基督的精兵

我兒啊!你要靠著基督耶穌的恩典剛強起來。 以前你在許多見證人面前聽過我的教導,你要把這些教導傳給忠信可靠、能夠教導他人的人。

你要作基督耶穌的精兵與我同受苦難。 當兵的若讓其他事務纏身,就不能取悅徵召他的上司。 同樣,參加比賽的人若不遵守比賽規則,就不可能得獎。 辛勞的農夫理當先享受收成。 你要思想我說的話,因為主必賜你悟性明白各樣的事。

你要切記我所傳的福音:耶穌基督是大衛的後裔,祂從死裡復活了。 我為這福音受苦,甚至像犯人一樣被囚禁,但上帝的道是囚禁不住的。 10 我為了上帝所揀選的人忍受一切痛苦,使他們可以獲得在基督耶穌裡的救恩和永遠的榮耀。 11 有真實可信的話說:

「我們若與基督同死,
就必與祂同活。
12 我們若忍耐到底,
就必與祂一同作王。
我們若不承認祂,
祂也必不承認我們。
13 我們縱然會失信,
祂仍然信實可靠,
因為祂不能違背自己。」

做無愧的工人

14 你要提醒眾人這些事,在主面前囑咐他們:不要為言詞爭辯,因為那對聽見的人有害無益。 15 你應當竭力在上帝面前做經得起考驗、問心無愧的工人,正確地闡釋真理之道。 16 要遠避一切世俗的空談,因為好空談的人只會越來越不敬虔。 17 他們講的話像毒瘡,只會越爛越大,許米乃和腓理徒就是例子。 18 他們離經背道,說復活的事已成過去,動搖了許多人的信心。 19 然而,上帝所立的堅實根基永不動搖,這根基上刻著:「主認識誰是屬於祂的人」,「凡自稱是屬於主的人都要離棄罪惡。」

20 大戶人家不但有金器銀器,也有木器瓦器,這些器皿的用途有貴賤之分。 21 人若潔身自愛,遠離卑賤的事,就必成為聖潔無瑕的貴重器皿,可以被主用來成就各樣的善事。

22 你要逃避年輕人的邪情私慾,要跟那些以清潔的心求告主的人一同追求公義、信心、仁愛、和平。 23 不要參與愚昧無知的辯論,因為這些事只會引起紛爭。 24 上帝的奴僕不可與人爭執,總要溫和待人,善於教導,心存忍耐。 25 要溫柔地規勸那些反對我們的人,也許上帝會賜給他們悔改的心,使他們明白真理, 26 讓他們這些被魔鬼擄去、受其擺佈的人能夠醒悟過來,脫離魔鬼的網羅。

Be Strong in Grace

You therefore, (A)my son, (B)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must (C)endure[a] hardship (D)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (E)No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also (F)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. Consider what I say, and [b]may the Lord (G)give you understanding in all things.

Remember that Jesus Christ, (H)of the seed of David, (I)was raised from the dead (J)according to my gospel, (K)for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, (L)even to the point of chains; (M)but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore (N)I endure all things for the sake of the [c]elect, (O)that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 This is a faithful saying:

For (P)if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 (Q)If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
(R)If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He (S)cannot deny Himself.

Approved and Disapproved Workers

14 Remind them of these things, (T)charging them before the Lord not to [d]strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 (U)Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and [e]idle babblings, for they will [f]increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. (V)Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, (W)saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless (X)the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord (Y)knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of [g]Christ depart from iniquity.”

20 But in a great house there are not only (Z)vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, [h]sanctified and useful for the Master, (AA)prepared for every good work. 22 (AB)Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And (AC)a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, (AD)able to teach, (AE)patient, 25 (AF)in humility correcting those who are in opposition, (AG)if God perhaps will grant them repentance, (AH)so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and (AI)escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:3 NU You must share
  2. 2 Timothy 2:7 NU the Lord will give you
  3. 2 Timothy 2:10 chosen ones
  4. 2 Timothy 2:14 battle
  5. 2 Timothy 2:16 empty chatter
  6. 2 Timothy 2:16 lead
  7. 2 Timothy 2:19 NU, M the Lord
  8. 2 Timothy 2:21 set apart

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.