Be Strong

You therefore, my [a](A)son, (B)be strong in the grace that is in (C)Christ Jesus. The things (D)which you have heard from me in the presence of (E)many witnesses, (F)entrust these to (G)faithful [b]people who will be (H)able to teach others also. (I)Suffer hardship with me, as a good (J)soldier of (K)Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service (L)entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. And if someone likewise (M)competes as an athlete, he is not [c]crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules. (N)The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, (O)risen from the dead, (P)descendant of David, (Q)according to my gospel, [d]for which I (R)suffer hardship even to (S)imprisonment as a (T)criminal; but (U)the word of God (V)is not imprisoned. 10 For this reason (W)I endure all things for (X)the sake of [e]those who are chosen, (Y)so that they also may obtain the (Z)salvation which is in (AA)Christ Jesus and with it (AB)eternal glory. 11 (AC)The statement is trustworthy:

For (AD)if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
12 If we endure, (AE)we will also reign with Him;
If we [f](AF)deny Him, He will also deny us;
13 If we are faithless, (AG)He remains faithful, for (AH)He cannot deny Himself.

An Unashamed Worker

14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly (AI)exhort them in the presence of God not to (AJ)dispute about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the listeners. 15 Be diligent to (AK)present yourself approved to God as a worker who [g]does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling (AL)the word of truth. 16 But (AM)avoid (AN)worldly and empty chatter, for [h]it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their [i]talk will spread like [j]gangrene. Among them are (AO)Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth, claiming that (AP)the resurrection has already taken place; and they are jeopardizing (AQ)the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, the (AR)firm foundation of God stands, having this (AS)seal: “(AT)The Lord knows those who are His;” and, “(AU)Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to keep away from wickedness.”

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and (AV)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from (AW)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, (AX)prepared for every good work. 22 Now (AY)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, (AZ)faith, love, and peace with those who (BA)call on the Lord (BB)from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant (BC)speculations, knowing that they (BD)produce [k]quarrels. 24 (BE)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, (BF)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, 25 (BG)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, (BH)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to (BI)the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (BJ)the snare of the devil, having been (BK)held captive [l]by him to do his will.

Difficult Times Will Come

But realize this, that (BL)in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be (BM)lovers of self, (BN)lovers of money, (BO)boastful, (BP)arrogant, (BQ)slanderers, (BR)disobedient to parents, (BS)ungrateful, (BT)unholy, (BU)unloving, irreconcilable, (BV)malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [m](BW)haters of good, (BX)treacherous, (BY)reckless, (BZ)conceited, (CA)lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of [n](CB)godliness although they have (CC)denied its power; (CD)avoid such people as these. For among them are those who [o](CE)slip into households and captivate [p](CF)weak women weighed down with sins, led on by (CG)various impulses, always learning and never able to (CH)come to the [q]knowledge of the truth. Just as (CI)Jannes and Jambres (CJ)opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, (CK)men of depraved mind, [r]worthless in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their (CL)foolishness will be obvious to all, just (CM)as was that also of [s]Jannes and Jambres.

10 Now you (CN)followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, (CO)love, [t]perseverance, 11 (CP)persecutions, and (CQ)sufferings, such as happened to me at (CR)Antioch, at (CS)Iconium, and at (CT)Lystra; what (CU)persecutions I endured, and out of them all (CV)the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus (CW)will be persecuted. 13 But evil people and impostors (CX)will proceed from bad to worse, (CY)deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, (CZ)continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that (DA)from childhood you have known (DB)the sacred writings which are able to (DC)give you the wisdom that leads to (DD)salvation through faith which is in (DE)Christ Jesus. 16 (DF)All Scripture is [u]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for [v]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that (DG)the man or woman of God may be [w]fully capable, (DH)equipped for every good work.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:1 Or child
  2. 2 Timothy 2:2 Or men
  3. 2 Timothy 2:5 I.e., with a wreath
  4. 2 Timothy 2:9 Lit in which
  5. 2 Timothy 2:10 Or the chosen
  6. 2 Timothy 2:12 Lit will deny
  7. 2 Timothy 2:15 Or has no reason to
  8. 2 Timothy 2:16 Lit they will make further progress in ungodliness
  9. 2 Timothy 2:17 Lit word
  10. 2 Timothy 2:17 Or cancer
  11. 2 Timothy 2:23 Lit fightings
  12. 2 Timothy 2:26 Or by him, to do His will
  13. 2 Timothy 3:3 Lit not loving good
  14. 2 Timothy 3:5 Or religion
  15. 2 Timothy 3:6 Or creep into
  16. 2 Timothy 3:6 Or idle
  17. 2 Timothy 3:7 Or recognition
  18. 2 Timothy 3:8 Or unfit
  19. 2 Timothy 3:9 Lit those
  20. 2 Timothy 3:10 Or steadfastness
  21. 2 Timothy 3:16 Lit God-breathed
  22. 2 Timothy 3:16 Or reprimand
  23. 2 Timothy 3:17 Or proficient

Be Strong in Grace

You therefore, (A)my son, (B)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must (C)endure[a] hardship (D)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (E)No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also (F)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and [b]may the Lord (G)give you understanding in all things.

Remember that Jesus Christ, (H)of the seed of David, (I)was raised from the dead (J)according to my gospel, (K)for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, (L)even to the point of chains; (M)but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore (N)I endure all things for the sake of the [c]elect, (O)that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 This is a faithful saying:

For (P)if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 (Q)If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
(R)If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He (S)cannot deny Himself.

Approved and Disapproved Workers

14 Remind them of these things, (T)charging them before the Lord not to [d]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 (U)Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [e]idle babblings, for they will [f]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. (V)Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, (W)saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless (X)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord (Y)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of [g]Christ depart from iniquity.”

20 But in a great house there are not only (Z)vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, [h]sanctified and useful for the Master, (AA)prepared for every good work. 22 (AB)Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And (AC)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, (AD)able to teach, (AE)patient, 25 (AF)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, (AG)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, (AH)so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and (AI)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Perilous Times and Perilous Men

But know this, that (AJ)in the last days [i]perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, [j]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, (AK)traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (AL)having a form of godliness but (AM)denying its power. And (AN)from such people turn away! For (AO)of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able (AP)to come to the knowledge of the truth. (AQ)Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: (AR)men of corrupt minds, (AS)disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, (AT)as theirs also was.

The Man of God and the Word of God

10 (AU)But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me (AV)at Antioch, (AW)at Iconium, (AX)at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And (AY)out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and (AZ)all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 (BA)But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must (BB)continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known (BC)the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 (BD)All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, (BE)and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [k]instruction in righteousness, 17 (BF)that the man of God may be complete, (BG)thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:3 NU You must share
  2. 2 Timothy 2:7 NU the Lord will give you
  3. 2 Timothy 2:10 chosen ones
  4. 2 Timothy 2:14 battle
  5. 2 Timothy 2:16 empty chatter
  6. 2 Timothy 2:16 lead
  7. 2 Timothy 2:19 NU, M the Lord
  8. 2 Timothy 2:21 set apart
  9. 2 Timothy 3:1 times of stress
  10. 2 Timothy 3:3 irreconcilable
  11. 2 Timothy 3:16 training, discipline