No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not please the one who recruited him.

At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.

Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.

He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began,

Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day.

Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.

Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.

for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned!

unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good,

and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive to do his will.

However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.”

For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.