer evils unto bonds, as if an evil-doer: but the word of God is not in bonds. 10Therefore I endure every thing, for the elect's sake; that they also may obtain life, in Jesus the Messiah, with eternal glory. 11Faithful is the saying, For if we shall have died with him, we shall also live with him; 12and, if we shall have suffered, we shall also reign with him. But if we shall have rejected him, he will reject us. 13And if we shall have not believed in him, he abideth in his fidelity; for he cannot reject himself. 14Of these things admonish thou them and charge them, before our Lord, that they dispute not, with unprofitable words, to the subversion of those who hear them. 15And study to present thyself before God, perfectly, a laborer who is not ashamed, one who correctly announceth the word of truth. 16Avoid vain discourses, in which there is no profit; for they very much add to the wickedness of those occupied with them. 17And their discourse, like an eating cancer, will lay hold upon many. And one of these is Hymeneus, and another Philetus; 18who have wandered from the truth, while they say, The resurrection of the dead hath passed: and they subvert the faith of some. 19But the firm foundation of God standeth; and it hath this seal, The Lord knoweth them who are his: and, Let every one who invoketh the name of our Lord, stand aloof from iniquity. 20But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold or silver, but also of wood and of pottery; and some of them for honor, and some for dishonor. 21If therefore any one purge himself from these things, he will be a pure vessel for honor, fit for the use of his Lord, and prepared for every good work. 22Fly from all the lusts of youth; and follow after righteousness, and faith, and love, and peace, with them that invoke our Lord with a pure heart. 23Avoid those foolish discussions which afford no instruction; for thou knowest, that they generate contests. 24And a servant of our Lord ought not to contend, but to be mild towards every one, and instructive, and patient; 25that with mildness he may enlighten those who dispute against him, if perhaps God may give them repentance, and they may acknowledge the truth, 26and may recollect themselves, and may escape out of the snare of Satan, at whose pleasure they have been held ensnared.