by whichalsoyou are saved,ifyou hold fastthe wordwhichI preachedto you, unlessyou believedin vain.
but Christ[was faithful] as a SonoverHis house--whosehousewe are, ifwe hold fastour confidenceand the boastof our hopefirmuntilthe end.
For thisreasonwe mustpaymuch closerattentionto what we have heard,sothat we do not drift away[from it].
For we have becomepartakersof Christ,ifwe hold fastthe beginningof our assurancefirmuntilthe end,
who has savedus and calledus with a holycalling,not accordingto our works,but accordingto His ownpurposeand gracewhich was grantedus in ChristJesusfrom alleternity,
ifindeedyou continuein the faithfirmly establishedand steadfast,and not moved awayfrom the hopeof the gospelthat you have heard,which was proclaimedin allcreationunderheaven,and of whichI, Paul,was madea minister.
For by graceyou have been savedthroughfaith;and that not of yourselves,[it is] the giftof God;
For the wordof the crossis foolishnessto thosewho are perishing,but to us who are being savedit is the powerof God.
For justas the bodywithout[the] spiritis dead,soalsofaithwithoutworksis dead.
Whatuseis it, my brethren,ifsomeonesayshe hasfaithbut he hasnoworks?Canthat faithsavehim?
Let us hold fastthe confessionof our hopewithout wavering,for He who promisedis faithful;
"Those on the rocky[soil are] those who,whenthey hear,receivethe wordwith joy;and thesehaveno[firm] root;they believefor a while,and in timeof temptationfall away.
Evensofaith,ifit hasnoworks,is dead,[being] by itself.
Therefore,since we havea greathigh priestwhohas passed throughthe heavens,Jesusthe Sonof God,let us hold fastour confession.
So then,brethren,stand firmand holdto the traditionswhichyou were taught,whetherby word[of mouth] orby letterfrom us.
Did you sufferso many thingsin vain--ifindeedit was in vain?
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
For I am not ashamedof the gospel,for it is the powerof Godfor salvationto everyonewho believes,to the Jewfirstand alsoto the Greek.
Takeholdof instruction;do not letgo.Guardher, for she is your life.
My son,do not forgetmy teaching,But let your heartkeepmy commandments;
For we are a fragranceof Christto Godamongthosewho are being savedand amongthosewho are perishing;
and ifChristhas not been raised,thenour preachingis vain,your faithalsois vain.
For sincein the wisdomof Godthe worldthroughits wisdomdid not [come to] knowGod,Godwas well-pleasedthroughthe foolishnessof the message preachedto savethosewho believe.
Beholdthenthe kindnessand severityof God;to thosewho fell,severity,but to you, God'skindness,ifyou continuein His kindness;otherwiseyou alsowill be cut off.
EvenSimonhimselfbelieved;and after being baptized,he continuedon with Philip,and as he observedsignsand greatmiraclestaking place,he was constantly amazed.
praisingGodand havingfavorwith allthe people.And the Lordwas addingto their numberday by daythosewho were being saved.
Buytruth,and do not sell[it], [Get] wisdomand instructionand understanding.
NowI praiseyou becauseyou rememberme in everythingand hold firmlyto the traditions,justas I deliveredthem to you.