¹⁴ I do not write these things to ^(A)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^(B)children. ¹⁵ For if you were to have countless ^(C)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in ^(D)Christ Jesus I ^(E)became your father through the ^(F)gospel. ¹⁶ Therefore I urge you, be ^(G)imitators of me. ¹⁷ For this reason I ^(H)have sent to you ^(I)Timothy, who is my ^(J)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^(K)just as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Now some have become ^[a](L)arrogant, as though I were not ^(M)coming to you. ¹⁹ But I ^(N)will come to you soon, ^(O)if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the ^[b]words of those who are ^(P)arrogant, but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is ^(Q)not in ^[c]words, but in power. ²¹ What do you desire? ^(R)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

¹³ Now in the same way in ^(A)exchange—I am speaking as to ^(B)children—open wide your hearts to us, you as well.

^19 (A)My children, with whom ^(B)I am again in labor until ^(C)Christ is formed in you—

¹¹ just as you know how we were ^(A)exhorting and encouraging and ^(B)imploring each one of you as ^(C)a father would his own children,

² To ^(A)Timothy, ^(B)my true ^[a]son in the faith: ^(C)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and ^(D)Christ Jesus our Lord.

² To ^(A)Timothy, my beloved ^[a](B)son: ^(C)Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Plea for Onesimus, a Free Man

¹⁰ I ^(A)appeal to you for my ^(B)[a]son ^[b](C)Onesimus, whom I ^[c]fathered in my ^[d]imprisonment,

Christ Is Our Advocate

2 ^(A)My little children, I am ^(B)writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, ^(C)we have an ^[a](D)Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;