Προς Τιμοθεον Β΄ 2
1 συ ουν τεκνον μου ενδυναμου εν τη χαριτι τη εν χριστω ιησου
You must, then, my child, find strength in the help which comes from the union with Christ Jesus;
2 και α ηκουσας παρ εμου δια πολλων μαρτυρων ταυτα παραθου πιστοις ανθρωποις οιτινες ικανοι εσονται και ετερους διδαξαι
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 συ ουν κακοπαθησον ως καλος στρατιωτης ιησου χριστου
Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 ουδεις στρατευομενος εμπλεκεται ταις του βιου πραγματειαις ινα τω στρατολογησαντι αρεση
A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.
5 εαν δε και αθλη τις ου στεφανουται εαν μη νομιμως αθληση
No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless they have kept the rules.
6 τον κοπιωντα γεωργον δει πρωτον των καρπων μεταλαμβανειν
The laborer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.
7 νοει α λεγω δωη γαρ σοι ο κυριος συνεσιν εν πασιν
Reflect on what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.
8 μνημονευε ιησουν χριστον εγηγερμενον εκ νεκρων εκ σπερματος δαβιδ κατα το ευαγγελιον μου
Keep before your mind Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in the good news entrusted to me;
9 εν ω κακοπαθω μεχρι δεσμων ως κακουργος αλλ ο λογος του θεου ου δεδεται
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 δια τουτο παντα υπομενω δια τους εκλεκτους ινα και αυτοι σωτηριας τυχωσιν της εν χριστω ιησου μετα δοξης αιωνιου (aiōnios g166)
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)
11 πιστος ο λογος ει γαρ συναπεθανομεν και συζησομεν
How true this saying is – ‘If we have shared his death, we will also share his life.
12 ει υπομενομεν και συμβασιλευσομεν ει αρνουμεθα κακεινος αρνησεται ημας
If we continue to endure, we will also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us.
13 ει απιστουμεν εκεινος πιστος μενει αρνησασθαι εαυτον ου δυναται
If we lose our trust, he is still to be trusted, for he cannot be false to himself!’
14 ταυτα υπομιμνησκε διαμαρτυρομενος ενωπιον του κυριου μη λογομαχειν εις ουδεν χρησιμον επι καταστροφη των ακουοντων
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 σπουδασον σεαυτον δοκιμον παραστησαι τω θεω εργατην ανεπαισχυντον ορθοτομουντα τον λογον της αληθειας
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 τας δε βεβηλους κενοφωνιας περιιστασο επι πλειον γαρ προκοψουσιν ασεβειας
Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,
17 και ο λογος αυτων ως γαγγραινα νομην εξει ων εστιν υμεναιος και φιλητος
and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.
18 οιτινες περι την αληθειαν ηστοχησαν λεγοντες την αναστασιν ηδη γεγονεναι και ανατρεπουσιν την τινων πιστιν
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 ο μεντοι στερεος θεμελιος του θεου εστηκεν εχων την σφραγιδα ταυτην εγνω κυριος τους οντας αυτου και αποστητω απο αδικιας πας ο ονομαζων το ονομα χριστου
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 εν μεγαλη δε οικια ουκ εστιν μονον σκευη χρυσα και αργυρα αλλα και ξυλινα και οστρακινα και α μεν εις τιμην α δε εις ατιμιαν
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 εαν ουν τις εκκαθαρη εαυτον απο τουτων εσται σκευος εις τιμην ηγιασμενον και ευχρηστον τω δεσποτη εις παν εργον αγαθον ητοιμασμενον
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 τας δε νεωτερικας επιθυμιας φευγε διωκε δε δικαιοσυνην πιστιν αγαπην ειρηνην μετα των επικαλουμενων τον κυριον εκ καθαρας καρδιας
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 τας δε μωρας και απαιδευτους ζητησεις παραιτου ειδως οτι γεννωσιν μαχας
Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;
24 δουλον δε κυριου ου δει μαχεσθαι αλλ ηπιον ειναι προς παντας διδακτικον ανεξικακον
and a servant of the Lord should never quarrel. They ought, on the contrary, to be courteous to everyone, skillful teachers, and forbearing.
25 εν πραοτητι παιδευοντα τους αντιδιατιθεμενους μηποτε δω αυτοις ο θεος μετανοιαν εις επιγνωσιν αληθειας
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 και ανανηψωσιν εκ της του διαβολου παγιδος εζωγρημενοι υπ αυτου εις το εκεινου θελημα
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.
