2 Timothy 2

2 ¹So then, my child, draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And what you heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful people able to teach others too. ³Take your share of suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No soldier on duty gets tangled in civilian affairs—he wants to please the one who enlisted him. ⁵And an athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷Think over what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, a descendant of David, as told in my gospel, ⁹for which I suffer, chained like a criminal. But the word of our Father is not chained! ¹⁰So I endure everything for the sake of the chosen, so they too may gain the salvation in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ¹¹This saying is trustworthy: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; ¹²if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we disown him, he also will disown us; ¹³if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

A Worker Approved by the Father

¹⁴Remind them of these things, and warn them before our Father not to quarrel over words—useless, and ruins those who listen.

¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to our Father approved, a worker unashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. ¹⁶But avoid empty, godless chatter; it leads people further into wickedness, ¹⁷and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸who wandered away from the truth, claiming the resurrection already happened, and are undermining some people's faith. ¹⁹Yet our Father's firm foundation stands, sealed: "He knows those who are his," and "Let all who name his name turn from evil."

²⁰In a large house there are vessels not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay—some for honor, some for dishonor. ²¹So if anyone purifies himself from these, he becomes a vessel of honor: holy, useful to the Master, ready for every good work.

²²Flee youthful cravings; pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know they breed quarrels. ²⁴The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient when wronged. ²⁵Gently correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps our Father will grant them repentance to know the truth, ²⁶and they may sober up, escaping the devil's trap where he has held them captive to do his will.