Thou therefore, ^amy son, ^bbe strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things ^cthat thou hast heard of me ^||among many witnesses, the same ^d^ecommit thou to ^ffaithful men, who shall be ^gable to teach others also. ³Thou therefore ^hendure hardness, as ⁱa good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴No ^jman that warreth ^kentangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. ⁵And ^lif a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not ^llcrowned, except he strive lawfully.

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2 Timothy 2:3–4: Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

Footnotes

a 1 Tim. 1:2. So ch. 1:2.
cch. 1:13. & 3:10, 14.
||Or, by. Gk. as Rom. 5:5. Eph. 3:16.
eSee John 20:21. Comp. Tit. 1:5.
fSee 1 Cor. 4:2.
gSo Tit. 1:9. See ver. 24.
hch. 4:5. So ch. 1:8. Comp. ver. 9 (Gk.).
iSee 1 Tim. 1:18.
jComp. 1 Cor. 9:7.
lSo 1 Cor. 9:25, 26.
llComp. ch. 4:8.

Cross references

Public Domain

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

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

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

NLTNew Living Translation

Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also. Suffer together with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. And also if anyone competes he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.