2 Timothy 2
Worldwide English (New Testament)
2 So, my son Timothy, be strong. Christ Jesus has blessed you so that you can be strong.
2 You and many others heard what I taught. Now you must teach these things to men who can be trusted, men who will be able to teach them to other people also.
3 Be patient in your trouble like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 A soldier who is fighting does not live the way other people do. He wants to please the one who chose him.
5 A man runs a race. But he does not win if he does not obey the rules.
6 A farmer works hard planting. He should be the first one to have the food that grows.
7 Think about what I say and the Lord will help you understand everything.
8 Keep your mind on Jesus Christ. He was raised from death. He was of the family of David. That is the good news I tell people.
9 Because of that, I have trouble. I am even tied with chains like a bad man. But the word of God is not tied up.
10 That is why I bear all my trouble for the sake of God's chosen people. I do it so that they also may be saved by Christ Jesus and be made great for ever.
11 These are true words: If we died with Christ, we shall also live with him.
12 If we bear all our troubles, we shall also rule with him. If we say we do not know him, then he will also say he does not know us.
13 If we do not believe in him, he still is true, because he cannot say he is not what he is.
14 Tell people these things again. Tell them before the Lord not to quarrel in their teaching. There is no good in doing that. It upsets the minds of those who listen to them.
15 Try to show God that you are a good worker. Do nothing you would be ashamed of. Tell the true message in the right way.
16 Have no part in foolish talk that does not come from God. That kind of talk will take people farther and farther away from God.
17 Their teaching will spread like bad sickness. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two like that.
18 These men say that the time when people are raised from death is past already. That is not true. And what they say is making some people stop believing.
19 But the truth of God stands strong. It cannot change. These words are sure: `The Lord knows the people who belong to him' and, `Let all those who use the name of the Lord stop their wrong ways.'
20 In a large house there are many pots. They are not all made of gold and silver. Some are made of wood, and some of earth. Some are used for fine things and some are used for things that are not so fine.
21 So if a person keeps himself clean from these things, he will be like a dish that is used for a fine work. It is kept as a better dish for the head man of the house, and it is ready for any good thing he wants to use it for.
22 Have no part at all in the wrong things that young men like to do. Believe. Have love. Follow what is right. Live at peace. Do these things along with others who have a clean heart and talk to God.
23 Keep out of foolish quarrels. You know that they start fights.
24 The Lord's servant must not fight. But he must be kind to all people. He must be a good teacher to them. He must be patient with them.
25 When he corrects those who are against him, he must do it in a gentle way. It may be that God will turn their hearts to know what is true.
26 And they may get free again from the devil's trap. He has caught them to do what he wants them to do.
2 Timothy 2
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Be Strong in Grace
2 You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace(A) that is in Christ Jesus. 2 What you have heard from me(B) in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful(C) men[a] who will be able to teach others also.
3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.(D) 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.(E) 7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead(F) and descended from David, according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer to the point of being bound like a criminal. But the word of God is not bound. 10 This is why I endure(G) all things for the elect:(H) so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(I) 11 This saying is trustworthy:(J)
For if we died with him,(K)
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign(L) with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
An Approved Worker
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God[b] not to fight about words.(M) This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen. 15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.(N) 16 Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more godlessness,(O) 17 and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus(P) and Philetus are among them. 18 They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place,(Q) and are ruining the faith of some.(R) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, bearing this inscription:(S) The Lord knows those who are his,[c](T) and let everyone who calls on the name(U) of[d] the Lord turn away from wickedness.(V)
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels,(W) but also those of wood and clay; some for honourable[e] use and some for dishonourable.[f](X) 21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonourable,[g] he will be a special[h] instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.(Y)
22 Flee(Z) from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace,(AA) along with those who call on the Lord(AB) from a pure heart. 23 But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, because you know that they breed quarrels. 24 The Lord’s(AC) servant must not quarrel,(AD) but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach,[i] and patient, 25 instructing his opponents with gentleness.(AE) Perhaps God will grant them repentance(AF) leading them to the knowledge of the truth. 26 Then they may come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil,(AG) who has taken them captive to do his will.(AH)
2 Timothy 2
New King James Version
Be Strong in Grace
2 You therefore, (A)my son, (B)be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 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. 3 You therefore must (C)endure[a] hardship (D)as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 (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. 5 And also (F)if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider what I say, and [b]may the Lord (G)give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, (H)of the seed of David, (I)was raised from the dead (J)according to my gospel, 9 (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
- 2 Timothy 2:3 NU You must share
- 2 Timothy 2:7 NU the Lord will give you
- 2 Timothy 2:10 chosen ones
- 2 Timothy 2:14 battle
- 2 Timothy 2:16 empty chatter
- 2 Timothy 2:16 lead
- 2 Timothy 2:19 NU, M the Lord
- 2 Timothy 2:21 set apart
© 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications
Copyright © 2024 by Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
