< 2 Timothy 2 >
1 You therefore, my child, be strengthened in 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 The things you heard from me among many witnesses, entrust them to faithful people who will be able 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 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier serves while entangled in the affairs of this life, so that he may please his superior officer.
A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.
5 Also, if someone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes by the rules.
No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules.
6 It is necessary that the hardworking farmer receive his share of the crops first.
The laborer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.
7 Think about what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, from David's seed, who was raised from the dead. This is according to my gospel message,
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 bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound.
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 Therefore I endure all things for those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. (aiōnios )
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 )
11 This is a trustworthy saying: “If we have died with him, we will also live with him.
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 with him. If we deny him, he also will 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 unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”
If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!’
14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
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 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no reason to be ashamed, who accurately teaches the word of truth.
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 Avoid profane talk, which leads to more and more godlessness.
Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,
17 Their talk will spread like cancer. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.
18 who have gone astray from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already happened, and they destroy 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 However, the firm foundation of God stands. It has this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Everyone who names the name of the Lord must depart 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 In a wealthy home, there are not only containers of gold and silver. There are also containers of wood and clay. Some of these are for honorable use, and some for dishonorable.
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 If someone cleans himself from dishonorable use, he is an honorable container. He is set apart, useful to the Master, and 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 youthful lusts. Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a clean 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 But refuse foolish and ignorant questions. You know that they give birth to arguments.
Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;
24 The Lord's servant must not quarrel. Instead he must be gentle toward all, able to teach, and patient.
and a servant of the Lord should never quarrel. They ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to everyone, skillful teachers, and forbearing.
25 He must in meekness educate those who oppose him. God may perhaps give them repentance for the knowledge of the 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 They may become sober again and leave the devil's trap, after they have been captured by him for 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.