Dobar Kristov vojnik
1Timoteju, sinko, jačaj u milosti koju nam daje Isus Krist! 2Što si od mene čuo pred mnogim svjedocima, prenesi pouzdanim ljudima koji će to moći prenijeti drugima.
3Dijeli sa mnom tegobe kao dobar vojnik Krista Isusa. 4Kristov si vojnik; ne zapleći se u svagdanje poslove jer inače nećeš moći ugoditi vojskovođi. 5Pokoravaj se Božjim pravilima, baš kao sportaš koji ne može dobiti nagradu ako se propisno ne natječe. 6Ratar koji naporno radi treba prvi uživati u plodovima svojega truda. 7Razmisli što ti govorim. Gospodin će dati da razumiješ sve to.
8Nemoj nikad zaboraviti da je Isus Krist rođen kao potomak kralja Davida i da je uskrsnuo od mrtvih. To je Radosna vijest koju naviještam. 9Zbog nje trpim nevolju i okovan sam poput kakva zločinca. Ali ako sam ja okovan, Božja riječ nije. 10Voljan sam sve podnijeti zaradi onih koje je Bog izabrao da postignu spasenje i vječnu slavu u Kristu Isusu.
11Ove su riječi istinite:
Umremo li s njim,
s njim ćemo i živjeti.
12Podnesemo li nevolje,
kraljevat ćemo s njim.
Ako ga se odreknemo,
i on će se nas odreći.
13Ako mu ne budemo vjerni,
on će ostati vjeran
jer ne može sâm sebe zanijekati.
Djelatnik potvrđen od Boga
14Podsjećaj ljude na to i zaklinji ih pred Bogom da se ne prepiru. To ničemu ne koristi, a na propast je onima koji slušaju. 15Marljivo se trudi da se pred Bogom pokažeš prokušanim, dobrim djelatnikom koji se nema čega stidjeti i koji točno razlaže riječ istine. 16Svjetovne i isprazne rasprave izbjegavaj jer one vuku u sve veću bezbožnost. 17Takve se riječi šire poput gnjileži. Takvi su Himenej i Filet. 18Zastranili su od istine tvrdeći da se uskrsnuće već zbilo. Time su potkopali vjeru nekih.
19Ali Božja istina stoji čvrsto poput temelja s natpisom: “Gospodin poznaje svoje”2:19 Brojevi 16:5. i “Tko god tvrdi da pripada Gospodinu neka se kloni zla.”2:19 Vidjeti: Izaija 52:11.
20U bogatoj kući ima posuda načinjenih od zlata i srebra, ali i od drva i gline. Jedne se rabe u časne, druge u nečasne svrhe. 21Bude li se dakle tko čuvao čistim od toga, bit će posuda korisna Gospodaru—časna, posvećena, čista i prikladna za svako dobro djelo.
22Kloni se svega što potiče mladenačke strasti! Teži za pravednošću, vjerom, ljubavlju, mirom sa svima koji čistog srca zazivaju Gospodina.
23Kloni se nerazumnih i neobuzdanih rasprava jer znaš da one završavaju svađom. 24A sluga Gospodnji ne smije se svađati, nego prema svima mora biti blag. Treba biti sposoban poučavati i otrpjeti 25te blago prekoriti protivnike ne bi li im Bog darovao obraćenje da spoznaju istinu. 26Tada će se prenuti iz đavolske zamke grijeha u koju su bili uhvaćeni i ispunjavali njegovu volju.
1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 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. 3Thou therefore endure hardness, as 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. 5And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. 7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 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. 11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 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. 15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 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. 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. 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. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
