2 Timothy 2
Serving Faithfully Despite Hardship
1 So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.2 And entrust what you heard me sayt in the presence of many others as witnessest to faithful peoplet who will be competentt to teach others as well.3 Take your share of sufferingt as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.4 No one in military service gets entangled in matters of everyday life; otherwise he will not pleaset the one who recruited him.5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winnert unless he competes according to the rules.s6 The farmer who works hard ought to have the first share of the crops.
7 Think about what I am saying andt the Lord will give you understanding of all this.t
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David;t such is my gospel,t9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonmentt as a criminal, but God’s messaget is not imprisoned!t10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God,t that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.t
11 This sayings is trustworthy:s
If we died with him, we will also live with him.
12 If we endure, we will also reign with him.t
If we denyt him,t he will also deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself.s
Dealing with False Teachers
14 Remind peoplet of these things and solemnly charge themt before the Lords not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.t15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.s16 But avoid profane chatter,s because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness,t17 and their message will spread its infectiont like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group.t18 They have strayed from the trutht by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith.
19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,”s and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lordt must turn away from evil.”
20 Now in a wealthy homet there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.t21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior,t he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with otherst who call on the Lord from a pure heart.s23 But reject foolish and ignorantt controversies, because you know they breed infighting.t24 And the Lord’s slavets must not engage in heated disputest but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,25 correctings opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the trutht
26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captivet to do his will.t
2 Timothy 2
1 Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.2 And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.4 No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.5 And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.6 The husbandmen that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.7 Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:9 wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.11 Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him:12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:13 if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.16 But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,17 and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus an Philetus;18 men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.22 after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.23 But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.24 And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,25 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,26 and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.