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Timothy, you know what I teach and how I live. You know what I want to do and what I believe. You have seen how patient and loving I am, and how in the past I put up with
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trouble and suffering in the cities of Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. Yet the Lord rescued me from all those terrible troubles.
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In fact, anyone who belongs to Christ Jesus and wants to live right will have trouble from others.
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But evil people who pretend to be what they are not will become worse than ever, as they fool others and are fooled themselves.
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Keep on being faithful to what you were taught and to what you believed. After all, you know who taught you these things.
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Since childhood, you have known the Holy Scriptures that are able to make you wise enough to have faith in Christ Jesus and be saved.
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Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live.
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The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds.
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When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you
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to preach God's message. Do it willingly, even if it isn't the popular thing to do. You must correct people and point out their sins. But also cheer them up, and when you instruct them, always be patient.
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The time is coming when people won't listen to good teaching. Instead, they will look for teachers who will please them by telling them only what they are itching to hear.
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They will turn from the truth and eagerly listen to senseless stories.
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But you must stay calm and be willing to suffer. You must work hard, telling the good news and to do your job well.
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Now the time has come for me to die. My life is like a drink offering being poured out on the altar.
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I have fought well. I have finished the race, and I have been faithful.
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So a crown will be given to me for pleasing the Lord. He judges fairly, and on the day of judgment he will give a crown to me and to everyone else who wants him to appear with power.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version ®. Copyright © 1995 American Bible Society. Used by permission.
