A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

You then, (A)my child, (B)be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and (C)what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses (D)entrust to faithful men,[a] (E)who will be able to teach others also. (F)Share in suffering as (G)a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier (H)gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. (I)An athlete is not (J)crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is (K)the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Remember Jesus Christ, (L)risen from the dead, the (M)offspring of David, (N)as preached in my gospel, (O)for which I am suffering, (P)bound with chains as a criminal. But (Q)the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore (R)I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain (S)the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with (T)eternal glory. 11 The saying is (U)trustworthy, for:

(V)If we have died with him, we will also (W)live with him;
12 (X)if we endure, we will also reign with him;
(Y)if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 (Z)if we are faithless, (AA)he remains faithful—

for (AB)he cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and (AC)charge them before God[b] (AD)not to quarrel about words, (AE)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[c] a worker (AF)who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But (AG)avoid (AH)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are (AI)Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, (AJ)saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: (AK)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone (AL)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in (AM)a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, (AN)some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, (AO)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, (AP)ready for every good work.

22 So (AQ)flee (AR)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with (AS)those who call on the Lord (AT)from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant (AU)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And (AV)the Lord's servant[e] must not be quarrelsome but (AW)kind to everyone, (AX)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents (AY)with gentleness. God (AZ)may perhaps grant them repentance (BA)leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (BB)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context
  2. 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord
  3. 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested
  4. 2 Timothy 2:21 Greek from these things
  5. 2 Timothy 2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

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.

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

Be Strong in Grace

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace(A) that is in Christ Jesus. And what you have heard from me(B) in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful(C) men 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 recruiter. 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.

Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead(F) and descended from David. This is according to my gospel. I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message 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 have 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, charging them before God[a] not to fight about words;(M) this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.(N) 16 But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness.(O) 17 And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeus(P) and Philetus are among them. 18 They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,(Q) and are overturning the faith of some.(R) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription:(S)

The Lord knows those who are His,(T)[b] and
Everyone who names the name(U) of the Lord
must turn away from unrighteousness.(V)

20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls,(W) but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable[c] use, some for dishonorable.[d](X) 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,[e] he will be a special[f] 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, knowing that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s(AC) slave must not quarrel,(AD) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,[g] 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 Devil’s trap,(AG) having been captured by him to do his will.(AH)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:14 Other mss read before the Lord
  2. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nm 16:5
  3. 2 Timothy 2:20 Or special
  4. 2 Timothy 2:20 Or ordinary
  5. 2 Timothy 2:21 Lit from these
  6. 2 Timothy 2:21 Or an honorable
  7. 2 Timothy 2:24 Or everyone, skillful in teaching