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