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

You sy, then oun, my egō child teknon, be strengthened endynamoō by en the ho grace charis that ho is in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous, and kai what hos you have heard akouō from para me egō in dia the presence of many polys witnesses martys, entrust paratithēmi these things houtos to faithful pistos men anthrōpos, who hostis will eimi also kai be eimi able hikanos to teach didaskō others heteros. Share in suffering synkakopatheō as hōs a good kalos soldier stratiōtēs of Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous. No one oudeis serving in the military gets entangled emplekō in the ho affairs pragmateia of ho daily life bios so that hina he pleases areskō the ho one who enlisted stratologeō him. Likewise kai, if ean · de anyone tis competes as an athlete athleō, he does not ou receive a wreath stephanoō unless ean mē he competes athleō lawfully nomimōs. The ho hardworking kopiaō farmer geōrgos must dei be the first prōton to receive metalambanō the ho fruit karpos. Reflect on noeō what hos I am saying legō, for gar the ho Lord kyrios will give didōmi you sy insight synesis in en all pas this.

Remember mnēmoneuō Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos, risen egeirō from ek the dead nekros, from ek the seed sperma of David Dauid, in accordance with kata · ho my egō gospel euangelion, because of en which hos I am suffering kakopatheō evil even mechri to the point of imprisonment desmos as hōs a serious criminal kakourgos, but alla the ho word logos of ho God theos is not ou bound deō. 10 On account of dia this houtos I am enduring hypomenō all things pas for the sake of dia the ho elect eklektos, that hina they autos also kai may experience tynchanō the salvation sōtēria that ho is in en Christ Christos Jesus Iēsous with meta eternal aiōnios glory doxa. 11 Trustworthy pistos is the ho saying logos, for gar: “ If ei we died together synapothnēskō, we will also kai live together syzaō. 12 If ei we endure hypomenō, we will also kai reign together symbasileuō. If ei we will deny arneomai Christ, he kakeinos will also deny arneomai us hēmeis. 13 If ei we are faithless apisteō, he ekeinos remains menō faithful pistos, for gar he is dynamai not ou able dynamai to deny arneomai himself heautou.”

14 Remind hypomimnēskō them of these things houtos, solemnly charging diamartyromai them before enōpion · ho God theos not to continue fighting logomacheō about words , which results in epi nothing oudeis beneficial chrēsimos but only in epi the ruin katastrophē of those ho listening akouō. 15 Be diligent spoudazō to present paristēmi yourself seautou before ho God theos as one tried and true dokimos, an unashamed anepaischuntos worker ergatēs, correctly handling orthotomeō the ho word logos of ho truth alētheia. 16 But de shun periistēmi the ho unholy bebēlos chatter kenophōnia, for gar they will advance prokoptō into epi greater polys ungodliness asebeia 17 and kai · ho their autos talk logos will spread nomē like hōs gangrene gangraina, among whom hos are eimi Hymenaeus Hymenaios and kai Philetus Philētos, 18 who hostis have swerved astocheō from peri the ho truth alētheia, saying legō the ho resurrection anastasis has already ēdē occurred ginomai, and kai they are upsetting anatrepō the ho faith pistis of some tis. 19 Nevertheless mentoi, the ho firm stereos foundation themelios of ho God theos stands firm histēmi, having echō · ho this houtos seal sphragis, “The Lord kyrios knew ginōskō those ho who were eimi his autos,” and kai, “ Let everyone pas naming onomazō the ho name onoma of kyrios the Lord kyrios depart aphistēmi from apo unrighteousness adikia.” · ho

20 And de in en a large megas house oikia there are eimi not ou only monon vessels skeuos of gold chrysous and kai silver argyrous but alla also kai of wood xylinos and kai clay ostrakinos, that is kai, some hos for eis honor timē and de others hos for eis dishonor atimia. 21 If ean, therefore oun, someone tis cleanses ekkathairō himself heautou from apo these things houtos, that person will be eimi a vessel skeuos for eis honor timē, having been sanctified hagiazō, useful euchrēstos to the ho master despotēs, prepared hetoimazō for eis every pas good ergon work agathos.

22 · ho So de flee pheugō youthful neōterikos passions epithumia and de pursue diōkō righteousness dikaiosynē, faith pistis, love agapē, peace eirēnē, with meta those ho who call upon epikaleō the ho Lord kyrios out of ek a clean katharos heart kardia. 23 But de avoid paraiteomai the ho foolish mōros and kai uneducated apaideutos speculations zētēsis, knowing oida that hoti they breed gennaō quarrels machē. 24 But de it is necessary dei that a servant of the Lord kyrios not ou be quarrelsome machomai but alla be eimi gentle ēpios to pros all pas, skilled in teaching didaktikos, patient anexikakos even in the midst of evil , 25 in en meekness prautēs instructing paideuō those ho who oppose antidiatithēmi you, if perhaps mēpote God theos might grant didōmi them autos · ho repentance metanoia leading to eis a knowledge epignōsis of the truth alētheia, 26 and kai they might return ananēphō to soberness out of ek the ho snare pagis of the ho devil diabolos ( having been captured alive zōgreō by hypo him autos) in order to eis do · ho his ekeinos will thelēma.