2 Timothy 2:1–19

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