1 Timothy, my child, you must let Christ Jesus make you strong by his gift of undeserved grace.
2 You have often heard me teach. Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others.
3 As a good soldier of Christ Jesus you must endure your share of suffering.
4 Soldiers on duty don't work at outside jobs. They try only to please their commanding officer.
5 No one wins an athletic contest without obeying the rules.
6 And farmers who work hard are the first to eat what grows in their field.