New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus;
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So then, my child, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.
2 and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.
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And the things which I have said to you before a number of witnesses, give to those of the faith, so that they may be teachers of others.
3 Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
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Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus.
4 No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier's aim is to please the enlisting officer.
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A fighting man, when he is with the army, keeps himself free from the business of this life so that he may be pleasing to him who has taken him into his army.
5 And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules.
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And if a man takes part in a competition he does not get the crown if he has not kept the rules.
6 It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops.
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It is right for the worker in the fields to be the first to take of the fruit.
7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
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Give thought to what I say; for the Lord will give you wisdom in all things.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel,
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Keep in mind Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, who came back from the dead, as my good news gives witness:
9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained.
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In which I put up with the hardest conditions, even prison chains, like one who has done a crime; but the word of God is not in chains.
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
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But I undergo all things for the saints, so that they may have salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
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This is a true saying: If we undergo death with him, then will we be living with him:
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us;
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If we go on to the end, then we will be ruling with him: if we say we have no knowledge of him, then he will say he has no knowledge of us:
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
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If we are without faith, still he keeps faith, for he will never be untrue to himself.
14 Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening.
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Put these things before them, giving them orders in the name of the Lord to keep themselves from fighting about words, which is of no profit, only causing error in their hearers.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
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Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way.
16 Avoid profane chatter, for it will lead people into more and more impiety,
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But take no part in wrong and foolish talk, for those who do so will go farther into evil,
17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
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And their words will be like poisoned wounds in the flesh: such are Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18 who have swerved from the truth by claiming that the resurrection has already taken place. They are upsetting the faith of some.
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Men whose ideas are all false, who say that the coming back from the dead has even now taken place, overturning the faith of some.
19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who calls on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness."
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But God's strong base is unchanging, having this sign, The Lord has knowledge of those who are his: and, Let everyone by whom the name of the Lord is named be turned away from evil.
20 In a large house there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for special use, some for ordinary.
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Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but others of wood and earth, and some which are honoured and some without honour.
21 All who cleanse themselves of the things I have mentioned will become special utensils, dedicated and useful to the owner of the house, ready for every good work.
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If a man makes himself clean from these, he will be a vessel for honour, made holy, ready for the master's use, ready for every good work.
22 Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
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But keep yourself from those desires of the flesh which are strong when the body is young, and go after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those whose prayers go up to the Lord from a clean heart.
23 Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
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And put away foolish and uncontrolled questionings, seeing that they are a cause of trouble.
24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, patient,
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For it is not right for the Lord's servant to make trouble, but he is to be gentle to all, ready in teaching, putting up with wrong,
25 correcting opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant that they will repent and come to know the truth,
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Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge,
26 and that they may escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
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And so they may get themselves free from the net of the Evil One, being made the prisoners of the Lord's servant, for the purpose of God.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.