2 Timothy 2:1-10

EasyEnglish Bible

A good soldier for Christ

2 Timothy, you are like my own child. Let God make you strong. He is kind, so trust him to help you, because you belong to Christ Jesus. ² You have heard the message that I have taught. Many other people also heard it and they agree that it is true. Now you must tell the same message to other people who will be able to teach it to even more people. They should be people that you can trust as honest people and who can teach well.

³ Be patient through the troubles that we Christians have. Be brave and strong, like a good soldier for Christ Jesus. ⁴ Any soldier who fights in a war does not become busy with other things. He only wants to fight well to make his captain happy. ⁵ It is the same with an athlete who runs a race.^[a] He cannot win the race unless he obeys the rules. ⁶ A farmer works hard to grow plants for food. So he should be the first person to receive some of that food. ⁷ Think carefully about what I am saying to you. The Lord will help you to understand all these things.

⁸ Jesus Christ is a descendant of King David.^[b] God caused him to become alive again after his death. Remember that! These facts are part of the good news that I tell people. ⁹ And I have many troubles because I tell that good news to people. They have even put me in a prison, like someone who has done something bad. But nobody can keep God's message in a prison!

¹⁰ So I continue to be patient and brave during all these troubles. I do that so that I can help the people that God has chosen to belong to him. I want God to save them too, because of what Christ Jesus has done for them. As a result, they will live with God for ever, in the beautiful place where he lives.