A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and (A)charge them before God[a] (B)not to quarrel about words, (C)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[b] a worker (D)who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But (E)avoid (F)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are (G)Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, (H)saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: (I)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone (J)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in (K)a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, (L)some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, (M)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[c] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, (N)ready for every good work.

22 So (O)flee (P)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with (Q)those who call on the Lord (R)from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant (S)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And (T)the Lord's servant[d] must not be quarrelsome but (U)kind to everyone, (V)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents (W)with gentleness. God (X)may perhaps grant them repentance (Y)leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (Z)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord
  2. 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested
  3. 2 Timothy 2:21 Greek from these things
  4. 2 Timothy 2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

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