The idea that life on earth is so infinitely precious that the death which robs us of it must be the ultimate tragedy is precisely the idolatry that [God is often trying] to combat.
G.B. Caird

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

{1:1} Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God,according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, {1:2} toTimothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father andChrist Jesus our Lord. {1:3} I thank God, whom I serve from myforefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance ofthee in my supplications, night and day {1:4} longing to see thee,remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; {1:5} having beenreminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first inthy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, inthee also. {1:6} For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thoustir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of myhands. {1:7} For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of powerand love and discipline. {1:8} Be not ashamed therefore of thetestimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship withthe gospel according to the power of God; {1:9} who saved us, andcalled us with a holy calling, not according to our works, butaccording to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in ChristJesus before times eternal, {1:10} but hath now been manifested by theappearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and broughtlife and immortality to light through the gospel, {1:11} whereunto Iwas appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher. {1:12} Forwhich cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for Iknow him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able toguard that which I have committed unto him against that day. {1:13}Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faithand love which is in Christ Jesus. {1:14} That good thing which wascommitted unto [thee] guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth inus. {1:15} This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned awayfrom me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. {1:16} The Lord grantmercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and wasnot ashamed of my chain; {1:17} but, when he was in Rome, he sought mediligently, and found me {1:18} (the Lord grant unto him to find mercyof the Lord in that day); and in how many things he ministered atEphesus, thou knowest very well.

{2:1} Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that isin Christ Jesus. {2:2} And the things which thou hast heard from meamong many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shallbe able to teach others also. {2:3} Suffer hardship with [me], as agood soldier of Christ Jesus. {2:4} No soldier on service entanglethhimself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him whoenrolled him as a soldier. {2:5} And if also a man contend in thegames, he is not crowded, except he have contended lawfully. {2:6} Thehusbandmen that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.{2:7} Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understandingin all things. {2:8} Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of theseed of David, according to my gospel: {2:9} wherein I suffer hardshipunto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound. {2:10}Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also mayobtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.{2:11} Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall alsolive with him: {2:12} if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if weshall deny him, he also will deny us: {2:13} if we are faithless, heabideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself. {2:14} Of these thingsput them in remembrance, charging [them] in the sight of the Lord, thatthey strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of themthat hear. {2:15} Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God,a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word oftruth. {2:16} But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed furtherin ungodliness, {2:17} and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: orwhom is Hymenaeus an Philetus; {2:18} men who concerning the truth haveerred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow thefaith of some. {2:19} Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth,having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let everyone that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.{2:20} Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and ofsilver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and someunto dishonor. {2:21} If a man therefore purge himself from these, heshall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use,prepared unto every good work. {2:22} after righteousness, faith, love,pace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. {2:23} Butfoolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they genderstrifes. {2:24} And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentletowards all, apt to teach, forbearing, {2:25} in meekness correctingthem that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give themrepentance unto the knowledge of the truth, {2:26} and they may recoverthemselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive byhim unto his will.

{3:1} But know this, that in the last days grievous times shallcome. {3:2} For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful,haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, {3:3}without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, withoutself-control, fierce, no lovers of good, {3:4} traitors, headstrong,puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; {3:5} holdinga form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From thesealso turn away. {3:6} For of these are they that creep into houses, andtake captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,{3:7} ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of thetruth. {3:8} And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so dothese also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobateconcerning the faith. {3:9} But they shall proceed no further. Fortheir folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.{3:10} But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith,longsuffering, love, patience, {3:11} persecutions, sufferings. Whatthings befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions Iendured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. {3:12} Yea, and allthat would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. {3:13}But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving andbeing deceived. {3:14} But abide thou in the things which thou hastlearned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learnedthem. {3:15} And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writingswhich are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which isin Christ Jesus. {3:16} Every scripture inspired of God [is] alsoprofitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instructionwhich is in righteousness. {3:17} That the man of God may be complete,furnished completely unto every good work.

{4:1} I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, whoshall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and hiskingdom: {4:2} preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season;reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. {4:3} Forthe time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but,having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their ownlusts; {4:4} and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turnaside unto fables. {4:5} But be thou sober in all things, sufferhardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry. {4:6} ForI am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. {4:7}I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have keptthe faith: {4:8} henceforth there is laid up for me the crown ofrighteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me atthat day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved hisappearing. {4:9} Give diligence to come shortly unto me: {4:10} forDemas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went toThessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. {4:11} Only Lukeis with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is useful to mefor ministering. {4:12} But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus. {4:13} Thecloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and thebooks, especially the parchments. {4:14} Alexander the coppersmith didme much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works:{4:15} of whom do thou also beware; for he greatly withstood our words.{4:16} At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me: mayit not be laid to their account. {4:17} But the Lord stood by me, andstrengthened me; that through me the message might me fully proclaimed,and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of themouth of the lion. {4:18} The Lord will deliver me from every evilwork, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] theglory forever and ever. Amen. {4:19} Salute Prisca and Aquila, and thehouse of Onesiphorus. {4:20} Erastus remained at Corinth: but TrophimusI left at Miletus sick. {4:21} Give diligence to come before winter.Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all thebrethren. {4:22} The Lord be with thy spirit. Grace be with you.

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