2 Timothy 2

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

1You are like a son to me. So be strong. God is kind to you because of Jesus Christ.

2And 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.

2You heard me teach in front of many people. Pass that teaching on to men who can be trusted. They will be able to teach others too.

3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

3Be ready to go through hard things with me. Be like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

4A soldier does not get tangled up in everyday business. He wants to please the leader who signed him up.

5And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

5Think of a runner in a race. He only wins the prize if he follows the rules.

Note"Strive for masteries" means competing in a sports contest. The "crown" was a wreath of leaves given to the winner.

6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

6The farmer who works hard should be the first one to eat from the crops.

7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

7Think carefully about what I am telling you. The Lord will help you understand it all.

8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

8Remember Jesus Christ. He came from King David's family. God raised him from the dead. That is the good news I tell people.

9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

9Because of that good news, I suffer. I am chained up like a criminal. But God's message is not chained up.

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

10So I put up with everything for the people God has chosen. I want them to be saved by Jesus Christ. Then they will share his glory forever.

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

11Here is a saying you can trust. If we died with him, we will also live with him.

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

12If we keep going through hard times, we will also rule with him. If we say we do not know him, he will say he does not know us.

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

13Even if we are not faithful, he stays faithful. He cannot be untrue to who he is.

14Of 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.

14Keep reminding God's people about these things. Warn them, with God watching, not to fight about words. That kind of fighting does no good. It only hurts the people who listen.

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

15Work hard so God can say you did well. Be a worker who has nothing to be ashamed of. Handle God's true message the right way.

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

16Stay away from empty talk that treats God as unimportant. Such talk only pulls people further from God.

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

17Their words spread like a sore that keeps eating away at the body. Hymenaeus and Philetus talk this way.

NoteThe old word "canker" here means gangrene, an infection that spreads through the body and destroys it.

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

18They have wandered away from the truth. They say that God has already raised the dead back to life. They are shaking the trust of some people.

19Nevertheless 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.

19Still, the strong base God laid stays in place. It is stamped with these words: "The Lord knows the people who belong to him." And also: "Everyone who says the Lord's name must stop doing wrong."

20But 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.

20In a big house there are dishes made of gold and silver. There are also dishes made of wood and clay. Some are used for special times. Some are used for ordinary jobs.

21If 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.

21So if someone keeps himself clean from these wrong things, he will be like a special dish. He will be set apart, useful to the master, and ready for every good job.

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

22Run away from the wrong desires young people have. Instead, go after doing right, trusting God, loving others, and living at peace. Do this with people who call on the Lord with a clean heart.

Note"Charity" in 1611 English meant love, not giving money to the poor.

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

23Stay away from silly arguments that come from not knowing better. You know they only start fights.

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

24A servant of the Lord must not fight with people. He should be kind to everyone. He should be able to teach, and be patient.

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

25He should gently correct people who argue against him. Maybe God will help them change their minds and know the truth.

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

26Then they can think clearly again and get free. They will escape the devil's trap, where he held them to do what he wanted.