2 Timothy 2
1 So you, my son, be strengthened by 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 Also, the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men who will be competent 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 You therefore are to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of civilian life; he wants to please the one who enlisted him.
A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.
5 Further, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules
No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules.
6 —the hardworking farmer should be the first to receive of the fruits.
The laborer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.
7 Ponder what I am saying; may the Lord indeed give you understanding in it all.
Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.
8 Keep thinking of Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, of David's seed; this is 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 for which I am suffering to the point of being in chains like a criminal, but the Word of God is not chained.
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 This is why I endure it all: for the sake of the chosen ones, that they also may obtain the salvation that 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 This is a trustworthy word: If, indeed, we died together, we will also live together;
How true this saying is – ‘If we have shared his death, we will also share his life.
12 if we endure, we will also reign together; if we deny, He will also 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 remains faithful —He is incapable of denying Himself.
If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!’
14 Keep reiterating these things, exhorting them before the Lord not to argue about words to no useful purpose—it just ruins the hearers.
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 Make every effort to render yourself approved by God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, handling the Word of the Truth correctly.
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 godless, empty chatter, because those who do it will become increasingly godless,
Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,
17 and their word will spread like gangrene—among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.
18 who have wandered away from the Truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they overturn 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 Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and let everyone who claims the name of the Lord keep away 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 large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some, to be sure, are for honor, but some are for 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 So if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful to the Master, prepared for 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 Flee the lusts of youth; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who 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 Refuse foolish and ignorant arguments, knowing that they breed quarrels.
Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;
24 Now a slave of the Lord should not quarrel but be gentle towards all, skillful at teaching, 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 correcting courteously those who oppose him, in hopes that God may grant them repentance leading to a real knowledge of 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 that they may retrieve their senses out of the devil's snare (having been taken captive by him to do 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.
