2 Timothy 2
New King James Version
Be Strong in Grace
2 You therefore, (A)my son, (B)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 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. 3 You therefore must (C)endure[a] hardship (D)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 (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. 5 And also (F)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and [b]may the Lord (G)give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, (H)of the seed of David, (I)was raised from the dead (J)according to my gospel, 9 (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.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:3 NU You must share
- 2 Timothy 2:7 NU the Lord will give you
- 2 Timothy 2:10 chosen ones
- 2 Timothy 2:14 battle
- 2 Timothy 2:16 empty chatter
- 2 Timothy 2:16 lead
- 2 Timothy 2:19 NU, M the Lord
- 2 Timothy 2:21 set apart
2 Timothy 2
New International Version
The Appeal Renewed
2 You then, my son,(A) be strong(B) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say(C) in the presence of many witnesses(D) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering,(E) like a good soldier(F) of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown(G) except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.(H) 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,(I) descended from David.(J) This is my gospel,(K) 9 for which I am suffering(L) even to the point of being chained(M) like a criminal. But God’s word(N) is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything(O) for the sake of the elect,(P) that they too may obtain the salvation(Q) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(R)
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:(S)
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;(T)
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.(U)
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;(V)
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,(W)
for he cannot disown himself.
Dealing With False Teachers
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;(X) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.(Y) 16 Avoid godless chatter,(Z) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus(AA) and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,(AB) and they destroy the faith of some.(AC) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(AD) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(AE) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(AF) must turn away from wickedness.”
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.(AG) 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.(AH)
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love(AI) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord(AJ) out of a pure heart.(AK) 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.(AL) 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.(AM) 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,(AN) 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,(AO) who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Timothy 2
New Catholic Bible
The Exemplars of a Man of God[a]
Chapter 2
Accept Your Share of Sufferings.[b] 1 As for you, my child, take strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you learned from me in the presence of many witnesses you must pass on to trustworthy people who will be capable of teaching others.
3 Together with me, bear your share of sufferings like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 A soldier does not become involved in everyday affairs, for his task is to obey his commanding officer. 5 In a similar vein, no athlete can receive the winner’s crown unless he has competed according to the rules. 6 Again, the farmer who does the hard work should have the first claim on the crops. 7 Think about what I am saying, for the Lord will help you to understand it perfectly.
Remember That Jesus Christ Is Risen.[c] 8 Remember the gospel that I preach: Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, was raised from the dead. 9 It is because of this that I have endured great suffering, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 This saying can be trusted:
If we have died with him,
we shall also live with him.
12 If we endure,
we shall also reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will also deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
14 A True Servant of the Lord.[d] Remind people of these things, and warn them before God[e] that they must stop arguing over words. This does no good and only causes harm to those who are listening. 15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as one who is worthy of his approval, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, but who imparts the word of truth without any alteration.
16 Avoid idle and worldly chatter, for those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will spread like a plague. Included among these are Hymenaeus[f] and Philetus, 18 who have gone astray from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already taken place, and they damage the faith of some. 19 However, the foundation that God has sealed[g] remains firm, and it bears this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his own,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
20 In every large house, there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay—some for noble purposes and some for ordinary purposes. 21 If someone avoids these things I have mentioned, he will be regarded as a vessel of special value, dedicated and useful for the master of the house, and ready to perform any good work.
22 Turn away from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord[h] with a pure heart. 23 Avoid foolish and stupid speculations, for you are well aware that they only result in quarrels.
24 A servant of the Lord should not engage in quarrels but should be kind to everyone. He should be a good teacher and patient, 25 correcting with gentleness those who oppose him. For God may grant them repentance so that they may come to recognize the truth 26 and regain their senses, enabling them to escape the snare of the devil who had held them captive and subjected them to his will.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:1 The author then goes on to enumerate eight exemplars that a man of God can follow in some way: Paul (vv. 1-2), a soldier (vv. 3-4), an athlete (v. 5), a farmer (vv. 6-7), Jesus (vv. 8-13), a worker (vv. 14-19), a vessel (vv. 20-23), and a servant (vv. 24-26).
- 2 Timothy 2:1 The apostolate requires a person’s complete commitment. He bears and transmits the message entrusted by God to the Christian community.
- 2 Timothy 2:8 Another heading for this section would read “Be a memorial of Jesus Christ,” i.e., be a person whose whole being and action recalls the Resurrection of Christ and renders it present to those he meets, while announcing to them that its fullness will take place at the time of the Lord’s return. This is the finest picture one could give of the life of Paul.
Verses 11b-13 are probably from a baptismal hymn; to be baptized meant that one should live out, throughout one’s days, the mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection (see Rom 6:8; 1 Cor 15:31; Gal 6:14; Phil 3:10; Col 3:3-5). - 2 Timothy 2:14 In the portrait of a true missionary, a certain number of virtues must be present: honesty, respect for and acceptance of everyone, courage in persecution, truthfulness without alteration, and rejection of faddish witticisms. The author once more condemns the errors being propagated in the region of Ephesus; they have the look not of a new religion but of a feverish and babbling emotionalism. The Greek mind had difficulty in accepting the resurrection of the body (see Acts 17:32; 1 Cor 15:22), and some avoid the problem by saying that the resurrection has already taken place at Baptism but that it is solely a case of a spiritual resurrection.
They forget above all that the faith is founded on the word of God, which provides the initiative and that believers have merely to respond. It is the quality of their faith that classifies believers in the Church, not the abundance of their opinions. Yet leaders must be very kind and not condemn any of the members of the community. - 2 Timothy 2:14 Before God: many manuscripts read: “before the Lord.”
- 2 Timothy 2:17 Hymenaeus: see 1 Tim 1:20. His punishment has not helped him.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Foundation . . . sealed: the foundations of buildings in antiquity were sealed and adorned with inscriptions. As inscriptions Paul uses Scripture texts that complement one another: Num 16:5 (God cares for those he loves) and Num 16:26; Isa 26:13; 52:11 (these must lead upright lives).
- 2 Timothy 2:22 Those who call on the Lord: i.e., Christians (see Acts 19:14ff; Rom 10:12f).
2 Timothy 2
King James Version
2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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