| | 1 | 我兒阿、你要在基督耶穌的恩典上剛強起來。
You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. | |
| | 2 | 你在許多見證人面前聽見我所教訓的、也要交託那忠心能教導別人的人。
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. | |
| | 3 | 你要和我同受苦難、好像基督耶穌的精兵。
Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. | |
| | 4 | 凡在軍中當兵的、不將世務纏身、好叫那招他當兵的人喜悅。
No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. | |
| | 5 | 人若在埸上比武、非按規矩、就不能得冠冕。
Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. | |
| | 6 | 勞力的農夫、理當先得糧食。
The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. | |
| | 7 | 我所說的話你要思想．因為凡事主必給你聰明。
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. | |
| | 8 | 你要記念耶穌基督乃是大衛的後裔．他從死裡復活、正合乎我所傳的福音。
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, | |
| | 9 | 我為這福音受苦難、甚至被捆綁、像犯人一樣．然而 神的道、卻不被捆綁。
for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained. | |
| | 10 | 所以我為選民凡事忍耐、叫他們也可以得著那在基督耶穌裡的救恩、和永遠的榮耀。
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. | |
| | 11 | 有可信的話說、我們若與基督同死、也必與他同活．
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; | |
| | 12 | 我們若能忍耐、也必和他一同作王．我們若不認他、他也必不認我們．
if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; | |
| | 13 | 我們縱然失信、他仍是可信的．因為他不能背乎自己。
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. | |
| | 14 | 你要使眾人回想這些事、在主面前囑咐他們、不可為言語爭辯．這是沒有益處的、只能敗壞聽見的人。
Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. | |
| | 15 | 你當竭力、在 神面前得蒙喜悅、作無愧的工人、按著正意分解真理的道。
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. | |
| | 16 | 但要遠避世俗的虛談．因為這等人必進到更不敬虔的地步．
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. | |
| | 17 | 他們的話如同毒瘡、越爛越大．其中有許米乃和腓理徒．
Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, | |
| | 18 | 他們偏離了真道、說復活的事已過、就敗壞好些人的信心。
who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. | |
| | 19 | 然而 神堅固的根基立住了．上面有這印記說、主認識誰是他的人．又說、凡稱呼主名的人、總要離開不義。
Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." | |
| | 20 | 在大戶人家、不但有金器銀器、也有木器瓦器．有作為貴重的、有作為卑賤的。
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. | |
| | 21 | 人若自潔、脫離卑賤的事、就必作貴重的器皿、成為聖潔、合乎主用、豫備行各樣的善事。
If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. | |
| | 22 | 你要逃避少年的私慾、同那清心禱告主的人追求公義、信德、仁愛、和平。
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. | |
| | 23 | 惟有那愚拙無學問的辯論、總要棄絕．因為知道這等事是起爭競的。
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. | |
| | 24 | 然而主的僕人不可爭競、只要溫溫和和的待眾人、善於教導、存心忍耐、
And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. | |
| | 25 | 用溫柔勸戒那抵擋的人．或者 神給他們悔改的心、可以明白真道．
Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, | |
| | 26 | 叫他們這已經被魔鬼任意擄去的、可以醒悟、脫離他的網羅。
and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. | |
