2 Timothy 2:14-19

Expanded Bible

A Worker Pleasing to God

¹⁴ ·Continue teaching [^LRemind them of] these things, ·warning people [^Lsolemnly testifying/declaring] in God’s presence not to ·argue [quarrel] about words. It ·does not help anyone [is good for nothing], and it ruins those who listen. ¹⁵ ·Make every effort [Do your best; Be diligent] to ·give [present] yourself to God as the kind of person he will approve. Be a worker who ·is not ashamed [or will not be shamed] and who ·uses the true teaching in the right way [correctly handles the true message/word of truth; or holds carefully to the true message/word of truth]. ¹⁶ Stay away from ·foolish, useless talk [godless/irreverent chatter; 1 Tim. 1:3–4; 4:7; 6:20], because that will lead people ·further away from God [into even more ungodliness]. ¹⁷ Their evil teaching will spread like ·a sickness inside the body [^Lgangrene]. Hymenaeus [1 Tim. 1:20] and Philetus are like that [^Cprobably false teachers and opponents of Paul from Ephesus]. ¹⁸ They have ·left [strayed away from] the ·true teaching [truth], saying that the ·rising from the dead [resurrection] has already taken place, and so they are ·destroying [undermining; overturning] the faith of some people. ¹⁹ But God’s strong foundation continues to stand, ·sealed [inscribed; engraved] with these words: “The Lord knows those who belong to him [Num. 16:5],” and “Everyone who ·wants to belong to [^Lnames the name of] the Lord must ·stop doing wrong [^Lturn away from wickedess/injustice].”