2 Timothy 2

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

1 You then a my child b be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and c what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses d entrust to faithful men ▼
▼ The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context
 f who will be able to teach others also. 3  g Share in suffering as h a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier i gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5  j An athlete is not k crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is l the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ m risen from the dead, the n offspring of David o as preached in my gospel, 9  p for which I am suffering q bound with chains as a criminal. But r the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore s I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain t the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with u eternal glory. 11 The saying is v trustworthy, for:

w If we have died with him, we will also x live with him;
 12  y if we endure, we will also reign with him;
z if we deny him, he also will deny us;
 13  aa if we are faithless ab he remains faithful—

for ac he cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and ad charge them before God ▼
▼ Some manuscripts the Lord
 af not to quarrel about words ag which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, ▼
▼ That is,  one approved after being tested
 a worker ai who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But aj avoid ak irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are al Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth am saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: an “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone ao who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in ap a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay aq some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore ar if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable ▼
▼ Greek  from these things
 he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house at ready for every good work.

22 So au flee av youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with aw those who call on the Lord ax from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ay controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And az the Lord’s servant ▼
▼ Greek bondservant
 must not be quarrelsome but bb kind to everyone bc able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents bd with gentleness. God be may perhaps grant them repentance bf leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from bg the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

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