The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to Timothy

⭑ Unlocked Dynamic Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 2 -

(Hebrews 12:1–3)

You are like a son to me. So I urge also that you let God empower you as a result of Messiah Jesus acting kindly toward you.

Command and trust faithful men to teach the things you heard from me and from many others who have testified in the same way to others, too.

Endure as I do what we suffer for Messiah Jesus, like a good soldier endures what he suffers.

You know that soldiers, in order to please their captain, do not become involved in civilian affairs.

Likewise, athletes competing in games cannot win unless they obey the rules.

And the farmer who works hard must receive his share of the crops first.

Think about what I have just written, because, if you do, the Lord will enable you to understand everything that you need to understand.

As you suffer hardships, remember Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David. God raised him from the dead, as I also preach in the gospel message.

For this gospel I suffer to the point of being imprisoned as a criminal. But the word of God is not in prison.

Therefore I willingly endure all that I am suffering for the sake of those whom God has chosen. I do this in order that Messiah Jesus will save them, too, and that they will be forever with him in the glorious place where he is.

You can depend on the words that we sometimes say: “If we have died with Jesus, we will also live with him.

If we endure, we will also reign with him. But if we deny him, he also will deny us.

If we are unfaithful to Jesus, he continues to be faithful; for he cannot deny himself.”

The Lord’s Approved Workman

Those whom you appointed to teach others God’s truth, keep reminding them about these things that I have told you. Warn them before God not to fight over foolish words, because doing so does not help anything and can ruin those who listen.

Do your best to cause God to approve you as a worker who has no need to be ashamed, who teaches the word of God correctly, for everyone can depend on the fact that it tells the truth.

Stay away from people who talk in ways that insult God, because this kind of talk dishonors God more and more.

This kind of words will spread like an infectious disease. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two examples of men who talk like this.

These men have stopped believing. They say that the resurrection of the dead has already happened. In this way they convince some Messianics to stop trusting in Messiah.

However, the truth about God still exists. It is like a firm foundation of a building, on which someone has written these words: “The Lord knows those who belong to him” and “Everyone who says he belongs to the Lord must stop doing wicked deeds.”

In a wealthy person’s house there are not only utensils made of gold and of silver, but also utensils made of wood and of clay. The gold and silver utensils are used on special occasions. But the wood and clay utensils are used in ordinary times.

Therefore, those who rid themselves of what is evil in their lives will be able to work well for the Lord. They will be like utensils ready to do any kind of good work. They will become very useful to the Master to do special work for him, every good deed, in fact.

Do not keep on wanting the sinful things that young people usually desire. Instead, try to do right things. Try to trust in God and love him. Try to live in peace. Stay together with the people who worship the Lord sincerely.

Do not talk with anyone who foolishly wants to argue about matters that are not important. Do not talk with them, because you know that when people talk about foolish things, they begin to quarrel.

But those who serve the Lord must not quarrel. Instead, they should be kind to all people, they should be able to teach God’s truth well, and they should be patient with people.

That is, they should gently instruct the people who argue against them. Perhaps God may give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth.

In that way they may think correctly and be like people who have escaped from a trap set by the devil. It is the devil who has deceived them in order to get them to do what he wishes them to do.

(Hebrews 12:1–3)

You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules.

The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.

Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring(a) of David, according to my Good News,

in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.

Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

This saying is trustworthy: “For if we died with him, we will also live with him.

If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.”

The Lord’s Approved Workman

Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord that they don’t argue about words to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,

and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:

men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.

However, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(b) and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord (c) depart from unrighteousness.”

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

If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.

Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.

The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient,

in gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Footnotes

(a)2:8 or, seed

(b)2:19 ℘ Numbers 16:5