2 Timothy 2
1 Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
You must, then, my child, find strength in the help which comes from the union with Christ Jesus;
2 And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
and what you learnt from me, in the presence of many listeners, entrust to reliable people, who will be able in their turn to teach others.
3 Suffer hardship with [me], as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.
5 And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.
No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules.
6 The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.
The laborer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.
7 Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.
Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:
Keep before your mind Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in the good news entrusted to me;
9 wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.
in the service of which I am suffering hardships, even to being put in fetters as a criminal. But the message of God is not fettered;
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (aiōnios g166)
and that is why I submit to anything for the sake of God’s people: so that they also may obtain the salvation which comes from union with Christ Jesus, and imperishable glory. (aiōnios g166)
11 Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him:
How true this saying is – ‘If we have shared his death, we will also share his life.
12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:
If we continue to endure, we will also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us.
13 if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!’
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging [them] in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.
Remind people of all this; tell them solemnly, as in the sight of God, to avoid controversy, a useless thing and the ruin of those who listen to it.
15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
Do your utmost to show yourself true to God, a worker with no reason to be ashamed, accurate in delivering the message of the truth.
16 But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,
17 and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus;
and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.
18 men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.
They have gone completely astray as regards the truth; they say that a resurrection has already taken place, and so upset some people’s faith.
19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.
Yet God’s firm foundation still stands unmoved, and it bears this inscription – ‘THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS’; and this – ‘LET ALL THOSE WHO USE THE NAME OF THE LORD TURN AWAY FROM WICKEDNESS.’
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.
Now in a large house there are not only things of gold and silver, but also others of wood and earthenware, some for better and some for common use.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.
If, then, a person has escaped from the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, they will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose.
22 But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Flee from the passions of youth, but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in the company of those who, with a pure heart, invoke the Lord.
23 But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.
Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;
24 And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
and a servant of the Lord should never quarrel. They ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to everyone, skillful teachers, and forbearing.
25 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,
They should instruct their opponents in a gentle spirit; for, possibly, God may give those opponents a repentance that will lead to a fuller knowledge of truth,
26 and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.
and they may yet come to a sober mind, and escape from the devil’s net, when captured by the Lord’s servant to do the will of God.
