Be Strong in Grace

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace(A) that is in Christ Jesus. What you have heard from me(B) in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful(C) men[a] who will be able to teach others also.

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

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead(F) and descended from David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. 10 This is why I endure(G) all things for the elect:(H) so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(I) 11 This saying is trustworthy:(J)

For if we died with him,(K)
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign(L) with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.

An Approved Worker

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God[b] not to fight about words.(M) This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. 15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.(N) 16 Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,(O) 17 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus(P) and Philetus are among them. 18 They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,(Q) and are ruining the faith of some.(R) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription:(S) The Lord knows those who are his,[c](T) and let everyone who calls on the name(U) of[d] the Lord turn away from wickedness.(V)

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels,(W) but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable[e] use and some for dishonorable.[f](X) 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,[g] he will be a special[h] instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.(Y)

22 Flee(Z) from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,(AA) along with those who call on the Lord(AB) from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s(AC) servant must not quarrel,(AD) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,[i] and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness.(AE) Perhaps God will grant them repentance(AF) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil,(AG) who has taken them captive to do his will.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. 2:2 Or faithful people
  2. 2:14 Other mss read before the Lord
  3. 2:19 Nm 16:5
  4. 2:19 Lit everyone who names the name of
  5. 2:20 Or special
  6. 2:20 Or ordinary
  7. 2:21 Lit from these
  8. 2:21 Or an honorable
  9. 2:24 Or everyone, skillful in teaching

Exhortation to Be Strong in Grace

You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also. Suffer together with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. And also if anyone competes he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The farmer who works hard must be the first to receive a share of the crops. Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will grant you understanding in all these things.

A Trustworthy Saying

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David according to my gospel, in connection with which I suffer misfortune to the point of imprisonment[a] as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound. 10 Because of this, I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, in order that they also may obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy:

For if we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful—he cannot deny himself[b].[c]

A Worker Approved to God and Not Ashamed

14 Remind people of these things, solemnly urging them before the Lord[d] not to dispute about words. This is in no way beneficial and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding the word of truth along a straight path. 16 But avoid pointless chatter, for it will progress to greater ungodliness, 17 and their message will spread[e] like gangrene, among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have deviated concerning the truth by[f] saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they are upsetting the faith of some. 19 However, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,”[g] and “Everyone who names the name of the Lord must abstain from unrighteousness.”

20 Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthenware ones, some of which are for honorable use, and some of which are for ordinary use. 21 Therefore, if someone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

22 But flee from youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in company with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and uninformed controversies, because you[h] know that they produce quarrels. 24 And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant, 25 correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, seeing whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they will come to their senses again and escape from the trap of the devil, being held captive by him to do his will.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:9 Literally “bonds”
  2. 2 Timothy 2:13 Literally “he is not able to deny himself”
  3. 2 Timothy 2:13 Some manuscripts have “because he is not able to deny himself”
  4. 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts have “before God”
  5. 2 Timothy 2:17 Literally “will experience spreading”
  6. 2 Timothy 2:18 Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saying”) which is understood as means
  7. 2 Timothy 2:19 A quotation from Num 16:5
  8. 2 Timothy 2:23 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal