< 2 Timothy 2 >

1 You must, then, my child, find strength in the help which comes from the union with Christ Jesus;
Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 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.
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.
3 Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
Suffer hardship with [me], as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.
No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of [this] life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
5 No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules.
And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.
6 The labourer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.
The husbandman that laboureth must be the first to partake of the fruits.
7 Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.
Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.
8 Keep before your mind Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in the good news entrusted to me;
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:
9 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;
wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.
10 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)
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)
11 How true this saying is – “If we have shared his death, we will also share his life.
Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we continue to endure, we will also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us.
if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!”
if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
14 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.
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.
15 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.
Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
16 Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,
But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
17 and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.
and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 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.
men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.
19 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.”
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.
20 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.
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 honour, and some unto dishonour.
21 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.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.
22 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.
But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;
But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.
24 and a servant of the Lord should never quarrel. They ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to everyone, skilful teachers, and forbearing.
And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
25 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,
in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,
26 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.
and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by the Lord’s servant unto the will of God.

< 2 Timothy 2 >