Instructions for Ministry

¹¹ Command and teach these things. ¹² Let no one despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech,^(A) in conduct,^(B) in love,^[a](C) in faith, in purity.^{(D) 13} Until I come,^(E) give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy,^(F) with the laying on of hands^(G) by the council of elders. ¹⁵ Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save^(H) both yourself and your hearers.^(I)

Fulfill Your Ministry

4 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge^(A) the living and the dead,^(B) and because of His appearing and His kingdom:^{(C) 2} Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine,^(D) but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new.^{[a] 4} They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.^{(E) 5} But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist,^(F) fulfill your ministry.

⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,^(G) and the time for my departure is close. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ There is reserved for me in the future the crown^(H) of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,^(I) will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.^(J)

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared with salvation^[a] for all people,^{(A) 12} instructing us to deny godlessness^(B) and worldly lusts^(C) and to live in a sensible, righteous,^(D) and godly^(E) way in the present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope^(F) and appearing of the glory^(G) of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He gave Himself for us^(H) to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession,^(I) eager to do good works.