The appeal renewed
1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No-one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Dealing with false teachers
14Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Ma Kristo Ahoɔden Nhyɛ Wo Den
1Na wo, Timoteo me ba, Kristo Yesu yɛ mmɔborɔhunufo, enti ma ɔnhyɛ wo den. 2Fa nsɛm a wotee sɛ mereka akyerɛ adansefo bebree no, na fa hyɛ nnipa a wugye wɔn di na wobetumi akyerɛ afoforo nso nsa. 3Sɛ amanehunu ba wo so a, mia wʼani tena sɛ Kristo Yesu sraani pa. 4Ɔsraani mmfa ne ho nhyehyɛ afisɛm mu, efisɛ ɔpɛ sɛ ɔsɔ ne panyin ani. 5Saa ara nso na obi a ɔfra akansi mu a otu mmirika no rentumi nni nkonim gye sɛ odi akansi no mmara so. 6Ɛsɛ okuafo mmɔdemmɔfo sɛ odi kan nya ne nnɔbae bi. 7Dwene nsɛm a mereka yi ho, efisɛ Awurade bɛma woate biribiara ase.
8Kae Dawid aseni Yesu Kristo a wonyan no fi awufo mu sɛnea wɔkaa no wɔ Asɛmpa a mekaa ho asɛm no mu no. 9Esiane sɛ meka Asɛmpa no nti mihu amane, mpo, wɔagu me nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn sɛ ɔdebɔneyɛni. Nanso wonguu Onyankopɔn asɛm no nkɔnsɔnkɔnsɔn ɛ. 10Ɛno nti, migyina biribiara a ɛbɛba me so no ano ma wɔn a wɔapaw wɔn no sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a wɔn nso benya nkwagye ne anuonyam a enni awiei a ɛwɔ Kristo Yesu mu no bi.
11Nsɛm a ɛsɛ sɛ wode wo ho to so ni:
“Sɛ yɛne no wui a,
yɛne no bɛtena ase.
12Sɛ yɛampa abaw a
yɛne no bedi hene.
Sɛ yɛpa no a,
ɔno nso bɛpa yɛn.
13Sɛ yɛnyɛ nokwafo a,
ɔno de, ɔyɛ ɔnokwafo
efisɛ ɔrensan nʼasɛm.”
Nnye Akyinnyehunu
14Monkae mo nkurɔfo wɔ eyi ho na mommɔ wɔn kɔkɔ wɔ Onyame anim se wɔnnham wɔn nsɛm ho, na mfaso biara nni so; na ɛsɛe atiefo adwene kɛkɛ. 15Bɔ mmɔden sɛ wobɛyɛ odwumayɛni a womfɛre Onyankopɔn adwuma no yɛ ho, na kyerɛ nokware a ɛwɔ Onyankopɔn asɛm no mu no, na woafata nʼanim. 16Twe wo ho fi nsɛnhuhuw a ɛho ntew ho, efisɛ ɛno na ɛpam nnipa fi Onyankopɔn ho. 17Nea wɔkyerɛ no te sɛ akisikuru a ɛtrɛw fa ɔhonam no ani. Saa akyerɛkyerɛfo yi mu baanu ne Himeneo ne Fileto. 18Wɔaman afi nokware no ho na wɔka kyerɛ agyidifo bi se, yɛn wusɔre no atwam dedaw nam saa asɛm no so sɛe wɔn adwene. 19Nanso obi rentumi nhinhim fapem dennen a Onyankopɔn ato no, efisɛ wɔakyerɛw wɔ so se, “Awurade nim wɔn a wɔyɛ ne de,” na “Ɛsɛ obiara a ɔka se ɔyɛ Awurade de no sɛ ɔtwe ne ho fi bɔne ho.”
20Nkuku ne nkaka wɔ ofi kɛse mu. Ebi wɔ hɔ a wɔde dwetɛ na ayɛ, bi nso wɔde sikakɔkɔɔ na ayɛ. Wɔde dua na ayɛ bi na afoforo nso wɔde dɔte. Ebi wɔ hɔ a ɛwɔ hɔ ma nnapɔnna bi na afoforo nso de di dwuma daa. 21Sɛ obi tew ne ho fi saa nneɛma bɔne no ho a, wɔde no bɛyɛ nnwuma sononko efisɛ watu ne ho asi hɔ, asiesie ne ho ama ne wura sɛ dwuma pa biara a ɛsɛ sɛ odi no, obedi.
22Guan fi mmerantebere mu akɔnnɔ ho, na tiw nneɛma a ɛho tew te sɛ: trenee, gyidi, ɔdɔ ne asomdwoe a ɛka wo ne wɔn a wofi koma pa mu bɔ mu frɛ Awurade ma ɔboa no akyi. 23Mfa wo ho nhyehyɛ nkwasea akyinnye a ɛmfa hwee mma no mu, efisɛ ɛde akasakasa ba. 24Ɛnsɛ sɛ Awurade somfo ne obi nya akasakasa. Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ ayamye ma obiara. Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔyɛ ɔkyerɛkyerɛfo pa a ɔwɔ boasetɔ nso 25a sɛ wɔn a wɔne no di asi fom a, ɔtɔ ne bo ase teɛ wɔn, sɛ ebia Onyankopɔn bɛsakra wɔn adwene ama wɔahu nokware no. 26Na wɔn adwene mu ada hɔ na wɔaguan afi ɔbonsam a wakyekyere wɔn ama wɔyɛ nʼapɛde no afiri mu.
