2 Timothy 2

1 You must, then, my child, find strength in the help which comes from the union with Christ Jesus;

You then, my child, must be strong 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.

All that you have been taught by me in the hearing of many witnesses, you must hand on to trusty men who shall themselves, in turn, be competent to instruct others also.

3 Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.

As a good soldier of Christ Jesus accept your share of suffering.

4 A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.

Every one who serves as a soldier keeps himself from becoming entangled in the world's business--so that he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him.

5 No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules.

And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules.

6 The laborer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.

The harvestman who labours in the field must be the first to get a share of the crop.

7 Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.

Mark well what I am saying: the Lord will give you discernment in everything.

8 Keep before your mind Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in the good news entrusted to me;

Never forget that Jesus Christ has risen from among the dead and is a descendant of David, as is declared in the Good News which I preach.

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;

For preaching the Good News I suffer, and am even put in chains, as if I were a criminal: yet the word of God is not imprisoned.

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)

For this reason I endure all things for the sake of God's own people; so that they also may obtain salvation--even the salvation which is in Christ Jesus--and with it 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: "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 patiently endure pain, we shall also share His Kingship; "If we disown Him, He will also disown us;

13 If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!’

"And even if our faith fails, He remains true--He cannot prove false to 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.

Bring all this to men's remembrances, solemnly charging them in the presence of God not to waste time in wrangling about mere words, a course which is altogether unprofitable and tends only to the ruin of the hearers.

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.

Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.

16 Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,

But from irreligious and frivolous talk hold aloof, for those who indulge in it will proceed from bad to worse in impiety,

17 and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.

and their teaching will spread like a running sore. Hymenaeus and Philetus are men of that stamp.

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.

In the matter of the truth they have gone astray, saying that the Resurrection is already past, and so they are overthrowing 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.’

Yet God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord knows those who really belong to Him." And this also, "Let every one who names the Name of the Lord renounce all wickedness."

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 articles of gold and silver, but also others of wood and of earthenware; and some are for specially honourable, and others for common use.

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 therefore a man keeps himself clear of these latter, he himself will be for specially honourable use, consecrated, fit for the Master's service, and fully equipped for 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.

Keep a strong curb, however, on your youthful cravings; and strive for integrity, good faith, love, peace, in company with all who pray to the Lord with pure hearts.

23 Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;

But avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, knowing--as you do--that these lead to quarrels;

24 and a servant of the Lord should never quarrel. They ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to everyone, skillful teachers, and forbearing.

and a bondservant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be inoffensive towards all men, a skilful teacher, and patient under wrongs.

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,

He must speak in a gentle tone when correcting the errors of opponents, in the hope that God will at last give them repentance, for them to come to a full 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 recover sober-mindedness and freedom from the Devil's snare, though they are now entrapped by him to do his will.