Passage

2 Timothy 2

Book: 2 Timothy · NASB95

Immediate context (±2 verses)

ASV (ASV)

"1. Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2. And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4. No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. 5. And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully. 6. The husbandmen that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits. 7. Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things. 8. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel: 9. wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound. 10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11. Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: 12. if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: 13. if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself. 14. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear. 15. Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth. 16. But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness, 17. and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18. men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. 19. Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness. 20. Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work. 22. But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23. But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes. 24. And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, 25. in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, 26. and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will." (2 Timothy 2:1-26, ASV)

WEB (WEB)

"1. You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2. The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3. You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4. No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. 5. Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules. 6. The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops. 7. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 8. Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News, 9. in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. 10. Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11. This saying is trustworthy: “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 also will deny us. 13. If we are faithless, he remains faithful. For he can’t deny himself.” 14. Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don’t argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear. 15. Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. 16. But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness, 17. and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18. men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some. 19. However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” 20. Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. 21. If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work. 22. Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23. But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife. 24. The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, 25. in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 26. and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will." (2 Timothy 2:1-26, WEB)

KJV (KJV)

"1. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. ^{among: or, by} 3. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. 6. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. ^{that: or, labouring first, must be partaker of the fruits} 7. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. 8. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9. Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13. If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 14. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; ^{canker: or, gangrene} 18. Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. ^{sure: or, steady} 20. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, ^{patient: or, forbearing} 25. In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26. And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. ^{recover: Gr. awake} ^{taken: Gr. taken alive}" (2 Timothy 2:1-26, KJV)

YLT (YLT)

"1. Thou, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that [is] in Christ Jesus, 2. and the things that thou didst hear from me through many witnesses, these things be committing to stedfast men, who shall be sufficient also others to teach; 3. thou, therefore, suffer evil as a good soldier of Jesus Christ; 4. no one serving as a soldier did entangle himself with the affairs of life, that him who did enlist him he may please; 5. and if also any one may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully; 6. the labouring husbandman it behoveth first of the fruits to partake; 7. be considering what things I say, for the Lord give to thee understanding in all things. 8. Remember Jesus Christ, raised out of the dead, of the seed of David, according to my good news, 9. in which I suffer evil, unto bonds, as an evil-doer, but the word of God hath not been bound; 10. because of this all things do I endure, because of the choice ones, that they also salvation may obtain that [is] in Christ Jesus, with glory age-during. 11. Stedfast [is] the word: For if we died together, we also shall live together; 12. if we do endure together, we shall also reign together; if we deny [him], he also shall deny us; 13. if we are not stedfast, he remaineth stedfast; to deny himself he is not able. 14. These things remind [them] of, testifying fully before the Lord, not to strive about words to nothing profitable, but to the subversion of those hearing; 15. be diligent to present thyself approved to God, a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth; 16. and the profane vain talkings stand aloof from, for to more impiety they will advance, 17. and their word as a gangrene will have pasture, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18. who concerning the truth did swerve, saying the rising again to have already been, and do overthrow the faith of some; 19. sure, nevertheless, hath the foundation of God stood, having this seal, 'The Lord hath known those who are His,' and 'Let him depart from unrighteousness, every one who is naming the name of Christ.' 20. And in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour, and some to dishonour: 21. if, then, any one may cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified and profitable to the master, to every good work having been prepared, 22. and the youthful lusts flee thou, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those calling upon the Lord out of a pure heart; 23. and the foolish and uninstructed questions be avoiding, having known that they beget strife, 24. and a servant of the Lord it behoveth not to strive, but to be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient under evil, 25. in meekness instructing those opposing, if perhaps God may give to them repentance to an acknowledging of the truth, 26. and they may awake out of the devil's snare, having been caught by him at his will." (2 Timothy 2:1-26, YLT)

Setting

Speaker: TBD
Audience: TBD
Location: TBD
Time period: TBD

Theological reading

Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added.

Key words

Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word; see Lexicon Roadmap.

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Quoted in

Why these four translations

ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the most literal English translations available (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the public domain in the United States, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance.

The four:

ASV (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition.
WEB (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English.
KJV (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base.
YLT (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff.

See Bibles for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.