A Loyal Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 As for you, my son, be strong through the grace that is ours in union with Christ Jesus. 2 Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also.
3 Take your part in suffering, as a loyal soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 A soldier on active duty wants to please his commanding officer and so does not get mixed up in the affairs of civilian life. 5 An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules. 6 The farmer who has done the hard work should have the first share of the harvest. 7 Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will enable you to understand it all.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from death, who was a descendant of David, as is taught in the Good News I preach. 9 Because I preach the Good News, I suffer and I am even chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not in chains, 10 and so I endure everything for the sake of God's chosen people, in order that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and brings eternal glory. 11 This is a true saying:
“If we have died with him,
we shall also live with him.
12 If we continue to endure,
we shall also rule with him.
If we deny him,
he also will deny us.
13 If we are not faithful,
he remains faithful,
because he cannot be false to himself.”
An Approved Worker
14 Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God's presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen. 15 Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. 16 Keep away from profane and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God. 17 Such teaching is like an open sore that eats away the flesh. Two men who have taught such things are Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the way of truth and are upsetting the faith of some believers by saying that our resurrection has already taken place. 19 But the solid foundation that God has laid cannot be shaken; and on it are written these words: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Those who say that they belong to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing.”
20 In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay; some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use. 21 Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes, because they are dedicated and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed. 22 Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who with a pure heart call out to the Lord for help. 23 But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels. 24 As the Lord's servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher, 25 who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. 26 And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.
1 Tad nu tu, mans bērns, topi spēcīgs žēlastībā, kas Kristū Jēzū, 2 un, ko tu esi dzirdējis no manis, daudziem lieciniekiem klāt esot, to cel priekšā uzticīgiem cilvēkiem, kas būs noderīgi mācīt atkal citus. 3 Ciet līdz ar citiem ļaunumu, būdams labs Kristus Jēzus kareivis. 4 Neviens, atrazdamies karapulkā, nepinas ar dzīves darīšanām, lai viņš varētu patikt karakungam. 5 Un, jebšu kāds cīnās, viņš dabū vainagu tikai tad, kad viņš ir cīnījies pareizi. 6 Zemkopim, kas nodevies lauka darbam, pirmajam jāsaņem augļi. 7 Iegaumē, ko es tev saku. Gan jau dos tev Tas Kungs saprašanu visās lietās. 8 Turi prātā Jēzu Kristu, kas uzmodināts no miroņiem, no Dāvida cilts - pēc mana evaņģēlija. 9 Par to es ciešu, pat saites kā ļaundaris, bet Dieva vārds nav saistīts. 10 Tāpēc es visu panesu izredzēto dēļ, lai arī viņiem būtu daļa pie pestīšanas, kas dota Kristū Jēzū, un pie mūžīgas godības. 11 Patiess ir šis vārds: ja mēs esam līdzi miruši, tad mēs arī līdzi dzīvosim; 12 ja mēs pastāvam ciešanās, tad mēs arī līdzi valdīsim; ja mēs aizliegsim, tad arī Viņš aizliegs mūs; 13 ja mēs esam neuzticīgi, Viņš paliek uzticīgs, jo Viņš nevar Sevi pašu aizliegt. 14 To visu atgādini, apliecinādams Dieva priekšā, lai viņi nekarotu vārdiem; tas nekam neder, tas samaitā klausītājus. 15 Centies būt Dieva acīs krietns darbinieks, kam nav ko kaunēties un kas pareizi māca patiesības vārdu. 16 Bet no nesvētām un tukšām runām izvairies, jo viņi arvien dziļāk iestigs bezdievībā, 17 un viņu mācība kā sērga izplatās; tādi ir Himenajs un Filēts, 18 kas ir noklīduši no patiesības, sacīdami, ka augšāmcelšanās esot jau notikusi, un sagroza dažiem ticību. 19 Taču stiprais Dieva pamats pastāv ar šādu zīmogu: Tas Kungs pazīst savējos, un: lai atturas no netaisnības ikviens, kas daudzina Tā Kunga Vārdu. 20 Lielā namā ir ne tikvien zelta un sudraba trauki, bet arī koka un māla, un citi godam, bet citi negodam; 21 ja nu kāds nošķīstās no tādām lietām, tad viņš būs trauks godam, svēts, derīgs Tam Kungam, sataisīts ikkatram labam darbam. 22 Bēdz no jaunekļa iekārībām un dzenies pēc taisnības, ticības, mīlestības, miera ar tiem, kas piesauc To Kungu ar skaidru sirdi. 23 Bet aplamās un nemākulīgās prātošanas noraidi, zinot, ka tās rada karus; 24 bet mūsu Kunga kalpam nepienākas ķildoties, bet būt laipnam pret visiem, izveicīgam mācīšanā un panest ļaunumu, 25 tādam, kas ar lēnprātību pamāca pretiniekus - varbūt Dievs kādreiz dotu viņiem atgriezties pie patiesības atziņas, 26 un viņi atkal atgūtu skaidru prātu, atraisīdamies no velna valga, ar ko tie sagūstīti, lai darītu viņa gribu.
