Chapter 2

  Thou, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that [is] in Christ Jesus,  

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  and the things that thou didst hear from me through many witnesses, these things be committing to stedfast men, who shall be sufficient also others to teach;  

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  thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ;  

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  no one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please;  

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  and if also any one may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully;  

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  the labouring husbandman it behoveth first of the fruits to partake;  

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  be considering what things I say, for the Lord give to thee understanding in all things.  

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  Remember Jesus Christ, raised out of the dead, of the seed of David, according to my good news,  

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  in which I suffer evil -- unto bonds, as an evil-doer, but the word of God hath not been bound;  

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  because of this all things do I endure, because of the choice ones, that they also salvation may obtain that [is] in Christ Jesus, with glory age-during.  

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  Stedfast [is] the word: For if we died together -- we also shall live together;  

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  if we do endure together -- we shall also reign together; if we deny [him], he also shall deny us;  

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  if we are not stedfast, he remaineth stedfast; to deny himself he is not able.  

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  These things remind [them] of, testifying fully before the Lord -- not to strive about words to nothing profitable, but to the subversion of those hearing;  

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  be diligent to present thyself approved to God -- a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth;  

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  and the profane vain talkings stand aloof from, for to more impiety they will advance,  

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  and their word as a gangrene will have pasture, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus,  

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  who concerning the truth did swerve, saying the rising again to have already been, and do overthrow the faith of some;  

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  sure, nevertheless, hath the foundation of God stood, having this seal, 'The Lord hath known those who are His,' and 'Let him depart from unrighteousness -- every one who is naming the name of Christ.'  

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  And 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:  

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  if, then, any one may cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified and profitable to the master -- to every good work having been prepared,  

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  and the youthful lusts flee thou, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart;  

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  and the foolish and uninstructed questions be avoiding, having known that they beget strife,  

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  and a servant of the Lord it behoveth not to strive, but to be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient under evil,  

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  in meekness instructing those opposing -- if perhaps God may give to them repentance to an acknowledging of the truth,  

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  and they may awake out of the devil's snare, having been caught by him at his will.  

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