2 Timothy 2

Pass on the message and share suffering

1 So, my child, draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Take the things you heard me say in front of many other witnesses and pass them on to faithful people who are also capable of teaching others.
3 Accept your share of suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.4 Nobody who serves in the military gets tied up with civilian matters, so that they can please the one who recruited them.5 Also in the same way, athletes don’t win unless they follow the rules.6 A hardworking farmer should get the first share of the crop.

7 Think about what I’m saying; the Lord will give you understanding about everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and descended from David. This is my good news.9 This is the reason I’m suffering to the point that I’m in prison like a common criminal. But God’s word cannot be imprisoned.10 This is why I endure everything for the sake of those who are chosen by God so that they too may experience salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 This saying is reliable:
"If we have died together, we will also live together.
12 If we endure, we will also rule together.
If we deny him, he will also deny us.

13 If we are disloyal, he stays faithful"
because he can’t be anything else than what he is.

Speak, instruct, and act correctly

14 Remind them of these things and warn them in the sight of God not to engage in battles over words that aren’t helpful and only destroy those who hear them.15 Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly.16 Avoid their godless discussions, because they will lead many people into ungodly behavior,17 and their ideas will spread like an infection. This includes Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18 who have deviated from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already happened. This has undermined some people’s faith.
19 God’s solid foundation is still standing with this sign, The Lord knows the people who belong to him, t and Everyone who confesses the Lord’s name must avoid wickedness. t20 In a mansion, there aren’t just gold and silver bowls but also some bowls that are made of wood and clay. Some are meant for special uses, some for garbage.t

21 So, if anyone washes filth off themselves, they will be set apart as a "special bowl." They will be useful to the owner of the mansion for every sort of good work.

Avoid conflict with opponents

22 Run away from adolescent cravings. Instead, pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace together with those who confess the Lord with a clean heart.23 Avoid foolish and thoughtless discussions, since you know that they produce conflicts.24 God’s slave shouldn’t be argumentative but should be kind toward all people, able to teach, patient,25 and should correct opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will change their mind and give them a knowledge of the truth.

26 They may come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap that holds them captive to do his will.

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