GREETINGS

¹From Small Man (Paul), a message bearer for Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. The Great Spirit chose me to be a message bearer in harmony with the life he has promised through Creator Sets Free (Jesus) our Honored Chief.

²To He Gives Honor (Timothy), my much-loved spiritual son. I greet you with the gift of Creator’s great kindness, mercy, and peace that comes from our Father the Great Spirit and from Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, our Honored Chief.

NIGHT-AND-DAY PRAYER

³When I send my voice to the Great Spirit, I speak your name before him as I give thanks to him night and day. I serve Creator with a pure heart, doing what I know deep inside to be good and right, just as my ancestors did. ⁴Oh how I long to see you! I look back on your tears, which makes me want to see you again so that my heart will dance for joy.

FAN INTO FLAME CREATOR’S GIFT

⁵I remember how deep your faith truly is. That faith was alive first in your grandmother Woman Who Walks with Kindness (Lois), then in your mother Woman Who Wins (Eunice). I know that this same faith lives in you as well. ⁶This is why I now remind you to fan into flame the gift Creator gave you when I laid my hands on you as you were set in place as a spiritual leader. ⁷Creator has not given us a timid spirit but one of power, love, and clear thinking.

DEATH DEFEATED

⁸So do not be timid1 in telling others about our Honored Chief or that I am in prison because of him. But walk with me on this road of suffering for the sake of the good story as Creator gives us strength. ⁹For he is the one who has made us whole and called us to walk a sacred path. He did not choose us because of any good thing we have done. He chose us in harmony with his own purpose and by the gift of his great kindness. This gift was given to us through Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One before time began. ¹⁰But now that the Chosen One has appeared, his purpose has been made clear. For he has defeated death and has, through the good story, brought into the light the kind of life that will never again taste death.

NOT ASHAMED

¹¹He chose me to be a message bearer and a wisdomkeeper so I could make this good story known to all. ¹²This is the reason I walk a path of hardship and suffering. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust. I am sure that he will watch over me as I walk this sacred path toward that day.

¹³Hold true to the words of good medicine you have heard from me, for they came from the trust and love found in Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. ¹⁴Watch over these sacred truths by the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

BETRAYAL AND COURAGE

¹⁵As you know, almost everyone in Land of the Rising Sun (Asia) turned away from me, along with Man Who Runs Away (Phygelus) and Born with Good Luck (Hermogenes). ¹⁶May our Honored Chief show kindness to the family of Bringer of Good Things (Onesiphorus), for he was like a drink of cool water to me and was never ashamed to visit me in prison. ¹⁷When he was in Village of Iron (Rome), he searched hard until he found me. ¹⁸I pray that our Honored Chief will show kindness to him when that day comes. For you know very well the many ways he helped me at Village of Desire (Ephesus).

STAND STRONG

³Walk with me on this path of suffering as a good spiritual warrior of Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One. ⁴During times of war, no warrior gets involved in everyday life, for he must please the war-chief who chose him. ⁵Those who run in a race must follow the rules in order to win. ⁶The one who works hard to plant a field should be the first to share in the harvest. ⁷Think about what I am saying, and our Honored Chief will help you to understand these things.

⁸Keep your thoughts centered on Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, who was raised from the dead and is a descendant of Chief Much Loved One (David). This is the good story that I tell. ⁹It has taken me down a troubled path, one that includes being put in chains as an outlaw. But Creator’s message can never be locked up. ¹⁰So I keep walking through these troubled times for the sake of the ones whom the Great Spirit has chosen as his own. I want them to be set free and made whole through Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One and be honored with him to the time beyond the end of all days.

A VERY WISE SAYING

¹¹Here is a wise saying you can fully trust: If we died with him, we will live with him. ¹²If we never give up, we will share in his chiefly rule. If we deny him, he will deny us. ¹³If we fail to trust him, he will remain faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

¹⁴Keep reminding others about these things. Warn them in the sight of the Great Spirit not to fight over the meaning of words, for these are empty arguments that only bring a bad end to those who listen. ¹⁵Make it your aim to present yourself to Creator as one who is tried and true, a hard worker, without shame, who guides Creator’s message of truth down a straight path.

WORTHLESS AND EMPTY TALK

¹⁶Turn away from worthless and empty talk, for it will take people down a path far away from what is sacred and pure. ¹⁷Talk like this will spread like a disease that eats away at the body. Sings with a Glad Heart (Hymenaeus) and Friendly Man (Philetus) are two men who have been talking like this. ¹⁸They have turned away from the truth, saying that the rising of the dead has already taken place, harming the faith of some.

¹⁹But the solid rock of Creator’s truth stands firm. Carved into it are these words: “Our Honored Chief knows the ones who belong to him,” and “All those who say they honor his name must turn away from all wrongdoing.”

VESSELS OF HONOR AND DISHONOR

²⁰In a great lodge there are not only vessels made of gold and silver but also pots made of wood and clay. Some are for special use and others for ordinary use. This is true in the lodge that is Creator’s sacred family. ²¹Those who wash themselves clean from these worthless ways will be vessels of honor, made holy for the Headman’s use and ready to do many good deeds.

²²So flee from youthful desires and pursue right living, trusting, love, and peace, along with all who call out to our Honored Chief from a pure heart. ²³Have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they stir up further arguments. ²⁴For Creator’s sacred servant must not be eager to argue but kind to all. He must also be a good and patient teacher, ²⁵humbly instructing those who stand against him. For it could be that Creator will return them to the right way of thinking and lead them back to the path of truth. ²⁶Then they will come to their senses and escape the trap of the evil trickster, who held them captive to serve his purposes.

