2 Timothy 2:15-23

2:15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately. ¹  2:16 But avoid profane chatter, ²  because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, ³  2:17 and their message will spread its infection ⁴  like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. ⁵  2:18 They have strayed from the truth ⁶  by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith. 2:19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” ⁷  and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord ⁸  must turn away from evil.”

2:20 Now in a wealthy home ⁹  there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use. ¹⁰  2:21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, ¹¹  he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 2:22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others ¹²  who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ¹³  2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant ¹⁴  controversies, because you know they breed infighting. ¹⁵ 

¹ sn Accurately is a figure of speech that literally means something like “cutting a straight road.” In regard to the message of truth, it means “correctly handling” or “imparting it without deviation.”

² sn Profane chatter was apparently a characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus (cf. 1 Tim 1:3-4; 4:7; 6:20).

³ tn Grk “they [who engage in it] will progress even more in ungodliness.”

³ tn Or “eat away.”

⁴ tn Grk “of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, this last clause has been made a new sentence in the translation.

⁴ tn Grk “have deviated concerning the truth.”

⁵ sn A quotation from Num 16:5.

⁶ tn Grk “names the name of the Lord.”

⁶ tn Grk “a great house.”

⁷ tn Grk “for dishonor,” probably referring to vessels used for refuse or excrement.

⁷ tn Grk “from these,” alluding to the errors and deeds of the false teachers described in vv. 14-19.

⁸ tn Grk “and peace, with those.”

⁹ sn In company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart alludes to the value of the community of believers for the development of Christian virtues.

⁹ tn Or “uninstructed,” “silly.”

¹⁰ tn Or “fights,” although this could suggest weapons and blows, whereas in the present context this is not the primary focus. Although “quarrel” is frequently used here (NAB, NIV, NRSV) it may be understood to refer to a relatively minor disagreement.