2 Timothy 2
Revised Geneva Translation
2 Therefore you, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things you have heard from me among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also.
3 You, therefore, suffer affliction as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No one who serves as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, because he wants to please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he has competed lawfully.
6 The farmer must labor before he receives the fruits.
7 Consider what I say. May the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ - of the seed of David - was raised again from the dead according to my Gospel,
9 in which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even unto bonds. But the Word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore, I suffer all things for the elect’s sake, so that they might also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal Glory.
11 This is a true saying: “For if we are dead together with Him, we also shall live together with Him.
12 “If we suffer, we shall also reign together with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.
13 “If we do not believe, He still remains faithful. He cannot deny Himself.”
14 Remind them of these things. And testify before the Lord that they do not strive about words (which is of no use, except for the subversion of the hearers).
15 Be eager to present yourself to God approved; a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
16 But stay away from godless and empty babblings. For they shall increase to more ungodliness.
17 And their word shall grow like gangrene. Of which sort is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 who, as concerning the truth, have erred from the mark; saying that the resurrection has already passed, destroying the faith of some.
19 But the foundation of God remains sure, as has this seal: “The Lord knows who are His,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
20 But, in a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some for honor, and some for dishonor.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these, he shall be a vessel for honor; sanctified and useful to the Lord, having been prepared for every good work.
22 Also, flee from the lusts of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart).
23 And put away foolish and uneducated questions, knowing that they beget strife.
24 The servant of the Lord must not strive, but must be gentle toward all, able to teach, forbearing;
25 disciplining those who oppose with humility, in case God might give them repentance at any time so that they may acknowledge the Truth
26 and repent out of that snare of the devil (of whom they have been taken prisoner), to do His will.
2 Timothy 2
King James Version
2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 2
J.B. Phillips New Testament
Above all things be faithful
2 1-2 So, my son, be strong in the grace that Jesus Christ gives. Everything that you have heard me preach in public you should in turn entrust to reliable men, who will be able to pass it on to others.
3-7 Put up with your share of hardship as a loyal soldier in Christ’s army. Remember: 1) That no soldier on active service gets himself entangled in business, or he will not please his commanding officer. 2) A man who enters an athletic contest wins no prize unless he keeps the rules laid down. 3) Only the man who works on the land has the right to the first share of its produce. Consider these three illustrations of mine and the Lord will help you to understand all that I mean.
8-13 Remember always, as the centre of everything, Jesus Christ, a man of human ancestry, yet raised by God from the dead according to my Gospel. For preaching this I am having to endure being chained in prison as if I were some sort of a criminal. But they cannot chain the Word of God, and I can endure all these things for the sake of those whom God is calling, so that they too may receive the salvation of Jesus Christ, and its complement of glory after the world of time. I rely on this saying: If we died with him we shall also live with him: if we suffer with him we shall also reign with him. If we deny him he will also deny us: yet if we are faithless he always remains faithful. He cannot deny his own nature.
Hold fast to the true: avoid dangerous error
14 Remind your people of things like this, and tell them as before God not to fight wordy battles, which help no one and may undermine the faith of some who hear them.
15 For yourself, concentrate on winning God’s approval, on being a workman with nothing to be ashamed of, and who knows how to use the word of truth to the best advantage.
16-18 But steer clear of these unchristian babblings, which in practice lead further and further away from Christian living. False teachings are as dangerous as blood-poisoning to the body, and spread like sepsis from a wound. Hymenaeus and Philetus are responsible for this sort of thing, and they are men who are palpable traitors to the truth, for they say that the resurrection has already occurred and, of course, badly upset some people’s faith.
19-21 God’s solid foundation still stands, however, with this double inscription: ‘the Lord knows those who belong to him’, and Let every true Christian have no dealing with evil. In any big household there are naturally not only gold and silver vessels but wooden and earthenware ones as well. Some are used for the highest purposes and some for the lowest. If a man keeps himself clean from the contaminations of evil he will be a vessel used for honourable purposes, clean and serviceable for the use of the master of the household, all ready, in fact, for any good purpose.
Be positively good—and patient
22-23 Turn your back on the turbulent desires of youth and give your positive attention to goodness, faith, love and peace in company with all those who approach God in sincerity. But have nothing to do with silly and ill-informed controversies which lead inevitably, as you know, to strife.
24-26 And the Lord’s servant must not be a man of strife: he must be kind to all, ready and able to teach: he must have patience and the ability gently to correct those who oppose his message. He must always bear in mind the possibility that God will give them a different outlook, and that they may come to know the truth. They may come to their senses and be rescued from the power of the devil by the servant of the Lord and set to work for God’s purposes.
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The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Used by Permission.