提摩太后书 2

基督的精兵

1 我儿啊！你要靠着基督耶稣的恩典刚强起来。2 以前你在许多见证人面前听过我的教导，你要把这些教导传给忠信可靠、能够教导他人的人。

3 你要做基督耶稣的精兵与我同受苦难。4 当兵的若让其他事务缠身，就不能取悦征召他的上司。5 同样，参加比赛的人若不遵守比赛规则，就不可能得奖。6 辛劳的农夫理当先享受收成。7 你要思想我说的话，因为主必赐你悟性明白各样的事。

8 你要切记我所传的福音：耶稣基督是大卫的后裔，祂从死里复活了。9 我为这福音受苦，甚至像犯人一样被囚禁，但上帝的道是囚禁不住的。10 我为了上帝所拣选的人忍受一切痛苦，使他们可以获得在基督耶稣里的救恩和永远的荣耀。

11 有真实可信的话说：
“我们若与基督同死，就必与祂同活。

12 我们若忍耐到底，就必与祂一同做王。
我们若不承认祂，祂也必不承认我们。

13 我们纵然会失信，祂仍然信实可靠，
因为祂不能违背自己。”

做无愧的工人

14 你要提醒众人这些事，在主面前嘱咐他们：不要为言词争辩，因为那对听见的人有害无益。15 你应当竭力在上帝面前做经得起考验、问心无愧的工人，正确地阐释真理之道。16 要远避一切世俗的空谈，因为好空谈的人只会越来越不敬虔。17 他们讲的话像毒疮，只会越烂越大，许米乃和腓理徒就是例子。18 他们离经背道，说复活的事已成过去，动摇了许多人的信心。19 然而，上帝所立的坚实根基永不动摇，这根基上刻着：“主认识谁是属于祂的人”， “凡自称是属于主的人都要离弃罪恶。”

20 大户人家不但有金器银器，也有木器瓦器，这些器皿的用途有贵贱之分。21 人若洁身自爱，远离卑贱的事，就必成为圣洁无瑕的贵重器皿，可以被主用来成就各样的善事。

22 你要逃避年轻人的邪情私欲，要跟那些以清洁的心求告主的人一同追求公义、信心、仁爱、和平。23 不要参与愚昧无知的辩论，因为这些事只会引起纷争。24 上帝的奴仆不可与人争执，总要温和待人，善于教导，心存忍耐。25 要温柔地规劝那些反对我们的人，也许上帝会赐给他们悔改的心，使他们明白真理，26 让他们这些被魔鬼掳去、受其摆布的人能够醒悟过来，脱离魔鬼的网罗。

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