2 Timothy 2
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Become Strong In Grace, My Child, And Suffer Hardship With Me Like a Good Soldier
2 Therefore you, my child, become-strong in[a] the grace in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things which you heard from me through many witnesses, these things deposit[b] with faithful people who will be competent[c] to teach others also. 3 Suffer-hardship with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Consider the Soldier, Athlete And Farmer
4 No one while serving-as-a-soldier entangles himself in the affairs of life, in order that he may please the one having enlisted him. 5 And also if one competes [in an athletic contest], he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully. 6 The laboring farmer must[d] be first to receive-a-share of the fruits. 7 Be considering what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Remember Jesus Christ And The Gospel For Which I Am Imprisoned
8 Be remembering Jesus Christ having been raised from the dead, from the seed of David, according to my good-news— 9 in connection with which[e] I am suffering-hardship to the point of imprisonment like a criminal. Nevertheless the Word of God has not been bound[f]! 10 For this reason, I am enduring all things for the sake of the chosen ones, in order that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
If We Endure, We Will Reign With Him. He Will Be Faithful To Us
11 The saying is trustworthy— for if we died-with Him, we will also live-with Him; 12 if we are enduring, we will also reign-with Him; if we shall deny Him, that One also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless[g], that One remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 14 Be reminding them of these things, solemnly-warning in the sight of God not to battle-about-words for nothing useful[h], to[i] the overthrow[j] of the ones hearing.
Be Diligent To Present Yourself As an Approved Worker of The Word of Truth
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker not-needing-to-be-ashamed, cutting-straight[k] the word of truth.
Shun Worthless Talk. Be an Honorable, Useful Vessel Prepared For Good Works
16 But be shunning the profane[l] empty-chatterings. For they[m] will advance further in ungodliness, 17 and their talk[n] will have a spreading like gangrene— of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who missed-the-mark with regard to the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning[o] the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal— “The Lord knows the ones being His” and “Let everyone naming the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness”. 20 Now in a large house there are not only golden and silver vessels, but also wooden and made-of-clay— even some for honor and others for dishonor. 21 If then one cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor— having been sanctified[p], useful to the Master, having been prepared for every good work.
Flee Youthful Desires. Pursue Righteousness, Faith, Love And Peace
22 And be fleeing the youthful desires, and be pursuing righteousness, faith, love, peace, with the ones calling-upon the Lord from a pure heart.
Decline Foolish Controversies. Be Kind, Skillful At Teaching, Gentle At Correcting
23 And be declining the foolish and ignorant controversies, knowing that they breed battles. 24 And a slave of the Lord must not battle, but must be kind to everyone, skillful-at-teaching, forbearing[q], 25 correcting the ones opposing with gentleness, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading-to the knowledge of the truth 26 and they may return-to-their-senses from the snare of the devil, having been caught[r] by him, for the will of that one[s].
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:1 Or, by.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 Or, entrust to.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 Or, fit, adequate, worthy, able.
- 2 Timothy 2:6 Or, has to, ought to. Lit, It is necessary that the laboring farmer be first.
- 2 Timothy 2:9 Or, Whom.
- 2 Timothy 2:9 That is, imprisoned.
- 2 Timothy 2:13 Or, without faith, unfaithful, unbelieving.
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Or, beneficial, profitable. That is, for no useful purpose, goal, result.
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Or, tending toward, resulting in.
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Or, ruin, destruction.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, cutting true, accurately handling, as a skilled worker (a stonecutter, a farmer, a roadbuilder) would perform their job.
- 2 Timothy 2:16 Or, godless, irreverent, worldly.
- 2 Timothy 2:16 That is, those who engage in this profane chattering.
- 2 Timothy 2:17 Or, word, message.
- 2 Timothy 2:18 Or, upsetting.
- 2 Timothy 2:21 Or, made holy, set apart.
- 2 Timothy 2:24 That is, bearing evil against oneself without resentment.
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Or, captured-alive.
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Or, that One.
2 Timothy 2
Easy-to-Read Version
A Loyal Soldier of Christ Jesus
2 Timothy, you are a son to me. Be strong in the grace that we have because we belong to Christ Jesus. 2 What you have heard me teach publicly you should teach to others. Share these teachings with people you can trust. Then they will be able to teach others these same things. 3 As a good soldier of Christ Jesus, accept your share of the troubles we have. 4 A soldier wants to please his commanding officer, so he does not spend any time on activities that are not a part of his duty. 5 Athletes in a race must obey all the rules to win. 6 The farmer who works hard deserves the first part of the harvest. 7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand it all.
8 Remember Jesus Christ. He is from the family of David. After Jesus died, he was raised from death. This is the Good News that I tell people. 9 And because I tell that message, I am suffering. I am even bound with chains like someone who has really done wrong. But God’s message is not bound. 10 So I patiently accept all these troubles. I do this to help the people God has chosen so that they can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. With this salvation comes glory that never ends.
11 Here is a true statement:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him.
12 If we remain faithful even in suffering,
we will also rule with him.
If we refuse to say we know him,
he will refuse to say he knows us.
13 If we are not faithful,
he will still be faithful,
because he cannot be false to himself.
A Worker Who Pleases God
14 Keep on telling everyone these truths. And warn them before God not to argue about words. Such arguments don’t help anyone, and they ruin those who listen to them. 15 Do your best to be the kind of person God will accept, and give yourself to him. Be a worker who has no reason to be ashamed of his work, one who applies the true teaching in the right way.
16 Stay away from people who talk about useless things that are not from God. That kind of talk will lead a person more and more against God. 17 Their evil teaching will spread like a sickness inside the body. Hymenaeus and Philetus are men like that. 18 They have left the true teaching. They say that the day when people will be raised from death has already come and gone. And they are destroying the faith of some people.
19 But God’s strong foundation never moves, and these words are written on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him.”[a] Also, these words are written there: “Everyone who says they believe in the Lord must stop doing wrong.”
20 In a large house there are things made of gold and silver. But there are also things made of wood and clay. Some of these are used for special purposes, others for ordinary jobs. 21 The Lord wants to use you for special purposes, so make yourself clean from all evil. Then you will be holy, and the Master can use you. You will be ready for any good work.
22 Stay away from the evil things a young person like you typically wants to do. Do your best to live right and to have faith, love, and peace, together with others who trust in the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments. You know that these arguments grow into bigger arguments. 24 As a servant of the Lord, you must not argue. You must be kind to everyone. You must be a good teacher, and you must be patient. 25 You must gently teach those who don’t agree with you. Maybe God will let them change their hearts so that they can accept the truth. 26 The devil has trapped them and now makes them do what he wants. But maybe they can wake up to see what is happening and free themselves from the devil’s trap.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:19
Quote from Num. 16:5.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International