I have foughtthe goodfight,I have finishedthe course,I have keptthe faith;
Fightthe goodfightof faith;take holdof the eternallifeto whichyou were called,and you madethe goodconfessionin the presenceof manywitnesses.
"But I do not considermy lifeof anyaccountas dearto myself,sothat I may finishmy courseand the ministrywhichI receivedfrom the LordJesus,to testify solemnlyof the gospelof the graceof God.
Jesussaidto them, "My foodis to dothe willof Him who sentMe and to accomplishHis work.
But He said,"On the contrary,blessedare thosewho hearthe wordof Godand observeit."
I knowyour deeds.Behold,I have putbeforeyou an opendoorwhichno onecanshut,becauseyou havea littlepower,and have keptMy word,and have not deniedMy name.
Becauseyou have keptthe wordof My perseverance,I alsowill keepyou from the hourof testing,that [hour] which is aboutto comeupon the wholeworld,to testthosewho dwellon the earth.
"But the [seed] in the goodsoil,theseare the ones whohave heardthe wordin an honestand goodheart,and hold it fast,and bear fruitwith perseverance.
OTimothy,guardwhat has been entrustedto you, avoidingworldly[and] empty chatter[and] the opposing argumentsof what is falsely called"knowledge"--
Guard,throughthe HolySpiritwho dwellsin us, the treasurewhich has been entrustedto [you].
ThiscommandI entrustto you, Timothy,[my] son,in accordancewith the propheciespreviously madeconcerningyou, that by them you fightthe goodfight,
"I have manifestedYour nameto the menwhomYou gaveMe out of the world;they were Yoursand You gavethem to Me, and they have keptYour word.
Buytruth,and do not sell[it], [Get] wisdomand instructionand understanding.
"And whileJohnwas completinghis course,he kept saying,'Whatdo you supposethat I am?I amnot [He]. But behold,one is comingafterme the sandalsof whosefeetI amnot worthyto untie.'
It was becauseof a revelationthat I wentup; and I submittedto them the gospelwhichI preachamongthe Gentiles,but [I did so] in privateto thosewho were of reputation,for fearthat I might be running,orhad run,in vain.
experiencingthe sameconflictwhichyou sawin me, and nowhear[to be] in me.
Now you followedmy teaching,conduct,purpose,faith,patience,love,perseverance,
And there was givento eachof them a whiterobe;and they were toldthat they should restfor a littlewhilelonger,until[the number of] their fellow servantsand their brethrenwho were to be killedevenas they had been, would be completedalso.
"But at the ageof fiftyyearsthey shall retirefrom servicein the workand not workanymore.
onlyin orderthat the generationsof the sonsof Israelmight be taughtwar,thosewhohad not experiencedit formerly).
