2 Timothy 2

BE STRONG IN GRACE

2You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace^al that is in Christ Jesus. ²What you have heard from me^am in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful^an men^A who will be able to teach others also.

³Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.^{ao 4}No 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 hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.^{ap 7}Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead^aq and descended from David, according to my gospel, 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^ar all things for the elect:^as so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.^{at 11}This saying is trustworthy:^au

For if we died with him,^av

we will also live with him;

¹²if we endure, we will also reign^aw with him;

if we deny him, he will also deny us;

¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful,

for he cannot deny himself.

AN APPROVED WORKER

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and charge them before God^B not to fight about words.^a This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. 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.^{b 16}Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,^{c 17}and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus^d and Philetus are among them. ¹⁸They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,^e and are ruining the faith of some.^{f 19}Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription:^g The Lord knows those who are his,^Ch and let everyone who calls on the nameⁱ of^D the Lord turn away from wickedness.^j

²⁰Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels,^k but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable^E use and some for dishonorable.^{Fl 21}So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable,^G he will be a special^H instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.^m

²²Fleeⁿ from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,^o along with those who call on the Lord^p from a pure heart. ²³But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴The Lord’s^q servant must not quarrel,^r but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,^I and patient, ²⁵instructing his opponents with gentleness.^s Perhaps God will grant them repentance^t leading them to the knowledge of the truth. ²⁶Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil,^u who has taken them captive to do his will.^v