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 quarreling 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.
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.
