Let's add the entire passage for context, Arsenios. Let it be known that the passage has nothing to do with Apostolic Church or Apostolic Succession.
8Remember Jesus Christ,*risen from the dead, the*offspring of David,*as preached in my gospel,*9for which I am suffering,*bound with chains as a criminal. But*the word of God is not bound!*10Therefore*I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain*the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with*eternal glory.*11The saying is*trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also*live with him;
12if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13if we are faithless,*he remains faithful—
for*he cannot deny himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14Remind them of these things, and*charge them before Godnot to quarrel about words,*which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.*15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,*a worker*who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.*16But*avoid*irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,*17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are*Hymenaeus and Philetus,*18who have swerved from the truth,*saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.*19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal:*“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone*who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
