First Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descended from David, as preached in my gospel,
⁹ the gospel for which I am suffering and wearing fetters like a criminal. But the word of God is not fettered.
¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory.
¹¹ The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him;
¹² if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.
¹⁴ Remind them of this, and charge them before the Lord to avoid disputing about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.