2 Timothy 2
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Become Strong In Grace, My Child, And Suffer Hardship With Me Like a Good Soldier
2 Therefore you, my child, become-strong in[a] the grace in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things which you heard from me through many witnesses, these things deposit[b] with faithful people who will be competent[c] to teach others also. 3 Suffer-hardship with me like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Consider the Soldier, Athlete And Farmer
4 No one while serving-as-a-soldier entangles himself in the affairs of life, in order that he may please the one having enlisted him. 5 And also if one competes [in an athletic contest], he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully. 6 The laboring farmer must[d] be first to receive-a-share of the fruits. 7 Be considering what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Remember Jesus Christ And The Gospel For Which I Am Imprisoned
8 Be remembering Jesus Christ having been raised from the dead, from the seed of David, according to my good-news— 9 in connection with which[e] I am suffering-hardship to the point of imprisonment like a criminal. Nevertheless the Word of God has not been bound[f]! 10 For this reason, I am enduring all things for the sake of the chosen ones, in order that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
If We Endure, We Will Reign With Him. He Will Be Faithful To Us
11 The saying is trustworthy— for if we died-with Him, we will also live-with Him; 12 if we are enduring, we will also reign-with Him; if we shall deny Him, that One also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless[g], that One remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 14 Be reminding them of these things, solemnly-warning in the sight of God not to battle-about-words for nothing useful[h], to[i] the overthrow[j] of the ones hearing.
Be Diligent To Present Yourself As an Approved Worker of The Word of Truth
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker not-needing-to-be-ashamed, cutting-straight[k] the word of truth.
Shun Worthless Talk. Be an Honorable, Useful Vessel Prepared For Good Works
16 But be shunning the profane[l] empty-chatterings. For they[m] will advance further in ungodliness, 17 and their talk[n] will have a spreading like gangrene— of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who missed-the-mark with regard to the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning[o] the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal— “The Lord knows the ones being His” and “Let everyone naming the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness”. 20 Now in a large house there are not only golden and silver vessels, but also wooden and made-of-clay— even some for honor and others for dishonor. 21 If then one cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor— having been sanctified[p], useful to the Master, having been prepared for every good work.
Flee Youthful Desires. Pursue Righteousness, Faith, Love And Peace
22 And be fleeing the youthful desires, and be pursuing righteousness, faith, love, peace, with the ones calling-upon the Lord from a pure heart.
Decline Foolish Controversies. Be Kind, Skillful At Teaching, Gentle At Correcting
23 And be declining the foolish and ignorant controversies, knowing that they breed battles. 24 And a slave of the Lord must not battle, but must be kind to everyone, skillful-at-teaching, forbearing[q], 25 correcting the ones opposing with gentleness, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading-to the knowledge of the truth 26 and they may return-to-their-senses from the snare of the devil, having been caught[r] by him, for the will of that one[s].
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:1 Or, by.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 Or, entrust to.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 Or, fit, adequate, worthy, able.
- 2 Timothy 2:6 Or, has to, ought to. Lit, It is necessary that the laboring farmer be first.
- 2 Timothy 2:9 Or, Whom.
- 2 Timothy 2:9 That is, imprisoned.
- 2 Timothy 2:13 Or, without faith, unfaithful, unbelieving.
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Or, beneficial, profitable. That is, for no useful purpose, goal, result.
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Or, tending toward, resulting in.
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Or, ruin, destruction.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, cutting true, accurately handling, as a skilled worker (a stonecutter, a farmer, a roadbuilder) would perform their job.
- 2 Timothy 2:16 Or, godless, irreverent, worldly.
- 2 Timothy 2:16 That is, those who engage in this profane chattering.
- 2 Timothy 2:17 Or, word, message.
- 2 Timothy 2:18 Or, upsetting.
- 2 Timothy 2:21 Or, made holy, set apart.
- 2 Timothy 2:24 That is, bearing evil against oneself without resentment.
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Or, captured-alive.
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Or, that One.
2 Timothy 2
King James Version
2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 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.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 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.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 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.
2 Timothy 2
English Standard Version
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
2 You then, (A)my child, (B)be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and (C)what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses (D)entrust to faithful men,[a] (E)who will be able to teach others also. 3 (F)Share in suffering as (G)a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier (H)gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 (I)An athlete is not (J)crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is (K)the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, (L)risen from the dead, the (M)offspring of David, (N)as preached in my gospel, 9 (O)for which I am suffering, (P)bound with chains as a criminal. But (Q)the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore (R)I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain (S)the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with (T)eternal glory. 11 The saying is (U)trustworthy, for:
(V)If we have died with him, we will also (W)live with him;
12 (X)if we endure, we will also reign with him;
(Y)if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 (Z)if we are faithless, (AA)he remains faithful—
for (AB)he cannot deny himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14 Remind them of these things, and (AC)charge them before God[b] (AD)not to quarrel about words, (AE)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[c] a worker (AF)who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But (AG)avoid (AH)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are (AI)Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, (AJ)saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: (AK)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone (AL)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in (AM)a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, (AN)some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, (AO)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, (AP)ready for every good work.
22 So (AQ)flee (AR)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with (AS)those who call on the Lord (AT)from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant (AU)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And (AV)the Lord's servant[e] must not be quarrelsome but (AW)kind to everyone, (AX)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents (AY)with gentleness. God (AZ)may perhaps grant them repentance (BA)leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (BB)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:2 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord
- 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested
- 2 Timothy 2:21 Greek from these things
- 2 Timothy 2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
2 Timothy 2
American Standard Version
2 Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 [a]Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. 5 And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully. 6 The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my [b]gospel: 9 wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 Faithful is the [c]saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: 13 if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of [d]the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear. 15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, [e]handling aright the word of truth. 16 But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness, 17 and their word will [f]eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 men who concerning the truth have [g]erred, saying that [h]the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, [i]The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, [j]Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work. 22 But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes. 24 And the Lord’s [k]servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, 25 in meekness [l]correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may [m]recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been [n]taken captive [o]by him unto his will.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:3 Or, Take thy part in suffering hardship, as etc.
- 2 Timothy 2:8 See marginal note on 1:8.
- 2 Timothy 2:11 Or, saying; for if etc.
- 2 Timothy 2:14 Many ancient authorities read God.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 Or, holding a straight course in the word of truth. Or, rightly dividing the word of truth
- 2 Timothy 2:17 Or, spread
- 2 Timothy 2:18 Greek missed the mark. 1 Tim. 1:6.
- 2 Timothy 2:18 Some ancient authorities read a resurrection.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Num. 16:5?
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Isa. 26:13?
- 2 Timothy 2:24 Greek bondservant.
- 2 Timothy 2:25 Or, instructing
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Greek return to soberness.
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Greek taken alive.
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Or, by him, unto the will of God. Compare 2 Cor. 10:5. Greek by him, unto the will of him. In the Greek the two pronouns are different.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
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