A Loyal Soldier of Christ Jesus
1 As for you, my son, be strong through the grace that is ours in union with Christ Jesus. 2 Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also.
3 Take your part in suffering, as a loyal soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 A soldier on active duty wants to please his commanding officer and so does not get mixed up in the affairs of civilian life. 5 An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules. 6 The farmer who has done the hard work should have the first share of the harvest. 7 Think about what I am saying, because the Lord will enable you to understand it all.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from death, who was a descendant of David, as is taught in the Good News I preach. 9 Because I preach the Good News, I suffer and I am even chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not in chains, 10 and so I endure everything for the sake of God's chosen people, in order that they too may obtain the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus and brings eternal glory. 11 This is a true saying:
“If we have died with him,
we shall also live with him.
12 If we continue to endure,
we shall also rule with him.
If we deny him,
he also will deny us.
13 If we are not faithful,
he remains faithful,
because he cannot be false to himself.”
An Approved Worker
14 Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God's presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen. 15 Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. 16 Keep away from profane and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God. 17 Such teaching is like an open sore that eats away the flesh. Two men who have taught such things are Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the way of truth and are upsetting the faith of some believers by saying that our resurrection has already taken place. 19 But the solid foundation that God has laid cannot be shaken; and on it are written these words: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Those who say that they belong to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing.”
20 In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay; some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use. 21 Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes, because they are dedicated and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed. 22 Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who with a pure heart call out to the Lord for help. 23 But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels. 24 As the Lord's servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher, 25 who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. 26 And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.
Mbhayani Kirisiti Jesu we malebeswa
1 Ndizo iwe nkololo wangu, sima mu ngoni dzimuna Kirisiti Jesu, 2 ne muna zwawakandihwa ndileba mbeli kwe batendeki banjinji, uzwipe balume banogalikabgwe banowotubula kudiya bamwe.
3 Dzikitadzila kudziyila se mbhayani wakalulwama wa Kirisiti Jesu. 4 Akuna mbhayani umu nshingo unonginikana nge zwithu zwe bathu basi babhayani, ngekuti mazwimisilo awe hwushathisa iye wan'danila ngwa. 5 Tjilabuki atjitoambadziwa tjiala kuzhe kwe tjapedza labuka kuyendidzana nge milayo ye labuka. 6 Nlimi unoshinga kwazo ndiye wakafanila wana kutanga gobe le zwijo. 7 Ukumbule kwazo tjandinoleba, ngobe She banowokupa hwisiso ye tjimwe ne tjimwe.
8 Alakana Jesu Kirisiti, kuti wakamuka mu bafi, iye tjizekugwana tja Dafite sekwa ndinosumikila mu ndebo mbuya yangu, 9 ndebo mbuya yandinodziyilila kwandinodzina asungwa nge ketani se tjigebeng'a. Koga dama le Ndzimu alizosungwa nge ketani. 10 Ndizo ndodzikitadzila tjimwe ne tjimwe ngekwe bashalugwa kuti ndizo na ibobo bawane jidzo li muna Kirisiti Jesu ne gudzo lalo lisingapele. 11 Eyi ndebo malebeswa,
“Ha takafa naye,
towotjilabo naye.
12 Ha tidzikitadza,
towobusabo naye.
Ha tinzwilandula,
unowotizwilandulabo.
13 Ha tisina kugalikabgwe,
iye unowobe ne kugalikabgwe koga,
ngobe aangazwilandule.”
Nshingi wakaamutjigwa
14 Ubakumbuludze zwithu izwezwi. Ubatjemelele mbeli kwe Ndzimu kukangazhana ngekwe matama, akuna nshingo, koga kobulaya ibabo bakahwilila. 15 Gwisa kwazo kuzwilakidza mbeli kwe Ndzimu se wakaamutjigwa, uli nshingi usingawoti kabhakhwa nge shoni, unobhata zubuyanana dama le malebeswa. 16 Uzwiduse mu ndebgwana dzisina bundzimu, ngobe dzowokwebela bathu kule ne Ndzimu. 17 Kudiya kwabo kowonyikishila se londa lisingapole, mubali kuli Himeneo na Fileto 18 ibo bakapambuka mu malebeswa ngobhatilila mukuti kumuka kwe bafi kwakapinda kale, ngono banobulaya kugalamoyo kwe bamwe. 19 Koga, thiwa ye Ndzimu yakasima aitozunguzika, muili kwakakwagwa matama awa, “She banoziba bathu babo,” ngono, “Iye unodana zina la She wakafanila kufupatila bubi.”
20 Mu ng'umba hwulu kuna zwithu zwisi zwe golide ne siliva koga, kuna zwakathamwa nge lukuni ne ntapkhwi, zwimwe zwakathamigwa mishingo inokudziwa zwimwe isingakudziwe. 21 Ha nthu ezwitjenapadzila mishingo isingakudziwe, unowobe tjishingisiwa tje mishingo inokudziwa, eyengemadziwa, ana bhatsho kuna botetshi be ng'umba, kakale akalulwamila kushingisigwa nshingo wakalulwama. 22 Utjile kule njemulo mbi dze buzhuzha koga uzwimisile ndulamo ne kugalamoyo ne ludo ne kunyalala kang'ompela na ibabo banonamata She nge moyo wakatjena. 23 Ube kutjena ne kukangazhana kwe bulengwe gwe kushaya luzibo, ngobe unoziba kuti kozhisa zhoba. 24 Nlanda wa She aazofanila kube nthu we zhoba, koga wakafanila kube ne buthu ku mmwe ne mmwe, etubula kudiya ana moyonlefu, 25 etjemela banonnyanyayidza nge bunyolo, pamwe swiyo Ndzimu ungabapa kushandukila matjinyo abo bakapelela baziba malebeswa, 26 ndizo bakapudzumuka mu dati la Satani iye wakabathama basungwa mu kulondolodza kuda kukwe.