2 Timothy 2
2
Paul Again Encourages Timothy to Be Faithful
1My son, be strong in the grace that is yours in Christ Jesus. 2You have heard me teach in front of many witnesses. Pass on to people you can trust the things you’ve heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others also. 3Like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, join with me in suffering. 4A soldier does not take part in things that don’t have anything to do with the army. Instead, he tries to please his commanding officer. 5It is the same for anyone who takes part in a sport. They don’t receive the winner’s crown unless they play by the rules. 6The farmer who works hard should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Think about what I’m saying. The Lord will help you understand what all of it means.
8Remember Jesus Christ. He came from David’s family line. He was raised from the dead. That is my good news. 9I am suffering for it. I have even been put in chains like someone who has committed a crime. But God’s word is not held back by chains. 10So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever.
11Here is a saying you can trust.
If we died with him,
we will also live with him.
12If we don’t give up,
we will also rule with him.
If we say we don’t know him,
he will also say he doesn’t know us.
13Even if we are not faithful,
he remains faithful.
He must be true to himself.
What to Do About False Teachers
14Keep reminding God’s people of these things. While God is watching, warn them not to argue about words. That doesn’t have any value. It only destroys those who listen. 15Do your best to please God. Be a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed. Teach the message of truth correctly. 16Stay away from godless chatter. Those who take part in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like a deadly sickness. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two of those teachers. 18They have turned away from the truth. They say that the time when people will rise from the dead has already come. They destroy the faith of some people. 19But God’s solid foundation stands firm. Here is the message written on it. “The Lord knows who his own people are.” (Numbers 16:5) Also, “All who say they believe in the Lord must turn away from evil.”
20In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have special purposes. Others have common purposes. 21Suppose someone stays away from what is common. Then the Master will be able to use them for special purposes. They will be made holy. They will be ready to do any good work.
22Run away from the evil things that young people long for. Try hard to do what is right. Have faith, love and peace. Do these things together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23Don’t have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights. 24Anyone who serves the Lord must not be hard to get along with. Instead, they must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach. The one who serves must not hold anything against anyone. 25They must gently teach those who are against them. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth. 26Maybe they will come to their senses. Maybe they will escape the devil’s trap. He has taken them as prisoners to do what he wanted.
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2 Timothy 2: NIrV
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2 Timothy 2
2
Timothy’s Conduct. 1#This passage manifests a characteristic deep concern for safeguarding the faith and faithfully transmitting it through trustworthy people (2 Tm 2:1–2; cf. 2 Tm 1:14; 1 Tm 6:20; Ti 1:9). Comparisons to the soldier’s detachment, the athlete’s sportsmanship, and the farmer’s arduous work as the price of recompense (2 Tm 2:4–6) emphasize the need of singleness of purpose in preaching the word, even at the cost of hardship, for the sake of Christ (2 Tm 2:3).So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well. 3Bear your share of hardship along with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.#1:8; 4:5; Phlm 2. 4To satisfy the one who recruited him, a soldier does not become entangled in the business affairs of life.#1 Cor 9:6. 5Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner’s crown except by competing according to the rules.#1 Cor 9:25. 6The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crop.#1 Cor 9:7–10. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.#Prv 2:6.
8#The section begins with a sloganlike summary of Paul’s gospel about Christ (2 Tm 2:8) and concludes with what may be part of an early Christian hymn (2 Tm 2:11b–12a; most exegetes include the rest of 2 Tm 2:12 and all of 2 Tm 2:13 as part of the quotation). The poetic lines suggest that through baptism Christians die spiritually with Christ and hope to live with him and reign with him forever, but the Christian life includes endurance, witness, and even suffering, as the final judgment will show and as Paul’s own case makes clear; while he is imprisoned for preaching the gospel (2 Tm 2:9), his sufferings are helpful to the elect for obtaining the salvation and glory available in Christ (2 Tm 2:10), who will be true to those who are faithful and will disown those who deny him (2 Tm 2:12–13).Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my gospel,#Rom 1:3; 1 Cor 15:4, 20 / Rom 2:16; Gal 1:11; 2:2. 9for which I am suffering, even to the point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.#Phil 1:12–14. 10Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory.#Col 1:24; 1 Tm 1:15. 11This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;#Rom 6:8.
12if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.#Mt 10:22, 33; Lk 12:9.
13If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.#Nm 23:19; Rom 3:3–4; 1 Cor 10:13; Ti 1:2.
III. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING FALSE TEACHING
Warning Against Useless Disputes. 14#For those who dispute about mere words (cf. 2 Tm 2:23–24) and indulge in irreligious talk to the detriment of their listeners (2 Tm 2:16–19), see notes on 1 Tm 1:3–7; 6:20–21. Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Tm 2:17), while accepting the Christian’s mystical death and resurrection in Christ through baptism, claimed that baptized Christians are already risen with Christ in this life and thus that there is no future bodily resurrection or eternal glory to come. The first quotation in 2 Tm 2:19 is from Nm 16:5; the other quotation is from some unidentified Jewish or Christian writing.Remind people of these things and charge them before God#Before God: many ancient manuscripts read “before the Lord.” to stop disputing about words. This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.#1 Tm 6:4. 15Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation.#1:8; 2 Cor 6:7; Eph 1:13; Col 1:5. 16Avoid profane, idle talk, for such people will become more and more godless,#1 Tm 4:7. 17and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,#1 Tm 1:20. 18who have deviated from the truth by saying that [the] resurrection has already taken place and are upsetting the faith of some.#2 Thes 2:2. 19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands, bearing this inscription, “The Lord knows those who are his”; and, “Let everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord avoid evil.”#Is 28:16; 1 Cor 3:10–15 / Nm 16:5; Jn 10:14.
20In a large household there are vessels not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for lofty and others for humble use. 21If anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for lofty use, dedicated, beneficial to the master of the house, ready for every good work.#3:17. 22So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord#Those who call on the Lord: those who believe in Christ and worship him as Lord, i.e., Christians (Acts 9:14–16, 20–21; Rom 10:12–13; cf. 2 Tm 2:19, literally, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord”). with purity of heart.#Gal 5:22; 1 Tm 6:11 / Rom 10:13; 1 Cor 1:2. 23Avoid foolish and ignorant debates, for you know that they breed quarrels.#1 Tm 1:4; 4:7; 6:4; Ti 3:9. 24A slave of the Lord should not quarrel, but should be gentle with everyone, able to teach, tolerant,#1 Tm 3:2–3. 25correcting opponents with kindness. It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth,#3:7; 1 Tm 2:4. 26#Some interpreters would render this passage, “Thus they may come to their senses and, forced to do his (i.e., God’s) will, may escape the devil’s trap.” This interpretation of the Greek is possible, but the one accepted in the text seems more likely.and that they may return to their senses out of the devil’s snare,#1 Tm 3:7. where they are entrapped by him, for his will.
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