2 Timothy · Bible in Basic English
2 Timothy 2 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 So then, my child, be strong in the grace which is in Christ Jesus.
1 You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
1 Σὺ οὖν, τέκνον μου, ἐνδυναμοῦ ἐν τῇ χάριτι τῇ ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ,
2 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.
2 The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2 καὶ ἃ ἤκουσας παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διὰ πολλῶν μαρτύρων, ταῦτα παράθου πιστοῖς ἀνθρώποις, οἵτινες ἱκανοὶ ἔσονται καὶ ἑτέρους διδάξαι.
3 Be ready to do without the comforts of life, as one of the army of Christ Jesus.
3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
3 σὺ οὖν κακοπάθησον ὡς καλὸς στρατιώτης Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ.
4 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.
4 No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
4 οὐδεὶς στρατευόμενος ἐμπλέκεται ταῖς τοῦ βίου πραγματείαις, ἵνα τῷ στρατολογήσαντι ἀρέσῃ.
5 And if a man takes part in a competition he does not get the crown if he has not kept the rules.
5 Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules.
5 ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ἀθλῇ τις, οὐ στεφανοῦται, ἐὰν μὴ νομίμως ἀθλήσῃ.
6 It is right for the worker in the fields to be the first to take of the fruit.
6 The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops.
6 τὸν κοπιῶντα γεωργὸν δεῖ πρῶτον τῶν καρπῶν μεταλαμβάνειν.
7 Give thought to what I say; for the Lord will give you wisdom in all things.
7 Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
7 νόει ἃ λέγω· δῴη γάρ σοι ὁ Κύριος σύνεσιν ἐν πᾶσι.
8 Keep in mind Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, who came back from the dead, as my good news gives witness:
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News,
8 Μνημόνευε Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν ἐγηγερμένον ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐκ σπέρματος Δαυΐδ, κατὰ τὸ εὐαγγέλιόν μου,
9 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.
9 in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained.
9 ἐν ᾧ κακοπαθῶ μέχρι δεσμῶν ὡς κακοῦργος· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ οὐ δέδεται.
10 But I undergo all things for the saints, so that they may have salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
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.
10 διὰ τοῦτο πάντα ὑπομένω διὰ τοὺς ἐκλεκτούς, ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ σωτηρίας τύχωσι τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ μετὰ δόξης αἰωνίου.
11 This is a true saying: If we undergo death with him, then will we be living with him:
11 This saying is trustworthy: “For if we died with him, we will also live with him.
11 Πιστὸς ὁ λόγος· εἰ γὰρ συναπεθάνομεν, καὶ συζήσομεν·
12 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:
12 If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.
12 εἰ ὑπομένομεν, καὶ συμβασιλεύσομεν· εἰ ἀρνούμεθα, κἀκεῖνος ἀρνήσεται ἡμᾶς·
13 If we are without faith, still he keeps faith, for he will never be untrue to himself.
13 If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.”
13 εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν, ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς μένει· ἀρνήσασθαι ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται.
14 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.
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.
14 Ταῦτα ὑπομίμνησκε, διαμαρτυρόμενος ἐνώπιον τοῦ Κυρίου μὴ λογομαχεῖν εἰς οὐδὲν χρήσιμον, ἐπὶ καταστροφῇ τῶν ἀκουόντων.
15 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.
15 Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.
15 σπούδασον σεαυτὸν δόκιμον παραστῆσαι τῷ Θεῷ, ἐργάτην ἀνεπαίσχυντον, ὀρθοτομοῦντα τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας.
16 But take no part in wrong and foolish talk, for those who do so will go farther into evil,
16 But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness,
16 τὰς δὲ βεβήλους κενοφωνίας περιΐστασο· ἐπὶ πλεῖον γὰρ προκόψουσιν ἀσεβείας,
17 And their words will be like poisoned wounds in the flesh: such are Hymenaeus and Philetus;
17 and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus:
17 καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτῶν ὡς γάγγραινα νομὴν ἕξει· ὧν ἐστιν Ὑμέναιος καὶ Φιλητός,
18 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.
18 men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some.
18 οἵτινες περὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἠστόχησαν, λέγοντες τὴν ἀνάστασιν ἤδη γεγονέναι, καὶ ἀνατρέπουσι τήν τινων πίστιν.
19 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.
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.”
19 ὁ μέντοι στερεὸς θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν, ἔχων τὴν σφραγῖδα ταύτην· ἔγνω Κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ· καί· ἀποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου.
20 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.
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.
20 ἐν μεγάλῃ δὲ οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔστι μόνον σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ξύλινα καὶ ὀστράκινα, καὶ ἃ μὲν εἰς τιμήν, ἃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν.
21 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.
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.
21 ἐὰν οὖν τις ἐκκαθάρῃ ἑαυτὸν ἀπὸ τούτων, ἔσται σκεῦος εἰς τιμήν, ἡγιασμένον καὶ εὔχρηστον τῷ δεσπότῃ, εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἡτοιμασμένον.
22 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.
22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
22 τὰς δὲ νεωτερικὰς ἐπιθυμίας φεῦγε, δίωκε δὲ δικαιοσύνην, πίστιν, ἀγάπην, εἰρήνην μετὰ τῶν ἐπικαλουμένων τὸν Κύριον ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας.
