Paul Again Encourages Timothy to Be Faithful
1My son, be strong in the grace that is yours in Christ Jesus. 2You have heard me teach in front of many witnesses. Pass on to people you can trust the things you’ve heard me say. Then they will be able to teach others also. 3Like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, join with me in suffering. 4A soldier does not take part in things that don’t have anything to do with the army. Instead, he tries to please his commanding officer. 5It is the same for anyone who takes part in a sport. They don’t receive the winner’s crown unless they play by the rules. 6The farmer who works hard should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Think about what I’m saying. The Lord will help you understand what all of it means.
8Remember Jesus Christ. He came from David’s family line. He was raised from the dead. That is my good news. 9I am suffering for it. I have even been put in chains like someone who has committed a crime. But God’s word is not held back by chains. 10So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever.
11Here is a saying you can trust.
If we died with him,
we will also live with him.
12If we don’t give up,
we will also rule with him.
If we say we don’t know him,
he will also say he doesn’t know us.
13Even if we are not faithful,
he remains faithful.
He must be true to himself.
What to Do About False Teachers
14Keep reminding God’s people of these things. While God is watching, warn them not to argue about words. That doesn’t have any value. It only destroys those who listen. 15Do your best to please God. Be a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed. Teach the message of truth correctly. 16Stay away from godless chatter. Those who take part in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like a deadly sickness. Hymenaeus and Philetus are two of those teachers. 18They have turned away from the truth. They say that the time when people will rise from the dead has already come. They destroy the faith of some people. 19But God’s solid foundation stands firm. Here is the message written on it. “The Lord knows who his own people are.” (Numbers 16:5) Also, “All who say they believe in the Lord must turn away from evil.”
20In a large house there are things made out of gold and silver. But there are also things made out of wood and clay. Some have special purposes. Others have common purposes. 21Suppose someone stays away from what is common. Then the Master will be able to use them for special purposes. They will be made holy. They will be ready to do any good work.
22Run away from the evil things that young people long for. Try hard to do what is right. Have faith, love and peace. Do these things together with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23Don’t have anything to do with arguing. It is dumb and foolish. You know it only leads to fights. 24Anyone who serves the Lord must not be hard to get along with. Instead, they must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach. The one who serves must not hold anything against anyone. 25They must gently teach those who are against them. Maybe God will give a change of heart to those who are against you. That will lead them to know the truth. 26Maybe they will come to their senses. Maybe they will escape the devil’s trap. He has taken them as prisoners to do what he wanted.
Askari Mwema Wa Kristo Yesu
12:1 Efe 6:10; 1Tim 1:2; 2Tim 1:18Basi, wewe mwanangu, uwe hodari katika neema iliyo ndani ya Kristo Yesu. 2Nayo mambo yale uliyonisikia nikiyasema mbele ya mashahidi wengi, uwakabidhi watu waaminifu watakaoweza kuwafundisha watu wengine vilevile. 3Vumilia taabu pamoja nasi kama askari mwema wa Kristo Yesu. 4Hakuna askari yeyote ambaye akiwa vitani hujishughulisha na mambo ya kawaida ya maisha haya kwa sababu nia yake ni kumpendeza yule aliyemwandika awe askari. 52:5 1Kor 9:25; 2Tim 4:8; 1Kor 9:10Vivyo hivyo, yeye ashindanaye katika michezo hawezi kupewa tuzo ya ushindi asiposhindana kulingana na kanuni za mashindano. 6Mkulima mwenye bidii ya kazi ndiye anayestahili kuwa wa kwanza kupata fungu la mavuno. 7Fikiri sana kuhusu haya nisemayo, kwa maana Bwana atakupa ufahamu katika mambo hayo yote.
82:8 Mdo 2:24; Rum 2:16Mkumbuke Yesu Kristo, aliyefufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu, yeye aliye wa uzao wa Daudi. Hii ndiyo Injili yangu, 92:9 Mdo 9:16; 2Tim 1:12ambayo kwayo ninateseka hata kufikia hatua ya kufungwa minyororo kama mhalifu. Lakini neno la Mungu halifungwi. 102:10 Kol 1:24; 2Kor 4:17Kwa hiyo ninavumilia mambo yote kwa ajili ya wateule wa Mungu, kusudi wao nao wapate wokovu ulio katika Kristo Yesu, pamoja na utukufu wa milele.
