2 Timothy 2
1 You [are like a] son to me. So I urge also that you [let God] empower you [spiritually] as a result of Christ Jesus acting kindly toward you.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is by Jesus the Messiah.
2 [As you do that], remembering that [the message] that you heard from me is the same message that other people have affirmed/declared to you, you must entrust/give that message to people whom you can trust, people who will be competent/able/qualified to teach others.
And the things thou hast heard from me by many witnesses, these commit thou to faithful men, who are competent to teach others also.
3 Endure as I do what we suffer for Christ Jesus, like a good soldier [endures what he suffers].
And endure evils, as a good soldier of Jesus the Messiah.
4 [You know that] soldiers, in order to please their captain, do not (become involved in civilian affairs/spend time doing other kinds of work) [MET]. [So, like soldiers, do not let other matters (distract you as you serve/hinder you from serving]) [Christ Jesus]!
No man, on becoming a soldier, entangleth himself with the business of the world; that he may please him who enlisted him.
5 [Similarly, you know that] athletes who do not obey the rules of the contest will not be given {not win} the prize [MET]. [So, like athletes, do all that Christ Jesus has commanded so that God will reward you]!
And if one contend in the games, he is not crowned, unless he contendeth according to the rules.
6 [You also know that] a hard-working farmer should be the first to receive some of the harvest [MET]. [So, like farmers, work hard for Christ Jesus and expect that God will reward you]!
The husbandman who laboreth, ought first to feed on his fruits.
7 Think about what I have just written, because, [if you do], the Lord will enable you to understand everything [that you need to understand].
Consider what I say. Our Lord give thee wisdom in all things.
8 [Endure everything by] remembering how Jesus Christ [endured it when he suffered]. Remember that he came back to life {God raised him from the dead} and [God affirmed/declared him to be king as] his ancestor [King] David was. Those are things that I tell to people when I tell them the message [about Christ].
Be mindful of Jesus the Messiah, that he arose from the dead; who was of the seed of David, according to my gospel,
9 I am suffering [here in prison] because [some people oppose] the good message [that I tell]. They have even put me in chains as if I were a criminal. Nevertheless, the message from God is not chained {nothing is preventing [MET] [others from proclaiming] the message from God}.
in which I suffer evils unto bonds, as if an evil-doer: but the word of God is not in bonds.
10 Therefore I [willingly] endure all [that I am suffering] for the sake of those [whom God has] chosen. [I do this] in order that Christ Jesus will save them, too, and that they will be forever with [him in the] glorious [place where he is]. (aiōnios g166)
Therefore I endure every thing, for the elect's sake; that they also may obtain life, in Jesus the Messiah, with eternal glory. (aiōnios g166)
11 [Endure everything as you remember] that these words [that we all say/sing] (OR, [that we teach people]) [are trustworthy]: Since we have stopped behaving as we did in the past, as though we died when he died, we shall also live with him.
Faithful is the saying, For if we shall have died with him, we shall also live with him;
12 Since we are also patiently enduring what we suffer, we shall also rule with him. But if we say that we do not know him, he also will say that he does not know us.
and, if we shall have suffered, we shall also reign with him. But if we shall have rejected him, he will reject us.
13 If we (are unfaithful/stop doing what he tells us to do), he will treat us just like he promised to do, because he (can never be untrue to himself/always does what he says that he will do).
And if we shall have not believed in him, he abideth in his fidelity; for he cannot reject himself.
14 [Those whom you appointed to teach others] God’s truth, keep reminding them about these things that [I have told you]. Tell them strongly that, since God knows what they are doing (OR, that God [will judge them for everything that is wrong that they do, and therefore]) they must not quarrel (about words/about matters that are not important), [because, when teachers quarrel, it helps] no one, [and because, when they quarrel, they spiritually] destroy those who hear them (OR, they cause those who hear [them to] quit (being committed [to Christ]/believing [in Christ]).)
Of these things admonish thou them and charge them, before our Lord, that they dispute not, with unprofitable words, to the subversion of those who hear them.
