2 TIM. 3:6. SUFFERING PERSECUTIONS. 279 sins, and led away by different kinds of desires, such as are always learning, and yet are never able to come to the full knowledge of the truth. And just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses so also do these oppose the truth. Their minds are corrupt and, so far as the faith is concerned, not at all what they ought to be. But they will make no further progress. For their folly will be plain to everybody as that of Moses' opponents came to be. But you were a follower of my teaching, Conduct, Purpose, Faith, Forbearance, Love, Endurance, Persecutions, Sufferings; Such sufferings as came on me at Antioch, At Iconium, At Lystra ; Such persecutions as I endured. And yet out of them all the Lord rescued me. Yes, and everybody who undertakes to live a pious life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But wicked men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you, 3: 14. for your part, continue in what you learned and were assured of. For you know from whom you learned them, and that from your infancy you knew the Sacred Writings which are able to make you wise so that you may attain salvation through the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every scripture inspired by God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for the discipline which is in accord with the law of God, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for the accomplishment of all kinds of generous deeds. I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus who is coming to judge the living and the dead. I solemnly charge you by his coming again and by his kingdom. Proclaim the message. Give your attention to it in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, and keep urging them, with every indication of forbearance, and by using every kind of instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure wholesome teaching, but, because their ears keep itching to hear something new, they will pile up for themselves teachers in accord with their own desires. They will no longer listen to the truth, but will give their attention to fictions. But you, for your part, be in every way self-possessed, suffer hardships, do the work of a missionary, make your service full and complete. For my life blood is already being poured out, erted myself to the utmost in the noble contest. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. For the future there is laid up for me the crown of goodness which the Lord, the good judge, will give me in the day of his coming again, and not only to me, but also to every one who loves his coming again. Make an effort to pay me a visit as soon as you can. For Demas has left me and gone to Thessalonica because of his love for this world. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is a helpful assistant to me. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come bring with you the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments. The brass-founder Alexander did me a great deal of harm.-May the Lord reward him according to his deed. And you, also, beware of him. vehemently opposed what we said. For he At my first hearing no one stood by me. On the contrary, they all deserted me.-May it not be counted against them.—But the Lord stood by me, and gave me inward strength, so that, through me, the proclamation might be fully made and all the heathen might hear. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every 4: 17. kind of evil and save me, and bring me to his heavenly kingdom. To him be the praise for ever and ever. Amen. Give our best wishes to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus. Erastus staid at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus. Make an effort to come before winter. Eubulus, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brothers, send you their best wishes. May the Lord be with you. May the divine favor be yours. |