Teach Sound Doctrine

2 But as for you, teach what accords with ^(A)sound^[a] doctrine. ² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, ^(B)sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ^3 (C)Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, ^(D)not slanderers ^(E)or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, ^(F)pure, ^(G)working at home, kind, and ^(H)submissive to their own husbands, ^(I)that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge ^(J)the younger men to be self-controlled. ⁷ Show yourself in all respects to be ^(K)a model of good works, and in your teaching ^(L)show integrity, ^(M)dignity, ⁸ and ^(N)sound speech that cannot be condemned, ^(O)so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. ^9 (P)Bondservants^[b] are to be submissive to their own masters ^(Q)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, ^(R)but showing all good faith, ^(S)so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

¹¹ For ^(T)the grace of God ^(U)has appeared, bringing salvation ^(V)for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and ^(W)worldly passions, and ^(X)to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in ^(Y)the present age, ^13 (Z)waiting for our blessed ^(AA)hope, the ^(AB)appearing of the glory of our great ^(AC)God and Savior Jesus Christ, ^14 (AD)who gave himself for us to ^(AE)redeem us from all lawlessness and ^(AF)to purify for himself ^(AG)a people for his own possession who are ^(AH)zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and ^(AI)rebuke with all authority. ^(AJ)Let no one disregard you.

A Worker Approved by God

¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and ^(A)charge them before God^{[a] (B)}not to quarrel about words, ^(C)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,^[b] a worker ^(D)who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. ¹⁶ But ^(E)avoid ^(F)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are ^(G)Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ who have swerved from the truth, ^(H)saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. ¹⁹ But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ^(I)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone ^(J)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

²⁰ Now in ^(K)a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, ^(L)some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. ²¹ Therefore, ^(M)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,^[c] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ^(N)ready for every good work.

²² So ^(O)flee ^(P)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with ^(Q)those who call on the Lord ^(R)from a pure heart. ²³ Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^(S)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴ And ^(T)the Lord's servant^[d] must not be quarrelsome but ^(U)kind to everyone, ^(V)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵ correcting his opponents ^(W)with gentleness. God ^(X)may perhaps grant them repentance ^(Y)leading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from ^(Z)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Preach the Word

4 ^(A)I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, ^(B)who is to judge the living and the dead, and by ^(C)his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; ^(D)reprove, rebuke, and ^(E)exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ^3 (F)For the time is coming when people will not endure ^(G)sound^[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and ^(H)will turn away from listening to the truth and ^(I)wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, ^(J)always be sober-minded, ^(K)endure suffering, do the work of ^(L)an evangelist, ^(M)fulfill your ministry.

⁶ For ^(N)I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my ^(O)departure has come. ^7 (P)I have fought the good fight, ^(Q)I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is ^(R)laid up for me ^(S)the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, ^(T)the righteous judge, will award to me on ^(U)that day, and not only to me but also to all ^(V)who have loved his appearing.