2Ti 2 | ESV | STEP | You then , my child , be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus ,

‏ 2 Timothy 2

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

1 You then, ^amy child, ^bbe strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and ^cwhat you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses ^dentrust to faithful men, ^{▼▼The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context} ^fwho will be able to teach others also. 3 ^gShare in suffering as ^ha good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier ⁱgets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 ^jAn athlete is not ^kcrowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is ^lthe 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, ^mrisen from the dead, the ⁿoffspring of David, ^oas preached in my gospel, 9 ^pfor which I am suffering, ^qbound with chains as a criminal. But ^rthe word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore ^sI endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain ^tthe salvation that is in Christ Jesus with ^ueternal glory. 11 The saying is ^vtrustworthy, for:

^wIf we have died with him, we will also ^xlive with him;
12 ^yif we endure, we will also reign with him;
^zif we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 ^aaif we are faithless, ^abhe remains faithful—

for ^ache cannot deny himself.

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and ^adcharge them before God ^{▼▼Some manuscripts the Lord} ^afnot to quarrel about words, ^agwhich does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, ^{▼▼That is, one approved after being tested} a worker ^aiwho has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But ^ajavoid ^akirreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are ^alHymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, ^amsaying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ^an“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone ^aowho names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in ^apa great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, ^aqsome for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, ^arif anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, ^{▼▼Greek from these things} he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ^atready for every good work.

22 So ^auflee ^avyouthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with ^awthose who call on the Lord ^axfrom a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^aycontroversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And ^azthe Lord’s servant ^{▼▼Greek bondservant} must not be quarrelsome but ^bbkind to everyone, ^bcable to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents ^bdwith gentleness. God ^bemay perhaps grant them repentance ^bfleading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from ^bgthe snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.