001:018 (The Lord grant that he may obtain mercy at His hands on that day!) And you yourself well know all the services which he rendered me in Ephesus. 002:001 You then, my child, must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 002:002 All that you have been taught by me in the hearing of many witnesses, you must hand on to trusty men who shall themselves, in turn, be competent to instruct others also. 002:003 As a good soldier of Christ Jesus accept your share of suffering. 002:004 Every one who serves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world's business--so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him. 002:005 And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules. 002:006 The harvestman who labours in the field must be the first to get a share of the crop. 002:007 Mark well what I am saying: the Lord will give you discernment in everything. 002:008 Never forget that Jesus Christ has risen from among the dead and is a descendant of David, as is declared in the Good News which I preach. 002:009 For preaching the Good News I suffer, and am even put in chains, as if I were a criminal: yet the word of God is not imprisoned. 002:010 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of God's own people; so that they also may obtain salvation--even the salvation which is in Christ Jesus--and with it eternal glory. 002:011 Faithful is the saying: "If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; 002:012 "If we patiently endure pain, we shall also share His Kingship; "If we disown Him, He will also disown us; 002:013 "And even if *our* faith fails, He remains true--He cannot prove false to Himself." 002:014 Bring all this to men's remembrances, solemnly charging them in the presence of God not to waste time in wrangling about mere words, a course which is altogether unprofitable and tends only to the ruin of the hearers. 002:015 Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame. 002:016 But from irreligious and frivolous talk hold aloof, for those who indulge in it will proceed from bad to worse in impiety, 002:017 and their teaching will spread like a running sore. Hymenaeus and Philetus are men of that stamp. 002:018 In the matter of the truth they have gone astray, saying that the Resurrection is already past, and so they are overthrowing the faith of some. 002:019 Yet God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord knows those who really belong to Him." And this also, "Let every one who names the Name of the Lord renounce all wickedness."