Be strengthened

1So you, my son, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2Also, the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men who will be competent to teach others also. ¹⁶

3You therefore are to endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ¹⁷

4No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the affairs of civilian life; he wants to please the one who enlisted him.

5Further, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules

6—the hardworking farmer should be the first to receive of the fruits. ¹⁸

7Ponder what I am saying; may the Lord indeed give you understanding in it all. ¹⁹

Encouragement by example

8Keep thinking of Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, of David's seed; this is my gospel, ²⁰

9for which I am suffering to the point of being in chains like a criminal, but the Word of God is not chained.

10This is why I endure it all: for the sake of the chosen ones, ²¹that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11This is a trustworthy word: If, indeed, we died together, ²²we will also live together;

12if we endure, we will also reign together; if we deny, He will also deny us; ²³

13if we are faithless, He remains faithful ²⁴—He is incapable of denying Himself. ²⁵

14Keep reiterating these things, exhorting them ²⁶before the Lord ²⁷not to argue about words to no useful purpose ²⁸—it just ruins the hearers.

Approved and disapproved

15Make every effort to render yourself approved by God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, handling the Word of the Truth correctly.

16But shun godless, empty chatter, because those who do it will become increasingly godless, ²⁹

17and their word will spread like gangrene—among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,

18who have wandered away from the Truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they overturn the faith of some. ³⁰

19Nevertheless, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” ³¹and let everyone who claims the name of the Lord ³²keep away from unrighteousness.

20Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some, to be sure, are for honor, but some are for dishonor.

21So if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, ³³sanctified and useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

The true source of opposition

22Flee the lusts of youth; ³⁴but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ³⁵

23Refuse foolish and ignorant arguments, knowing that they breed quarrels.

24Now a slave of the Lord should not quarrel but be gentle towards all, skillful at teaching, forbearing, ³⁶

25correcting courteously those who oppose him, in hopes that God may grant them repentance leading to a real knowledge of Truth,

26and that they may retrieve their senses ³⁷out of the devil's snare (having been taken captive by him to do his will). ³⁸