2 Timothy 2 - 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)

2 2 The better to set out perseverance in the Christian warfare, 3 he taketh similitudes, 4 from soldiers, 6 and from husbandmen. 10 He showeth that his bonds are for the profit of the Saints: 15 Then he warneth Timothy to divide the word of truth aright, 17 to beware of the examples of the wicked, 22 and to do all things modestly.

¹ Thou ^[a]therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

² And what things thou hast heard of me, by ^[b]many witnesses, the same deliver to faithful men, which shall be able to teach others also.

^{3 [c]}Thou therefore suffer affliction as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

⁴ No man that warreth, entangleth himself with the affairs of ^[d]this life, because he would please him that hath chosen him to be a soldier.

^{5 [e]}And if any man also strive for a mastery, he is not crowned, except he strive as he ought to do.

^{6 [f]}The husbandman must labor before he receive the fruits.

^{7 [g]}Consider what I say: and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

^{8 [h]}Remember that Jesus Christ, made of the seed of David, was raised again from the dead according to my Gospel,

^{9 [i]}Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds: but the word of God is not bound.

¹⁰ Therefore I suffer all things for the elect’s sake, that they might also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

^{11 [j]}It is a true saying, For if we be ^(A)[k]dead together with him: we also shall live together with him.

¹² If we suffer, we shall also reign together with him: ^(B)if we deny him, he also will deny us.

¹³ If ^(C)we believe not, yet abideth he faithful: he cannot deny himself.

¹⁴ Of these things put them in remembrance, and ^[l]protest before the Lord, that they strive not about words, which is to no profit, but to the perverting of the hearers.

^{15 [m]}Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, dividing the word of truth ^[n]aright.

^{16 [o]}Stay profane, and vain babblings: ^[p]for they shall increase unto more ungodliness.

¹⁷ And their word shall fret as a canker: of which sort is Hymenaeus and Philetus.

¹⁸ Which as concerning the truth have erred from the mark, saying that the resurrection is past already, and do destroy the faith of certain.

^{19 [q]}But the foundation of God remaineth sure, and hath this seal, The Lord knoweth who are his: and, Let everyone that ^[r]calleth on the Name of Christ, depart from iniquity.

^{20 [s]}Notwithstanding in a great house are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth, ^(D)and some for honor, and some unto dishonor.

²¹ If any man therefore ^[t]purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Lord, and prepared unto every good work.

^{22 [u]}Flee also from the lusts of youth, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, and ^[v]peace, with them that ^(E)call on the Lord with pure heart,

^{23 (F)}And put away foolish and unlearned questions, knowing that they engender strife.

²⁴ But the servant of the Lord must not strive, but must be gentle toward all men, apt to teach, ^[w]suffering the evil,

²⁵ Instructing them with meekness that are ^[x]contrary minded, proving if God at any time will give them repentance, that they may acknowledge the truth,

²⁶ And come to amendment out of that snare of the devil, of whom they are taken prisoners, to do his will.

