1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus,2 and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.4 No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him.5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel,9 the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered.10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself.14 Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.16 Avoid such godless chatter, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,17 and their talk will eat its way like gangrene. Among them are Hymenae'us and Phile'tus,18 who have swerved from the truth by holding that the resurrection is past already. They are upsetting the faith of some.19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."20 In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earthenware, and some for noble use, some for ignoble.21 If any one purifies himself from what is ignoble, then he will be a vessel for noble use, consecrated and useful to the master of the house, ready for any good work.22 So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart.23 Have nothing to do with stupid, senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to every one, an apt teacher, forbearing,25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

1 συ ουν τεκνον μου ενδυναμου εν τη χαριτι τη εν χριστω ιησου2 και α ηκουσας παρ εμου δια πολλων μαρτυρων ταυτα παραθου πιστοις ανθρωποις οιτινες ικανοι εσονται και ετερους διδαξαι3 συ ουν κακοπαθησον ως καλος στρατιωτης ιησου χριστου4 ουδεις στρατευομενος εμπλεκεται ταις του βιου πραγματειαις ινα τω στρατολογησαντι αρεση5 εαν δε και αθλη τις ου στεφανουται εαν μη νομιμως αθληση6 τον κοπιωντα γεωργον δει πρωτον των καρπων μεταλαμβανειν7 νοει α λεγω δωη γαρ σοι ο κυριος συνεσιν εν πασιν8 μνημονευε ιησουν χριστον εγηγερμενον εκ νεκρων εκ σπερματος δαβιδ κατα το ευαγγελιον μου9 εν ω κακοπαθω μεχρι δεσμων ως κακουργος αλλ ο λογος του θεου ου δεδεται10 δια τουτο παντα υπομενω δια τους εκλεκτους ινα και αυτοι σωτηριας τυχωσιν της εν χριστω ιησου μετα δοξης αιωνιου11 πιστος ο λογος ει γαρ συναπεθανομεν και συζησομεν12 ει υπομενομεν και συμβασιλευσομεν ει αρνουμεθα κακεινος αρνησεται ημας13 ει απιστουμεν εκεινος πιστος μενει αρνησασθαι εαυτον ου δυναται14 ταυτα υπομιμνησκε διαμαρτυρομενος ενωπιον του κυριου μη λογομαχειν εις ουδεν χρησιμον επι καταστροφη των ακουοντων15 σπουδασον σεαυτον δοκιμον παραστησαι τω θεω εργατην ανεπαισχυντον ορθοτομουντα τον λογον της αληθειας16 τας δε βεβηλους κενοφωνιας περιιστασο επι πλειον γαρ προκοψουσιν ασεβειας17 και ο λογος αυτων ως γαγγραινα νομην εξει ων εστιν υμεναιος και φιλητος18 οιτινες περι την αληθειαν ηστοχησαν λεγοντες την αναστασιν ηδη γεγονεναι και ανατρεπουσιν την τινων πιστιν19 ο μεντοι στερεος θεμελιος του θεου εστηκεν εχων την σφραγιδα ταυτην εγνω κυριος τους οντας αυτου και αποστητω απο αδικιας πας ο ονομαζων το ονομα χριστου20 εν μεγαλη δε οικια ουκ εστιν μονον σκευη χρυσα και αργυρα αλλα και ξυλινα και οστρακινα και α μεν εις τιμην α δε εις ατιμιαν21 εαν ουν τις εκκαθαρη εαυτον απο τουτων εσται σκευος εις τιμην ηγιασμενον και ευχρηστον τω δεσποτη εις παν εργον αγαθον ητοιμασμενον22 τας δε νεωτερικας επιθυμιας φευγε διωκε δε δικαιοσυνην πιστιν αγαπην ειρηνην μετα των επικαλουμενων τον κυριον εκ καθαρας καρδιας23 τας δε μωρας και απαιδευτους ζητησεις παραιτου ειδως οτι γεννωσιν μαχας24 δουλον δε κυριου ου δει μαχεσθαι αλλ ηπιον ειναι προς παντας διδακτικον ανεξικακον25 εν πραοτητι παιδευοντα τους αντιδιατιθεμενους μηποτε δω αυτοις ο θεος μετανοιαν εις επιγνωσιν αληθειας26 και ανανηψωσιν εκ της του διαβολου παγιδος εζωγρημενοι υπ αυτου εις το εκεινου θελημα