디모데후서 2

A good soldier of Christ Jesus

¹So you, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And what you heard from me before many witnesses, pass on to trustworthy people who will be able to teach others as well. ³Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No soldier on active duty gets tangled up in civilian affairs; he wants to please the officer who enlisted him. ⁵In the same way, an athlete does not receive the winner’s crown unless he competes by the rules. ⁶The farmer who does the hard work should be the first to eat from the harvest. ⁷Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

God’s word is not chained

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead and descended from David, as my gospel proclaims. ⁹For this gospel I am suffering, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰So I endure everything for the sake of God’s chosen people, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, and with it eternal glory. ¹¹Here is a saying you can rely on: If we died with him, we will also live with him. ¹²If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. ¹³If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot be false to himself.^a

A worker approved by God

¹⁴Keep reminding people of these things, and warn them before the Lord not to quarrel about words. It does no good and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵Make every effort to stand before God tested and approved, a worker with nothing to be ashamed of, who handles the message of truth correctly. ¹⁶Stay away from godless, empty chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly, ¹⁷and their teaching will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them. ¹⁸They have wandered away from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they are destroying the faith of some. ¹⁹But God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with these words: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Vessels for special use

²⁰In a large house there are not only gold and silver dishes but also wooden and clay ones, some for special occasions and some for common use. ²¹Those who keep themselves clean from such things will be vessels for special use, made holy, useful to the master, and ready for every good work. ²²Run away from the passions of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²³Have nothing to do with foolish and ignorant arguments; you know they only lead to quarrels. ²⁴The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach and patient with difficult people, ²⁵gently correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and they will come to know the truth, ²⁶and come to their senses and escape the trap of the devil, who has held them captive to do his will.^b