Footnotes

1. 2 Timothy 2:1 The conclusion of the former exhortation, which hath also added unto it a declaration how that they do not keep that worthy thing that is committed unto them which keep it to themselves, but they rather which do most freely communicate it with others, to the end that many may be partakers of it, without any man’s loss or hindrance.
2. 2 Timothy 2:2 When many were by, which can bear witness of these things.
3. 2 Timothy 2:3 Another admonition: That the ministry of the word is a spiritual warfare, which no man can so travail in, that he may please his captain, unless he forgo and part with all hindrances which might draw him away from it.
4. 2 Timothy 2:4 With affairs of household, or other things that belong to other ordinary businesses.
5. 2 Timothy 2:5 The third admonition: The ministry is like to a game or justing, wherein men strive for the victory, and no man is crowned unless he strive according to the laws which are prescribed, be they never so hard and painful.
6. 2 Timothy 2:6 Another similitude tending to the same end: no man may look for the harvest, unless he first take pains to plow and sow his ground.
7. 2 Timothy 2:7 All these things cannot be understood, and much less practiced, unless we ask of God and he gives us understanding.
8. 2 Timothy 2:8 He confirmeth plainly two principles of our faith, which are always assaulted of heretics, the one whereof (to wit, that Christ is the true Messiah made man of the seed of David) is the ground of our salvation: and the other is the highest part of it, to wit, that he is risen again from the dead.
9. 2 Timothy 2:9 The taking away of an objection: Truth it is, that he is kept in prison, as an evildoer, yet there is no cause, why therefore some should go about to derogate credit from his Gospel, seeing that notwithstanding God did bless his ministry, nay rather, that example of this his captivity and patience did sundry ways confirm the Church in the hope of a better life.
10. 2 Timothy 2:11 The fourth admonition: we ought not to contend upon words and questions, which are not only unprofitable, but also for the most part hurtful: but rather upon this, how we may frame ourselves to all manner of patience, and to die also with Christ (that is to say, for Christ’s Name) because that is the plain way to the most glorious life: as contrariwise the falling away of men can diminish no part of the truth of God, although by such means, they procure most certain destruction to themselves.
11. 2 Timothy 2:11 If we be afflicted with Christ, and for Christ’s sake.
12. 2 Timothy 2:14 Call God to witness, or as a Judge: as Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and Paul himself did, Acts 20.
13. 2 Timothy 2:15 The fifth admonition: A minister must not be an idle disputer, but a faithful steward in dividing aright the word of truth, insomuch that he must stop the mouths of other vain babblers.
14. 2 Timothy 2:15 By adding nothing to it, neither overslipping anything, neither mangling it, nor renting it in sunder, nor wresting of it: but marking diligently what his hearers are able to hear, and what is fit to edifying.
15. 2 Timothy 2:16 Mark and watch, and see they creep not on further.
16. 2 Timothy 2:16 He discovereth the subtlety of Satan, who beginning with these principles draweth us by little and little to ungodliness through the means of that wicked and profane babbling, still creeping on: which he proveth by the horrible example of them that taught that, the resurrection was already past.
17. 2 Timothy 2:19 A digression: wherein he salveth that offense that rose by their falling away: showing first, that the elect are out of all danger of any such falling away: secondly, that they are known to God and not to us: and therefore it is no marvel if we count hypocrites oftentimes for true brethren: but we must take heed that we be not like them, but rather that we be indeed, such as we are said to be.
18. 2 Timothy 2:19 That serveth and worshippeth him, and is as it were named of him, a faithful man or Christian.
19. 2 Timothy 2:20 The taking away of an objection: it is no dishonor to the good man of the house, that he hath not in a great house all vessels of one sort and for one service, but we must look to this, that we be found vessels prepared to honor.
20. 2 Timothy 2:21 By these words is meant the execution of the matter, and not the cause: for in that we purge ourselves, it is not to be attributeth to any free will that is in us, but to God, who freely and wholly worketh in us a good and an effectual will.
21. 2 Timothy 2:22 Returning to the matter from whence he digressed, verse 16, he warneth him to exercise himself in weighty matters, and such as pertain to godliness.
22. 2 Timothy 2:22 The sixth admonition: We must above all things eschew all bitterness of mind both in teaching all men, and also in calling them back which have gone out of the way.
23. 2 Timothy 2:24 To win them through our patient bearing with them, but not to please them or excuse them in their wickedness.
24. 2 Timothy 2:25 He meaneth such as do not yet see the truth.

Cross references

1. 2 Timothy 2:11 : Rom. 6:5
2. 2 Timothy 2:12 : Matt. 10:33; Mark 8:38
3. 2 Timothy 2:13 : Rom. 3:3; Rom. 9:6
4. 2 Timothy 2:20 : Rom. 9:21
5. 2 Timothy 2:22 : 1 Cor. 1:2
6. 2 Timothy 2:23 : 1 Tim. 1:4; 1 Tim. 4:7; Titus 3:9