2 Timothy 2:14–26

A Worker Approved by God

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and ^ycharge them before God^{2 z}not to quarrel about words, ^awhich does no good, but only ruins the hearers. ¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,³ a worker ^bwho has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. ¹⁶But ^cavoid ^dirreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, ¹⁷and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are ^eHymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸who have swerved from the truth, ^fsaying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. ¹⁹But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ^g“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone ^hwho names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

²⁰Now in ⁱa great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, ^jsome for honorable use, some for dishonorable. ²¹Therefore, ^kif anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,⁴ he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ^lready for every good work.

²²So ^mflee ⁿyouthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with ^othose who call on the Lord ^pfrom a pure heart. ²³Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^qcontroversies; you know that they breed quarrels. ²⁴And ^rthe Lord’s servant⁵ must not be quarrelsome but ^skind to everyone, ^table to teach, patiently enduring evil, ²⁵correcting his opponents ^uwith gentleness. God ^vmay perhaps grant them repentance ^wleading to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶and they may come to their senses and escape from ^xthe snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.