2 Timothy 2

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,[#1:2; #Eph. 6:10]

2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.[#1:13; #1 Tim. 1:18; #2:2 The Greek word can refer to both men and women, depending on the context; #Titus 1:5]

3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.[#1:8; 4:5; #1 Tim. 1:18]

4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.[#2 Pet. 2:20]

5An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.[#1 Cor. 9:25; #4:8]

6It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.[#1 Cor. 9:10; Heb. 6:7]

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

8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,[#1 Cor. 15:20; #Matt. 1:1; #Rom. 2:16]

9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound![#1:8, 12; #Phil. 1:7; #4:17]

10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.[#Eph. 3:13; Col. 1:24; 1 Cor. 13:7; #2 Cor. 1:6; #1 Pet. 5:10]

11The saying is trustworthy, for:[#1 Tim. 1:15]

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12if we endure, we will also reign with him;[#2 Thess. 1:4, 5]

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13if we are faithless, he remains faithful—[#Rom. 3:3; #1 Cor. 1:9]

for he cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God

14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.[#1 Tim. 5:21; 6:13; #2:14 Some manuscripts; #1 Tim. 6:4; 23; #Titus 3:9]

15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.[#2:15 That is, one approved after being tested; #Phil. 1:20]

16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,[#Titus 3:9; #1 Tim. 6:20]

17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,[#1 Tim. 1:20]

18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.[#1 Cor. 15:12]

19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”[#Num. 16:5; Nah. 1:7; John 10:14, 27; Luke 13:27; #Isa. 26:13]

20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.[#1 Tim. 3:15; #Rom. 9:21]

21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.[#Prov. 25:4; Isa. 52:11; #2:21 Greek; #3:17; Titus 3:1; 1 Tim. 5:10]

22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.[#1 Tim. 6:11; #1 Tim. 4:12; #Acts 7:59; 9:14; #1 Tim. 1:5]

23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.[#1 Tim. 6:4]

24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,[#1 Tim. 3:3; #2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word , see Preface; #1 Thess. 2:7; #1 Tim. 3:2]

25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,[#Gal. 6:1; Titus 3:2; 1 Tim. 6:11; 1 Pet. 3:15; #Dan. 4:27; Acts 8:22; Acts 5:31; #1 Tim. 2:4]

26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.[#1 Tim. 3:7]

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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