2 Timothy 2

Be Strong in Grace

¹You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace ^a that is in Christ Jesus. ²What you have heard from me ^b in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful ^c men ^d who will be able to teach others also.

³Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ^{e 4}No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. ⁵Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. ^{f 7}Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead ^g and descended from David, according to my gospel, ⁹for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. ¹⁰This is why I endure ^h all things for the elect: ⁱ so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ^{j 11}This saying is trustworthy: ^k

For if we died with him, ^l

we will also live with him;

¹²if we endure, we will also reign ^m with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful,

for he cannot deny himself.

An Approved Worker

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and charge them before God ⁿ not to fight about words. ^o This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. ¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. ^{p 16}Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness, ^{q 17}and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus ^r and Philetus are among them. ¹⁸They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, ^s and are ruining the faith of some. ^{t 19}Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: ^u The Lord knows those who are his,^v,^w and let everyone who calls on the name ^x of ^y the Lord turn away from wickedness. ^z

²⁰Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, ^aa but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable ^ab use and some for dishonorable. ^ac,^{ad 21}So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, ^ae he will be a special ^af instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. ^ag

²²Flee ^ah from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, ^ai along with those who call on the Lord ^aj from a pure heart. ²³But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴The Lord’s ^ak servant must not quarrel, ^al but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, ^am and patient, ²⁵instructing his opponents with gentleness. ^an Perhaps God will grant them repentance ^ao leading them to the knowledge of the truth. ²⁶Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, ^ap who has taken them captive to do his will. ^aq