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.
基督的精兵
1我兒啊！你要靠著基督耶穌的恩典剛強起來。 2以前你在許多見證人面前聽過我的教導，你要把這些教導傳給忠信可靠、能教導他人的人。
3你要作基督耶穌的精兵，與我同受苦難。 4當兵的若讓其他事務纏身，就不能取悅徵召他的上司。 5同樣，參加比賽的人若不遵守比賽規則，就不可能得獎。 6辛勞的農夫理當先享受收成。 7你要思想我說的話，因為主必使你領悟這一切。
8你要切記我所傳的福音：耶穌基督是大衛的後裔，祂從死裡復活了。 9我為這福音受苦，甚至像犯人一樣被囚禁，但上帝的道是囚禁不住的。 10我為了上帝的選民忍受一切痛苦，使他們可以獲得在基督耶穌裡的救恩和永遠的榮耀。 11有真實可信的話說：
「我們若與基督同死，
就必與祂同活。
12我們若忍耐到底，
就必與祂一同作王。
我們若不承認祂，
祂也必不承認我們。
13我們縱然會失信，
祂仍然信實可靠，
因為祂不能否認自己。」
做無愧的工人
14你要提醒眾人這些事，在上帝面前囑咐他們：不要為言詞爭辯，因為那對聽見的人有害無益。 15你應當竭力在上帝面前做經得起考驗、問心無愧的工人，正確講解真理之道。 16要遠避一切世俗的空談，因為好空談的人只會越來越不敬虔。 17他們講的話像毒瘡越爛越大，許米乃和腓理徒就是例子。 18他們離經背道，說復活的事已成過去，動搖了一些人的信心。 19然而，上帝所立的堅實根基屹立不搖，這根基上刻著：「主認識那些屬於祂的人」2·19 民數記16·5。，「凡承認主名的人都要離棄罪惡。」
20大戶人家不但有金器銀器，也有木器瓦器，這些器皿的用途有貴賤之分。 21人若潔身自愛，遠離卑賤的事，就必成為聖潔無瑕的貴重器皿，可以被主用來成就各種善事。
22你要逃避年輕人的邪情私慾，要跟那些以清潔的心求告主的人一同追求公義、信心、仁愛、和平。 23不要參與愚昧無知的辯論，因為你知道這些事只會引起紛爭。 24主的奴僕不可與人爭執，總要溫和待人，善於教導，心存忍耐。 25要溫柔地規勸那些反對的人，也許上帝會賜給他們悔改的心，使他們明白真理， 26讓他們這些被魔鬼擄去、受其擺佈的人能夠醒悟過來，脫離魔鬼的網羅。
