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

You, therefore, beni, be empowered in the Chen v’Chesed which is in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

And what things you heard from me through edim rabbim, these things commit to anashim ne’emanim (faithful men) of zrizus (reliability) who will be qualified rabbinic morim to teach others also.

Take your place in suffering as a chaiyal tov (good soldier) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua.

No one on duty as a chaiyal is entangled with the everyday chiloni (secular) affairs of inactive duty, in order that he may please the One who has enlisted him.

And no participant in an athletic tacharut (competition) is crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

It is the hard working ikkar (farmer) who ought to have the rishonah mipri ha’adamah (the first share from the harvest of the earth).

Let your hitbonenut be on what I say, for Hashem will give to you binah in all things.

Remember Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua, of the zera Dovid, and remember the Techiyas HaMoshiach, according to my Besuras HaGeulah,

For which I suffer as if I were an evil-doer, even to the point of the bais hasohar’s bonds, but the Dvar Hashem has no bonds.

10 Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the Bechirim (the Chosen ones), in order that they also may obtain the Yeshu’at HaEloheinu in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua with kavod olamim.

11 Trustworthy is Hashem, for if we died [to the Olam Hazeh] with Him, also we will live [in the Olam Habah] with Him.

12 If we endure, we also will reign with Him; if we will deny Him, He also will deny us.

13 If we are not ne’emanim (faithful), He remains ne’eman (faithful), for to deny Himself, He is not able.

14 Remind them of these things, solemnly warning them in the presence of Hashem not to be engaged in disputes over devarim, which is not beneficial, but only ruins the hearers.

15 Do your best to shtel zich (apply yourself), to present yourself to Hashem as one approved, a po’el (workman) without bushah (shame), keeping on a derech yashar the Dvar HaEmes.

16 But profane chatter bereft of kedushah, avoid, for such will advance that which is frai (irreligious).

17 Their lashon hora will spread like gangrene, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18 Who concerning HaEmes missed the mark, teaching that the Techiyas HaMesim has already occurred. They are overthrowing the emunah of some.

19 Al kol panim (nevertheless), the solid yesod of Hashem stands firm and zicher (certain), having this seal: V’YODA’ Hashem ES ASHER LO ("Hashem KNOWS THE ONES WHO ARE HIS" BAMIDBAR 16:5); and let everyone who names the name of Hashem depart from avel (iniquity, gross injustice).

20 In a bais gadol, there are not only k’lei (vessels) of gold and silver but also those wooden ones and earthen ones: some, for honorable use; others, for dishonorable use.

21 If anyone makes himself tahor from these things he will be a k’li vessel for honorable use, having been set aside as kodesh, useful to HaAdon, ready for every ma’aseh tov.

22 But flee from the ta’avot hane’urim (lusts of youth TEHILLIM 25:7) and pursue tzedek, emunah, ahavah, and shalom with the ones calling on Adoneinu out of a lev tahor.

23 But speculations characterized by narrishkait and lacking da’as—such refuse, knowing that they produce fights.

24 And an eved Hashem ought not be a Ba’al Machlokes (quarrelsome person), but ought to be eidel (gentle, courteous) to all, a skilled rabbinic moreh, savlan (patient),

25 Correcting the mitnaggedim (opponents) in anavat ruach (a spirit of meekness), in the tikvah that Hashem may efsher (perhaps) grant them teshuva, resulting in da’as HaEmes,

26 And that they may come to their senses, escaping the pakh (trap) of Hasatan, after having been captured by him to do his will.