The Appeal Renewed

You then, my son,(A) be strong(B) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say(C) in the presence of many witnesses(D) entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering,(E) like a good soldier(F) of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown(G) except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.(H) Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,(I) descended from David.(J) This is my gospel,(K) for which I am suffering(L) even to the point of being chained(M) like a criminal. But God’s word(N) is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything(O) for the sake of the elect,(P) that they too may obtain the salvation(Q) that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.(R)

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:(S)

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;(T)
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.(U)
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;(V)
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,(W)
    for he cannot disown himself.

Dealing With False Teachers

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;(X) it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.(Y) 16 Avoid godless chatter,(Z) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus(AA) and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,(AB) and they destroy the faith of some.(AC) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(AD) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(AE) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(AF) must turn away from wickedness.”

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.(AG) 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.(AH)

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love(AI) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord(AJ) out of a pure heart.(AK) 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.(AL) 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.(AM) 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,(AN) 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,(AO) who has taken them captive to do his will.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.(AP) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money,(AQ) boastful, proud,(AR) abusive,(AS) disobedient to their parents,(AT) ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous,(AU) rash, conceited,(AV) lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness(AW) but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.(AX)

They are the kind who worm their way(AY) into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.(AZ) Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,(BA) so also these teachers oppose(BB) the truth. They are men of depraved minds,(BC) who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men,(BD) their folly will be clear to everyone.

A Final Charge to Timothy

10 You, however, know all about my teaching,(BE) my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch,(BF) Iconium(BG) and Lystra,(BH) the persecutions I endured.(BI) Yet the Lord rescued(BJ) me from all of them.(BK) 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,(BL) 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse,(BM) deceiving and being deceived.(BN) 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,(BO) 15 and how from infancy(BP) you have known the Holy Scriptures,(BQ) which are able to make you wise(BR) for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed(BS) and is useful for teaching,(BT) rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,(BU) 17 so that the servant of God[a](BV) may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.(BW)

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,(BX) and in view of his appearing(BY) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:(BZ) Preach(CA) the word;(CB) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke(CC) and encourage(CD)—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.(CE) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.(CF) They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(CG) But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,(CH) do the work of an evangelist,(CI) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,(CJ) and the time for my departure is near.(CK) I have fought the good fight,(CL) I have finished the race,(CM) I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me(CN) the crown of righteousness,(CO) which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day(CP)—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.(CQ)

Personal Remarks

Do your best to come to me quickly,(CR) 10 for Demas,(CS) because he loved this world,(CT) has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.(CU) Crescens has gone to Galatia,(CV) and Titus(CW) to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke(CX) is with me.(CY) Get Mark(CZ) and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus(DA) to Ephesus.(DB) 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas,(DC) and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander(DD) the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done.(DE) 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.(DF) 17 But the Lord stood at my side(DG) and gave me strength,(DH) so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.(DI) And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.(DJ) 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack(DK) and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.(DL) To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(DM)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Timothy 3:17 Or that you, a man of God,

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.