112:11 Rum 6:2-11; 1Tim 1:15; 2Kor 4:10Hili ni neno la kuaminiwa:
Kwa maana kama tumekufa pamoja naye,
tutaishi pia pamoja naye.
122:12 Rum 8:17; 1Pet 4:13; Mt 10:33Kama tukistahimili,
pia tutatawala pamoja naye.
Kama tukimkana yeye,
naye atatukana sisi.
132:13 Hes 23:19; 1Kor 1:9Kama tusipoamini,
yeye hudumu kuwa mwaminifu,
kwa maana hawezi kujikana mwenyewe.
Mfanyakazi Aliyekubaliwa Na Mungu
142:14 1Tim 5:21; 6:13; 2Tim 4:1; 1Tim 1:4; 6:4; Tit 3:9, 11Endelea kuwakumbusha mambo haya ukiwaonya mbele za Bwana waache kushindana kwa maneno ambayo hayana faida yoyote bali huwaangamiza tu wale wanaoyasikia. 152:15 Kol 1:5; Yak 1:18Jitahidi kujionyesha kwa Mungu kuwa umekubaliwa naye, mtendakazi asiye na sababu ya kuona aibu, ukilitumia kwa usahihi neno la kweli. 162:16 Tit 3:9; 1Tim 4:7; 6:20Jiepushe na maneno mabaya, yasiyo na maana, yasiyo ya utauwa, kwa maana hayo huzidi kuwatosa watu katika kukosa heshima kwa Mungu. 172:17 1Tim 1:20Mafundisho yao yataenea kama kidonda kisichopona. Miongoni mwao wamo Himenayo na Fileto 182:18 1Tim 6:21; 1Kor 15:12ambao wameiacha kweli, wakisema kwamba ufufuo wa wafu umekwisha kuwako, nao huharibu imani ya baadhi ya watu. 192:19 Isa 28:16; Hes 16:5Lakini msingi wa Mungu ulio imara umesimama, ukiwa na muhuri wenye maandishi haya: “Bwana anawajua walio wake”; tena, “Kila alitajaye jina la Bwana, na auache uovu.”
202:20 1Tim 3:15; Rum 9:21Katika nyumba kubwa si kwamba kuna vyombo vya dhahabu na fedha tu, bali pia vimo vyombo vya miti na vya udongo; vingine kwa matumizi maalum, na vingine kwa matumizi ya kawaida. 212:21 2Kor 9:8Basi ikiwa mtu amejitakasa na kujitenga na hayo niliyoyataja, atakuwa chombo maalum, kilichotengwa na ambacho kinamfaa mwenye nyumba, kimeandaliwa tayari kwa kila kazi njema.
222:22 1Tim 6:11; 5:14Zikimbie tamaa mbaya za ujana, ufuate haki, imani, upendo na amani pamoja na wale wamwitao Bwana kwa moyo safi. 232:23 1Tim 1:4; 4:7; 6:4; 2Tim 2:16; Tit 3:9; 2Tim 2:14Jiepushe na mabishano ya kipumbavu na yasiyo na maana, kwa kuwa wajua ya kwamba hayo huzaa magomvi. 242:24 1Tim 3:2-9; Tit 3:2; 1:9Tena haimpasi mtumishi wa Bwana kuwa mgomvi, bali inampasa awe mwema kwa kila mtu, awezaye kufundisha, tena mvumilivu. 252:25 1Tim 2:4; Gal 6:1; 1Tim 6:11; 1Pet 3:12; Mdo 8:22; 1Tim 2:4Inampasa kuwaonya kwa upole wale wanaopingana naye, kwa matumaini kwamba Mungu atawajalia kutubu na kuijua kweli, 262:26 1Tim 3:7ili fahamu zao ziwarudie tena, nao waponyoke katika mtego wa ibilisi ambaye amewateka wapate kufanya mapenzi yake.
