A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus
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and 3what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses 4entrust to faithful men 5who will be able to teach others also.
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No soldier 8gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
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It is 11the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.
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Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
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Remember Jesus Christ, 12risen from the dead, the 13offspring of David, 14as preached in my gospel,
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15for which I am suffering, 16bound with chains as a criminal. But 17the word of God is not bound!
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Therefore 18I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain 19the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with 20eternal glory.
A Worker Approved by God
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Remind them of these things, and 29charge them before Goda30not to quarrel about words, 31which does no good, but only ruins the hearers.
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Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,b a worker 32who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
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and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are 35Hymenaeus and Philetus,
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who have swerved from the truth, 36saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
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But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: 37"The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone 38who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity."
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Now in 39a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, 40some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
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Therefore, 41if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,c he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, 42ready for every good work.
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So 43flee 44youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with 45those who call on the Lord 46from a pure heart.
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Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant 47controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
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And 48the Lord's servantd must not be quarrelsome but 49kind to everyone, 50able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
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correcting his opponents 51with gentleness. God 52may perhaps grant them repentance 53leading to a knowledge of the truth,
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and they may come to their senses and escape from 54the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)