1You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, (弗6:10; 提后1:2)2and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[1] who will be able to teach others also. (提前1:18; 提后1:13; 多1:5)3Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. (提前1:18; 提后1:8; 提后4:5)4No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. (彼后2:20)5An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (林前9:25; 提后4:8)6It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. (林前9:10; 來6:7)7Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, (太1:1; 羅2:16; 林前15:20)9for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! (腓1:7; 腓1:13; 提后1:8; 提后1:12; 提后4:17)10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (林前13:7; 林后1:6; 弗3:13; 西1:24; 彼前5:10)11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; (羅6:8; 帖前5:10; 提前1:15; 启20:4)12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; (太10:33; 羅8:17; 帖后1:4; 來10:36; 启20:4)13if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. (民23:19; 羅3:3; 林前1:9; 多1:2)
A Worker Approved by God
14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God[2] not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. (提前5:21; 提前6:4; 提前6:13; 提后2:23; 多3:9)15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[3] a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (腓1:20)16But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, (提前6:20; 多3:9)17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, (提前1:20)18who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. (林前15:12)19But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (民16:5; 赛26:13; 鸿1:7; 路13:27; 约10:14; 约10:27; 林前8:3)20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. (羅9:21; 提前3:15)21Therefore, if 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, ready for every good work. (箴25:4; 赛52:11; 提前5:10; 提后3:17; 多3:1)22So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (徒7:59; 徒9:14; 提前1:5; 提前4:12; 提前6:11)23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. (提前6:4)24And the Lord’s servant[5] must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, (帖前2:7; 提前3:2; 提前3:3)25correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, (但4:27; 徒5:31; 徒8:22; 加6:1; 提前2:4; 提前6:11; 多3:2; 彼前3:15)26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (提前3:7)