23 And put away foolish and uncontrolled questionings, seeing that they are a cause of trouble.
23 But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife.
23 τὰς δὲ μωρὰς καὶ ἀπαιδεύτους ζητήσεις παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι γεννῶσι μάχας·
24 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,
24 The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient,
24 δοῦλον δὲ Κυρίου οὐ δεῖ μάχεσθαι, ἀλλ᾽ ἤπιον εἶναι πρὸς πάντας, διδακτικόν, ἀνεξίκακον,
25 Gently guiding those who go against the teaching; if by chance God may give them a change of heart and true knowledge,
25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,
25 ἐν πρᾳότητι παιδεύοντα τοὺς ἀντιδιατιθεμένους, μήποτε δῷ αὐτοῖς ὁ Θεὸς μετάνοιαν εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας,
26 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.
26 and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
26 καὶ ἀνανήψωσιν ἐκ τῆς τοῦ διαβόλου παγίδος, ἐζωγρημένοι ὑπ᾽ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ἐκείνου θέλημα.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Hymenaeus
A man who shipwrecked his faith; Paul handed him over to Satan to learn not to blaspheme, and he taught that the resurrection had already happened.
Cited in the guide: 1 Timothy 1:20; 2 Timothy 2:17
Philetus
Named with Hymenaeus as one whose teaching spreads like gangrene, claiming the resurrection had already happened.
Cited in the guide: 2 Timothy 2:17
Cross references (26)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; 2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians 6:10; Philippians 4:13; 1 Corinthians 16:13
- 2 2 Timothy 1:13–14; 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Timothy 6:12; Malachi 2:7; Titus 1:5–9
- 3 Hebrews 12:2–3; James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:5; 2 Timothy 1:8; Ephesians 6:11–18
- 4 1 Thessalonians 2:4; Luke 8:14; 2 Peter 2:20; 1 Corinthians 7:22–23; 1 Corinthians 9:25–26
- 5 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; Revelation 3:11; 2 Timothy 4:7–8; James 1:12; Colossians 1:29
- 6 Hebrews 10:36; 1 Corinthians 9:7–11; 1 Corinthians 3:6–9; John 4:35–38; Luke 10:2
- 7 James 1:5; 1 John 5:20; Genesis 41:38–39; Luke 24:45; Ephesians 1:17–18
- 8 Acts 2:24; Romans 2:16; 2 Thessalonians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 15:11–20; Matthew 1:1
- 9 Acts 28:31; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 1:8; Ephesians 6:19–20; Colossians 4:3
- 10 1 Peter 5:10; Colossians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:3; Colossians 1:27
- 11 Romans 6:8; Colossians 3:3–4; Romans 6:5; 1 Timothy 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:10
- 12 Romans 8:17; Matthew 10:33; Revelation 20:4; Luke 12:9; Revelation 20:6
- 13 Numbers 23:19; Romans 3:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Titus 1:2
- 14 Titus 3:9–11; 2 Timothy 2:23; 2 Timothy 4:1; Romans 14:1; 1 Timothy 5:21
- 15 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 Timothy 4:6; 2 Corinthians 10:18; 2 Corinthians 5:9
- 16 Titus 3:9; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8; Titus 1:14
- 17 1 Timothy 1:20; Nahum 3:15; James 5:3
- 18 1 Corinthians 15:12; 1 Timothy 1:19; Hebrews 3:10; 1 Timothy 6:10; Matthew 22:29
- 19 John 10:14; 1 Corinthians 8:3; Nahum 1:7; 1 John 3:7–10; Numbers 16:5
- 20 Romans 9:21–23; 1 Peter 2:5; 1 Timothy 3:15; 1 Corinthians 3:9; Ezra 1:6
- 21 Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 3:17; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Psalm 119:9; 1 Peter 1:22
- 22 1 Peter 2:11; 1 Peter 3:11; 1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Timothy 6:11; Psalm 119:9
- 23 2 Timothy 2:14; Titus 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:7; 1 Timothy 6:4–5; 1 Timothy 1:4
- 24 Titus 3:2; James 1:19–20; Titus 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Timothy 3:2–3
- 25 Acts 11:18; Galatians 6:1; 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 John 5:16; Acts 8:22
- 26 1 Timothy 3:7; Isaiah 49:25–26; Psalm 124:7; Colossians 1:13; Isaiah 42:6–7
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The young sailor at sea is inspired with great confidence, if the Master of the ship has been preserved in a shipwreck. For he will not consider that it is from his inexperience that he is exposed to the storm, but from the nature of things; and this has no little effect upon his mind.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 13 (1889)
But those surgings in me required to find him at full leisure, that I might pour them out to him, but never were they able to find him so; and I heard him, indeed, every Lord's day, "rightly dividing the word of truth" among the people; and I was all the more convinced that all those knots of crafty calumnies, …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… discourses with us, both in the Old Testament, and in the New; in the one saying, "O my people, what have I done unto thee?" in the other, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me." And Paul too bids, "In meekness instruct those that oppose themselves." And Christ again, when His disciples had come to Him, requiring fire to come down …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Paul also saith, Remember Jesus Christ raised from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Gospel: and in the beginning of the Epistle to the Romans he saith, Which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
… but rather of the succour rendered "in the power of his might." For He Himself has bound the strong man and spoiled his goods, that is, us men, whom our enemy had abused in every evil activity, and made "vessels meet for the Master's use" us who have been perfected for every work through the making ready of that part …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)