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 Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
1You then, #See ch. 1:2 my child, #See Eph. 6:10be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2and #ch. 1:13 what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses #1 Tim. 1:18 entrust to faithful men,#2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context #[Titus 1:5]who will be able to teach others also. 3#ch. 1:8; 4:5 Share in suffering as #1 Tim. 1:18a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No soldier #2 Pet. 2:20gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5#See 1 Cor. 9:25 An athlete is not #[ch. 4:8]crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6It is #1 Cor. 9:10; [Heb. 6:7]the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8Remember Jesus Christ, #1 Cor. 15:20 risen from the dead, the #See Matt. 1:1 offspring of David, #See Rom. 2:16as preached in my gospel, 9#ch. 1:8, 12 for which I am suffering, #See Phil. 1:7 bound with chains as a criminal. But #[ch. 4:17]; See Phil. 1:13the word of God is not bound! 10Therefore #Eph. 3:13; Col. 1:24; [1 Cor. 13:7] I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain #2 Cor. 1:6 the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with #1 Pet. 5:10eternal glory. 11The saying is #See 1 Tim. 1:15 trustworthy, for:
# [1 Thess. 5:10]; See Rom. 6:8 If we have died with him, we will also #Rev. 20:4live with him;
12 # [2 Thess. 1:4, 5]; See Rom. 8:17; Heb. 10:36; Rev. 20:4 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
# See Matt. 10:33 if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 # See Rom. 3:3 if we are faithless, #See 1 Cor. 1:9 he remains faithful—
for #Num. 23:19; Titus 1:2he cannot deny himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14Remind them of these things, and #1 Tim. 5:21; 6:13 charge them before God#2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord #1 Tim. 6:4; [ver. 23] not to quarrel about words, #Titus 3:9which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,#2:15 That is, one approved after being tested a worker #[Phil. 1:20]who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But #Titus 3:9 avoid #1 Tim. 6:20irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are #1 Tim. 1:20Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, #[1 Cor. 15:12]saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: #Num. 16:5; Nah. 1:7; John 10:14, 27; [Luke 13:27]; See 1 Cor. 8:3 “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone #Isa. 26:13who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20Now in #See 1 Tim. 3:15 a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, #Rom. 9:21some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, #[Prov. 25:4; Isa. 52:11] if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,#2:21 Greek from these things he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, #ch. 3:17; Titus 3:1; [1 Tim. 5:10]ready for every good work.
22So #1 Tim. 6:11 flee #[1 Tim. 4:12] youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with #Acts 7:59; 9:14 those who call on the Lord #1 Tim. 1:5from a pure heart. 23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant #See 1 Tim. 6:4controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And #[1 Tim. 3:3] the Lord’s servant#2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface must not be quarrelsome but #1 Thess. 2:7 kind to everyone, #1 Tim. 3:2able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents #Gal. 6:1; Titus 3:2; [1 Tim. 6:11; 1 Pet. 3:15] with gentleness. God #Dan. 4:27; Acts 8:22; See Acts 5:31 may perhaps grant them repentance #See 1 Tim. 2:4leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from #1 Tim. 3:7the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Sign up to receive news and updates about the ESV: