2 Timothy 2
1 Do you, then, my Child, find strength in the help which comes from the union with Christ Jesus;
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus:
2 and what you learnt from me, in the presence of many listeners, entrust to reliable men, who will be able in their turn to teach others.
and the things which thou hast heard from me, before many witnesses, these commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
Do thou therefore endure hardship, as becomes a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.
No one, that enters into military service, embarrasseth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him.
5 No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless he has kept the rules.
And if any one contend in the public games, he gains not the crown unless he contend fairly.
6 The labourer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.
The husbandman must labour first, in order to partake of the fruits.
7 Reflect upon what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.
Consider what I say, and the Lord 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 of the seed of David, who was raised from the dead, 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;
for whose sake I suffer trouble even unto bonds, as if I were 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, that they also may obtain the Salvation which comes from union with Christ Jesus, and imperishable glory. (aiōnios g166)
Therefore I submit to every thing for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is by Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (aiōnios g166)
11 How true this saying is — ‘If we have shared his death, we shall also share his life.
It is an undoubted truth, if we are dead with Him, we shall also live with Him:
12 If we continue to endure, we shall also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us.
if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: 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!’
If we are unfaithful, He continueth faithful notwithstanding; He cannot renounce Himself.
14 Remind people of all this; urge them solemnly, as in the sight of God, to avoid controversy, a useless thing and the ruin of those who listen to it.
These things remind them of, charging them before the Lord not to contend about words, which is profitable for nothing, and tends to the subversion of the hearers.
15 Do your utmost to show yourself true to God, a workman with no reason to be ashamed, accurate in delivering the Message of the Truth.
Endeavour to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,
But avoid prophane empty harangues; for they will proceed to more impiety,
17 and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.
and their discourse will eat like a gangrene. Of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; who have erred from the truth,
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.
saying that the resurrection is already past; and subvert 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.’
However, the foundation of God standeth firm, having this inscription, The Lord knoweth them that are his; and, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
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.
In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, some for meaner uses.
21 If, then, a man has escaped from the pollution of such errors as I have mentioned, he will be like a thing kept for better use, set apart, serviceable to its owner, ready for any good purpose.
If therefore any one purify himself from these corruptions, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and fitted for the Master's use, being prepared 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.
Flee youthful passions: and follow righteousness, fidelity, love, and peace, with all those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart:
23 Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;
but foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they produce quarrels; for the servant of the Lord ought not to wrangle,
24 and a Servant of the Lord should never quarrel. He ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to every one, a skilful teacher, and forbearing.
but to be gentle towards all men, ready to teach, patient under injuries,
25 He should instruct his opponents in a gentle spirit; for, possibly, God may give them a repentance that will lead to a fuller knowledge of Truth,
with meekness instructing those of different sentiments, not knowing but God may give them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth;
26 and they may yet come to a sober mind, and escape from the snares of the Devil, when captured by the Lord’s Servant to do the will of God.
and they may awake out of the snare of the devil, who have been captivated by him to his will.
