Giving the truth to others
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📚You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 📚And the things you have heard from me with many witnesses present, those same things entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
3 illustrations encouraging hard and faithful work
3 📚You, therefore, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 📚No man that goes to war entangles himself in the affairs of civilian life, that he may please the one who has chosen him to be a soldier. 5 📚Also if a person competes in athletic contests, he does not gain the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6 📚The hardworking farmer must be the first to get a share of the crop. 7 📚Consider what I say. May the Lord give you understanding in all things.
The gospel Paul preached and why he suffered for it
8 📚Remember that Jesus Christ, among the descendants of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 📚for which I suffer trouble, as if I were a criminal, even to the point of chains. But the word of God is not chained. 10 📚So I endure everything for the sake of God’s chosen ones, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
A trustworthy saying
11 📚This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with him,
we will also live with him.
12 📚If we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we deny him, he will deny us also.
13 📚If we are faithless, he remains faithful;
he cannot deny himself.
Useless and dangerous teaching
14 📚Remind them of these things, and solemnly declare in the presence of the Lord that they must not quarrel about words, which is useless and ruins those who hear it. 15 📚Make every effort to show yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, using the word of truth rightly. 16 📚But avoid profane, empty babblings, for they will result in more ungodliness. 17 📚And their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among these are Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 📚They have veered away from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place. And they upset the faith of some. 19 📚Nevertheless the foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his”; and, “Let everyone who utters the name of Christ keep away from wickedness”.
Different kinds of vessels
20 📚But in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some valuable and some of no value. 21 📚So if a person cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a valuable vessel, sanctified, and useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
Things to flee or avoid
22 📚Also flee from youthful cravings, but follow righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 📚But avoid foolish and ignorant debates, knowing that they engender quarrels. 24 📚And the servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind to everyone, able to teach, and patient.
Satan’s terrible power
25 📚He should humbly instruct those who oppose him, hoping that perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them into a knowledge of the truth, 26 📚and that they may wake up and escape from the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.