2 Timothy 2
1 You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Do you, then, my Child, find strength in the help which comes from the union with Christ Jesus;
2 The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
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.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Share hardships with me, as a true soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
A soldier on active service, to please his superior officer, always avoids entangling himself in the affairs of ordinary life.
5 Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he has competed by the rules.
No athlete is ever awarded the wreath of victory unless he has kept the rules.
6 The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.
The labourer who does the work should be the first to receive a share of the fruits of the earth.
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Reflect upon what I say; the Lord will always help you to understand.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News,
Keep before your mind Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in the Good News entrusted to me;
9 in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word is not chained.
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 the chosen ones' sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with consummate (aiōnios g166) glory.
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)
11 This saying is trustworthy: “For if we died with him, we will also live with him.
How true this saying is — ‘If we have shared his death, we shall 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 shall also share his throne. If we should ever disown him, he, too, will disown us.
13 If we are faithless, 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 Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord that they do not argue about words to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.
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.
15 Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
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.
16 But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
Avoid profane prattle. Those who indulge in it only get deeper into irreligious ways,
17 and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:
and their teaching will spread like a cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are instances of this.
18 men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing 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, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord 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 Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor and some for dishonor.
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 anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.
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.
22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure 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 questionings, knowing that they generate strife.
Shun foolish and ignorant discussions, for you know that they only breed quarrels;
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient,
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.
25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,
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,
26 and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
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.
