A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
You then, amy child, bbe strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and awhat you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses bentrust to faithful men, cwho will be able to teach others also. 3 aShare in suffering as ba good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier agets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 aAn athlete is not bcrowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is athe 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, arisen from the dead, the boffspring of David, cas preached in my gospel, 9 afor which I am suffering, bbound with chains as a criminal. But cthe word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore aI endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain bthe salvation that is in Christ Jesus with ceternal glory. 11 The saying is atrustworthy, for:
bIf we have died with him, we will also clive with him;
12 aif we endure, we will also reign with him;
bif we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 aif we are faithless, bhe remains faithful—
for che cannot deny himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14 Remind them of these things, and acharge them before God bnot to quarrel about words, cwhich does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker awho has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But aavoid birreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are aHymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, asaying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: a“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone bwho names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in aa great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, bsome for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, aif anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, bready for every good work.
22 So aflee byouthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with cthose who call on the Lord dfrom a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant acontroversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And athe Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but bkind to everyone, cable to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents awith gentleness. God bmay perhaps grant them repentance cleading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from athe snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.