2 Timothy 2:1-15

1Timothy, you are like my own child. Let God make you strong. He is kind, so trust him to help you, because you belong to Christ Jesus.

2You have heard the message that I have taught. Many other people also heard it and they agree that it is true. Now you must tell the same message to other people who will be able to teach it to even more people. They should be people that you can trust as honest people and who can teach well.

3Be patient through the troubles that we Christians have. Be brave and strong, like a good soldier for Christ Jesus.

4Any soldier who fights in a war does not become busy with other things. He only wants to fight well to make his captain happy.

5It is the same with an athlete who runs a race. He cannot win the race unless he obeys the rules.

6A farmer works hard to grow plants for food. So he should be the first person to receive some of that food.

7Think carefully about what I am saying to you. The Lord will help you to understand all these things.

8Jesus Christ is a descendant of King David. God caused him to become alive again after his death. Remember that! These facts are part of the good news that I tell people.

9And I have many troubles because I tell that good news to people. They have even put me in a prison, like someone who has done something bad. But nobody can keep God's message in a prison!

10So I continue to be patient and brave during all these troubles. I do that so that I can help the people that God has chosen to belong to him. I want God to save them too, because of what Christ Jesus has done for them. As a result, they will live with God for ever, in the beautiful place where he lives.

11We all know that this is true: ‘If we have died with Christ in this world, we will also live with him in the future world.

12If we continue to be strong during troubles here, we will also rule with him there in heaven. But if we say that we do not know Christ, he will also say that he does not know us.

13Even if we no longer trust him, he will still be someone that people can trust. He will always remain true to his nature.’

14Continue to tell these things to God's people there, so that they remember them. Use God's authority and warn them not to quarrel about words. To quarrel about little things does not help anyone. Instead, it destroys those people who listen.

15Always try very much to serve God in a way that makes him happy. Then he will accept you as a good worker that he can trust. You must teach God's true message correctly. Then you will have no reason to be ashamed of your work.