Weymouth New Testament in Modern Speech: 2 Timothy | Page 2

he may satisfy the officer who enlisted him. 002:005 And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules. 002:006 The harvestman who labours in the field must be the first to get a share of the crop. 002:007 Mark well what I am saying: the Lord will give you discernment in everything. 002:008 Never forget that Jesus Christ has risen from among the dead and is a descendant of David, as is declared in the Good News which I preach. 002:009 For preaching the Good News I suffer, and am even put in chains, as if I were a criminal: yet the word of God is not imprisoned. 002:010 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of God's own people; so that they also may obtain salvation--even the salvation which is in Christ Jesus--and with it eternal glory. 002:011 Faithful is the saying: "If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; 002:012 "If we patiently endure pain, we shall also share His Kingship; "If we disown Him, He will also disown us; 002:013 "And even if *our* faith fails, He remains true--He cannot prove false to Himself." 002:014 Bring all this to men's remembrances, solemnly charging them in the presence of God not to waste time in wrangling about mere words, a course which is altogether unprofitable and tends only to the ruin of the hearers. 002:015 Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame. 002:016 But from irreligious and frivolous talk hold aloof, for those who indulge in it will proceed from bad to worse in impiety, 002:017 and their teaching will spread like a running sore. Hymenaeus and Philetus are men of that stamp. 002:018 In the matter of the truth they have gone astray, saying that the Resurrection is already past, and so they are overthrowing the faith of some. 002:019 Yet God's solid foundation stands unmoved, bearing this inscription, "The Lord knows those who really belong to Him." And this also, "Let every one who names the Name of the Lord renounce all wickedness." 002:020 Now in a great house there are not only articles of gold and silver, but also others of wood and of earthenware; and some are for specially honourable, and others for common use. 002:021 If therefore a man keeps himself clear of these latter, he himself will be for specially honourable use, consecrated, fit for the Master's service, and fully equipped for every good work. 002:022 Keep a strong curb, however, on your youthful cravings; and strive for integrity, good faith, love, peace, in company with all who pray to the Lord with pure hearts. 002:023 But avoid foolish discussions with ignorant men, knowing--as you do-- that these lead to quarrels; 002:024 and a bondservant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be inoffensive towards all men, a skilful teacher, and patient under wrongs. 002:025 He must speak in a gentle tone when correcting the errors of opponents, in the hope that God will at last give them repentance, for them to come to a full knowledge of the truth 002:026 and recover sober-mindedness and freedom from the Devil's snare, though they are now entrapped by him to do his will. 003:001 But of this be assured: in the last days grievous times will set in. 003:002 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, profane. They will be disobedient to parents, thankless, irreligious, 003:003 destitute of natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers. They will have no self-control, but will be brutal, opposed to goodness, 003:004 treacherous, headstrong, self-important. They will love pleasure instead of loving God, 003:005 and will keep up a make-believe of piety and yet live in defiance of its power. Turn away from people of this sort. 003:006 Among them are included the men who make their way into private houses and carry off weak women as their prisoners-- women who, weighed down by the burden of their sins, are led by ever-changing caprice, 003:007 and are always learning something new, and yet are never able to arrive at real knowledge of the truth. 003:008 And just as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so also these false teachers withstand the truth--being, as they are, men of debased intellects, and of no real worth so far as faith is concerned. 003:009 But they will have no further success; for their folly will be as clearly manifest to all men, as that of the opponents of Moses came to be. 003:010 But you have intimately known my teaching, life, aims, faith, patience, love, resignation, 003:011 and the persecutions and sufferings