The Christian life is very much like climbing a hill of ice. You cannot slide up. You have to cut every step with an ice axe. Only with incessant labor in cutting and chipping can you make any progress. If you want to know how to backslide, leave off going forward. Cease going upward and you will go downward of necessity. You can never stand still.
C.H. Spurgeon

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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