1 You then, my child, ⁿbe strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses ^oentrust to faithful men,¹ who will be able to teach others also. 3 ^pShare in suffering as a good ^qsoldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not ^rcrowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 ^sIt is the 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, ^trisen from the dead, the ^uoffspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. ^vBut the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I ^wendure everything ^xfor the sake of the ^yelect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 ^zThe saying is trustworthy, for:

for he cannot deny himself.

14 Remind them of these things, and ^dcharge them before God² not to ^equarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to ^fpresent yourself to God as one approved,³ a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the ^gword of truth. 16 But ^havoid ⁱirreverent babble, for it will lead people into ^jmore and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are ^kHymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have ^lswerved from the truth, ^msaying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ⁿ“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who ^onames the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in a great ^phouse there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, ^qsome for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, ^rif anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,⁴ he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ^sready for every good work.

22 So ^tflee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, ^ulove, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant ^vcontroversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant⁵ must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 ^wcorrecting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the ^xsnare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.