For we know that if our earthly house, [this] tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

For to me, to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.

For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.]

To this [end] I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.