Be Strong in
Grace
You
therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ
Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me
among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach
others also. 3 You therefore
must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No
one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life,
that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And
also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes
according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer
must be first to partake of the crops. 7 Consider
what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the
seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for
which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of
chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I
endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may
obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we
died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.
Approved and
Disapproved Workers
14 Remind them of these
things, charging them before the Lord not to strive
about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But
shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase
to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will
spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who
have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already
past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the
solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those
who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.”
20 But in a great house there are not
only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor
and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone
cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for
honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good
work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue
righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure
heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes,
knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a
servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to
teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting
those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them
repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they
may come to their senses and escape the snare of
the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
- 2 Timothy 2 (NKJV)