WARNINGS ABOUT THE LAST DAYS

¹I want you to remember that the last days will be violent and dangerous times. ²People will love only themselves and possessions. They will be puffed up, big-headed, troublemakers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unspiritual. ³People will be cold-hearted, merciless, full of accusations, without self-control, savage, and haters of what is good. ⁴They will be traitors, reckless and arrogant people who love pleasure more than they love the Great Spirit. ⁵Stay clear of people like this, for they make a big show of being spiritual but deny its true power.

⁶Some of these are men who trick their way into people’s families to manipulate vulnerable women who have given themselves over to broken ways to be burdened down with all kinds of evil desires. ⁷They are always looking to learn new things but never able to find and understand the truth. ⁸In the same way that Greedy Man (Jannes) and Hostile Man (Jambres) stood against Drawn from the Water (Moses),2 these men also stand against the truth. They are men of bent and twisted minds, whose understanding of our spiritual ways3 is worthless. ⁹But they will not fool many, for their trickery will be easy to see, just as it was for Greedy Man (Jannes) and Hostile Man (Jambres).

SMALL MAN’S WALK OF SUFFERING

¹⁰But you, He Gives Honor (Timothy), have followed my teachings, my way of life, my purpose, and what I believe. You know how patient I am, how much I love others, and how I have never given up. ¹¹You also know how much I suffered when I was at Stands Against (Antioch), Spirit Village (Iconium), and Set Free (Lystra), how they hunted me down to bring harm to me. But our Honored Chief rescued me in each of those places. ¹²It is a true saying that all who want to live their lives in harmony with Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One will suffer harm at the hands of those who stand against him.

SACRED TEACHINGS WILL MAKE YOU WISE

¹³Bad-hearted people will go from bad to worse. These are humans behaving like tricksters who lead people down the same kind of path they have been tricked into walking. ¹⁴But you should keep following the ways you have been taught, the teachings you are sure of, for you know who it was who taught you. ¹⁵From the time you were a young boy you have known the Sacred Teachings that are able to make you wise as you trust in the one who has set you free and made you whole, Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One.

¹⁶All the Sacred Teachings come from the breath of the Great Spirit and help us to teach others about Creator’s ways. They help us correct wrong thinking and bring lives into balance. They show the good and right way to walk the road of life. ¹⁷In this way, those who walk with the Great Spirit will have everything that is needed to do good things for others.

MAKE HIS MESSAGE KNOWN

¹When the Chosen One appears, he will decide the fate of the living and the dead and bring his good road to us in all its fullness. In light of these things and in the sight of the Great Spirit and Creator Sets Free (Jesus) the Chosen One, I call on you to complete the sacred task ²of making his message known! Be ready whether the time seems right or not. Patiently instruct others. Give strong counsel, warnings, and firm words to strengthen their hearts. ³For a day will come when people will not listen to good teaching. They will gather around themselves teachers who will tell them what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴They will turn their ears away from the truth and believe made-up stories.

BE A GOOD STORYTELLER

⁵But you must remain clear-minded in every way, stand strong in hard times, and do the work of a good storyteller. Keep doing what Creator has called on you to do. ⁶For my life is already being poured out like a ceremonial drink offering, and the time for me to walk on has come. ⁷I have fought the good fight. I have walked the good road to its end and stayed true to our spiritual ways.4 ⁸There is a chief’s headdress for doing what is right waiting for me in the spirit-world above. Our Honored Chief, whose decisions are always right, will honor me with a headdress on that day, and not only me but also all who have loved his appearing.

CLOSING WORDS AND WARNINGS

⁹Try to come and see me soon. ¹⁰For Leader of the People (Demas), because he loved this present world, has run away to village of False Victory (Thessalonica) and left me alone. He Grows More (Crescens) has gone to Land of Pale Skins (Galatia), and Big Man (Titus) to Land of Holy Robes (Dalmatia). ¹¹Only Shining Light (Luke) is with me. When you come, bring War Club (Mark) with you, for he is a good help to me as I serve our Creator. ¹²I sent He Is at Ease (Tychicus) to Village of Desire (Ephesus). ¹³And I left my coat at Cut Through (Troas) with He Grows Good Fruit (Carpus). So when you come, bring it to me along with the books, and above all bring the animal-skin scrolls.

¹⁴Man Fighter (Alexander), who works with copper, did much harm to me. Our Honored Chief will do to him what he has done to hurt others. ¹⁵Be on the lookout for him, for he stands strongly against all we teach.

¹⁶At my first council hearing, no one spoke up for me and everyone left me alone. May this not be counted against them. ¹⁷But Our Honored Chief stood with me and gave me strength, so that through me the Outside Nations would hear the whole good story. I was set free from the mouth of the lion.5 ¹⁸Our Honored Chief will rescue me from every evil scheme and carry me safely onto his good road from above. All honor belongs to him to all the ages. Aho! May it be so!

FINAL WORDS

¹⁹I send greetings to Lives Long (Priscilla)6 and Strong Eagle (Aquila) and to the family of Bringer of Good Things (Onesiphorus). ²⁰Much Desired (Erastus) remained behind at Village of Pleasure (Corinth), and He Eats Well (Trophimus) was sick so I left him at White Sheep Wool (Miletus). ²¹Try to come to me before winter. Wise Counselor (Eubulus) sends greetings to you, along with Hides His Face (Pudens), Sweet Grass (Linus), Limping Woman (Claudia), and all the members of the sacred family.

²²May our Honored Chief be with your spirit, and may the gift of his great kindness rest on you.