15 (Do your best/Try hard) to be the kind of person that God will approve of. [Be like a] good worker as you teach the true message accurately. If a worker works well, he will not need to be ashamed of (OR, will be pleased about) [what he does].
And study to present thyself before God, perfectly, a laborer who is not ashamed, one who correctly announceth the word of truth.
16 (Stay away from/Do not talk with) [those who talk foolishly and] ([godlessly/say things that displease God]), because [those who talk foolishly] will become even more (ungodly/displeasing to God),
Avoid vain discourses, in which there is no profit; for they very much add to the wickedness of those occupied with them.
17 and [because] their message will [harm people] [SIM] [like] gangrene/cancer does. [You know] Hymenaeus and Philetus. They are [two] such people [who talk in this manner].
And their discourse, like an eating cancer, will lay hold upon many. And one of these is Hymeneus, and another Philetus;
18 [Specifically], they teach a wrong message; [that is], they say [wrongly that God will not cause dead people to live again because] he has already given us [spiritual] life. [They claim that our spiritual life is the only new life that we will receive. By saying that], they cause some people
who have wandered from the truth, while they say, The resurrection of the dead hath passed: and they subvert the faith of some.
19 not to continue to believe [in Christ]. However, [the congregations of] God are strong [MET]. [They are like] a strong foundation on which is written: “The Lord knows the people who really belong to him,” and “Every person who calls Jesus [MTY] ‘Lord’ must stop doing wicked things”.
But the firm foundation of God standeth; and it hath this seal, The Lord knoweth them who are his: and, Let every one who invoketh the name of our Lord, stand aloof from iniquity.
20 In a wealthy person’s house there are not only utensils made of gold and of silver, but also utensils made of wood and of clay. The gold and silver [utensils are used] at special [occasions/events], and the others are used at ordinary [occasions. Similarly, in a congregation there are those who] ([are ready/desire]) [to do great things for the Lord Jesus, and there are those like the teachers of false doctrines/teachings who are not].
But in a great house, there are not only vessels of gold or silver, but also of wood and of pottery; and some of them for honor, and some for dishonor.
21 Therefore, those who rid themselves of [what is evil in their lives] will be able to [work well for the Lord. They will be like] utensils [MET] used at special [occasions], set apart for and especially useful to the owner [of the big house. They will be like fine utensils] that have been prepared {are ready} to do any kind of good work.
If therefore any one purge himself from these things, he will be a pure vessel for honor, fit for the use of his Lord, and prepared for every good work.
22 [Because of that], you [(sg)] must avoid doing the wrong actions that [many] young people desire to do. Instead, you must earnestly do right actions, believe [the true teaching], love [God and others, and you must continually be at] peace with those who ask the Lord [to help them and who are] pure in every way (OR, who serve [Jesus] faithfully).
Fly from all the lusts of youth; and follow after righteousness, and faith, and love, and peace, with them that invoke our Lord with a pure heart.
23 Do not talk [with anyone who] foolishly [wants] to argue about matters that are not important. [Do not talk with them], because you know that [when people talk about foolish things], they begin to quarrel.
Avoid those foolish discussions which afford no instruction; for thou knowest, that they generate contests.
24 But those who serve the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, they should be kind to all people, they should be able to teach [God’s truth well], and they should be patient [with people].
And a servant of our Lord ought not to contend, but to be mild towards every one, and instructive, and patient;
25 [That is, they should] gently instruct/teach people who oppose [the true message. They should do that] in order that perhaps God will cause others to completely change what they think, so that they may acknowledge/believe the true [message].
that with mildness he may enlighten those who dispute against him, if perhaps God may give them repentance, and they may acknowledge the truth,
26 In that way they may get free from [what is like] [MET] a trap [set by] the devil. The devil has deceived them in order that [they might do] what he wants [them to do].
and may recollect themselves, and may escape out of the snare of Satan, at whose pleasure they have been held ensnared.
