2 Timothy 2
2
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. 2You 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.
3Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 5And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules. 6And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 7Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.
8Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 9And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.
11This is a trustworthy saying:
If we die with him,
we will also live with him.
12If we endure hardship,
we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will deny us.
13If we are unfaithful,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny who he is.
14Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
An Approved Worker
15Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17This kind of talk spreads like cancer,#2:17 Greek gangrene. as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.
19But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”#2:19a Num 16:5. and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”#2:19b See Isa 52:11.
20In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
22Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
23Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
Currently Selected:
2 Timothy 2: NLT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
For more information about the NLT:
2 Timothy 2
2
A Loyal Soldier of Christ Jesus
1Timothy, you are a son to me. Be strong in the grace that we have because we belong to Christ Jesus. 2What you have heard me teach publicly you should teach to others. Share these teachings with people you can trust. Then they will be able to teach others these same things. 3As a good soldier of Christ Jesus, accept your share of the troubles we have. 4A soldier wants to please his commanding officer, so he does not spend any time on activities that are not a part of his duty. 5Athletes in a race must obey all the rules to win. 6The farmer who works hard deserves the first part of the harvest. 7Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand it all.
8Remember Jesus Christ. He is from the family of David. After Jesus died, he was raised from death. This is the Good News that I tell people. 9And because I tell that message, I am suffering. I am even bound with chains like someone who has really done wrong. But God’s message is not bound. 10So I patiently accept all these troubles. I do this to help the people God has chosen so that they can have the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. With this salvation comes glory that never ends.
11Here is a true statement:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him.
12If we remain faithful even in suffering,
we will also rule with him.
If we refuse to say we know him,
he will refuse to say he knows us.
13If we are not faithful,
he will still be faithful,
because he cannot be false to himself.
A Worker Who Pleases God
14Keep on telling everyone these truths. And warn them before God not to argue about words. Such arguments don’t help anyone, and they ruin those who listen to them. 15Do your best to be the kind of person God will accept, and give yourself to him. Be a worker who has no reason to be ashamed of his work, one who applies the true teaching in the right way.
16Stay away from people who talk about useless things that are not from God. That kind of talk will lead a person more and more against God. 17Their evil teaching will spread like a sickness inside the body. Hymenaeus and Philetus are men like that. 18They have left the true teaching. They say that the day when people will be raised from death has already come and gone. And they are destroying the faith of some people.
19But God’s strong foundation never moves, and these words are written on it: “The Lord knows those who belong to him.”#Quote from Num. 16:5. Also, these words are written there: “Everyone who says they believe in the Lord must stop doing wrong.”
20In a large house there are things made of gold and silver. But there are also things made of wood and clay. Some of these are used for special purposes, others for ordinary jobs. 21The Lord wants to use you for special purposes, so make yourself clean from all evil. Then you will be holy, and the Master can use you. You will be ready for any good work.
22Stay away from the evil things a young person like you typically wants to do. Do your best to live right and to have faith, love, and peace, together with others who trust in the Lord with pure hearts. 23Stay away from foolish and stupid arguments. You know that these arguments grow into bigger arguments. 24As a servant of the Lord, you must not argue. You must be kind to everyone. You must be a good teacher, and you must be patient. 25You must gently teach those who don’t agree with you. Maybe God will let them change their hearts so that they can accept the truth. 26The devil has trapped them and now makes them do what he wants. But maybe they can wake up to see what is happening and free themselves from the devil’s trap.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1987, 2004 Bible League International