Be Strong in Grace

¹You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.[#2:1 Gl 1:6; 2Pt 3:18]

²What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.[#2:2 2Tm 1:13; #2:2 Nm 12:7; #2:2 Or faithful people]

³Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.[#2:3 1Tm 1:18]

⁴No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.

⁵Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

⁶The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.[#2:6 1Co 9:10]

⁷Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and descended from David, according to my gospel,[#2:8 Mt 17:9; Jn 21:14]

⁹for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound.

¹⁰This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.[#2:10 Jms 1:12; #2:10 Mt 24:22; #2:10 Lk 9:32; 24:26; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18; 1Pt 5:1,4; 2Pt 3:18]

¹¹This saying is trustworthy:[#2:11 1Tm 1:15; 3:1; 4:9; Ti 3:8]

An Approved Worker

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to fight about words. This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen.[#2:14 Other mss read before the Lord; #2:14 1Tm 6:4]

¹⁵Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.[#2:15 Eph 1:13; Col 1:5; Jms 1:18]

¹⁶Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,[#2:16 Jd 18]

¹⁷and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them.[#2:17 1Tm 1:20]

¹⁸They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are ruining the faith of some.[#2:18 Ac 17:32; 1Co 15:12–17; 2Th 2:1–2; #2:18 1Tm 1:19; 6:21]

¹⁹Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription: The Lord knows those who are his, , and let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.[#2:19 Jos 23:7; Est 9:4; Is 26:13; Rm 15:20; Eph 1:21; #2:19 Nm 16:5; #2:19 Nm 16:5; Pr 2:6; Jn 10:14,27; 1Co 8:3; #2:19 Ac 15:14; #2:19 Lit everyone who names the name of; #2:19 Lv 24:11,16; Nm 16:26–27; Jos 23:7; Ps 6:9; 33:15; Pr 3:7; Is 26:13; 52:11; Jr 20:9]

²⁰Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honourable use and some for dishonourable. ,[#2:20 Rm 9:21; #2:20 Or special; #2:20 Or ordinary; #2:20 Rm 9:21]

²¹So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonourable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.[#2:21 Lit from these; #2:21 Or an honourable; #2:21 2Co 9:8; Gl 3:10; 1Tm 5:10]

²²Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.[#2:22 1Tm 4:12; 6:11; Jms 4:7; #2:22 Lk 12:51; 2Tm 1:2; Heb 12:14; 3Jn 14; #2:22 Gn 13:4]

²³But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels.

²⁴The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient,[#2:24 Rv 11:8; #2:24 Jn 6:52; Ac 7:26; Jms 4:2; #2:24 Or everyone, skilful in teaching]

²⁵instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.[#2:25 Jms 3:13; #2:25 Ac 26:20; Rm 2:4; 2Co 7:9–10]

²⁶Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.[#2:26 1Tm 3:7; #2:26 Jn 1:13]