1 S o you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is in Christ Jesus.

Tú, hijo mío, esfuérzate en la gracia que tenemos en Cristo Jesús.

2 A nd the which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also.

Lo que has oído de mí ante muchos testigos, encárgaselo a hombres fieles que sean idóneos para enseñar también a otros.

3 T ake your share of the hardships and suffering as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus.

Tú, por tu parte, sufre penalidades como buen soldado de Jesucristo.

4 N o soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.

Ninguno que milita se enreda en los negocios de la vida, a fin de agradar a aquel que lo tomó por soldado.

5 A nd if anyone enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully (fairly, according to the rules laid down).

Y tampoco el que lucha como atleta es coronado, si no lucha legítimamente.

6 t he hard-working farmer who must be the first partaker of the fruits.

El labrador, para participar de los frutos, debe trabajar primero.

7 T hink over these things I am saying, for the Lord will grant you full insight and understanding in everything.

Considera lo que digo, y el Señor te dé entendimiento en todo.

8 C onstantly keep in mind Jesus Christ (the Messiah) risen from the dead, descended from David, according to the good news (the Gospel) that I preach.

Acuérdate de Jesucristo, del linaje de David, que resucitó de los muertos conforme a mi evangelio,

9 F or that I am suffering affliction and even wearing chains like a criminal. But the Word of God is not chained or imprisoned!

en el cual sufro penalidades, y hasta encarcelamientos, como si fuera yo un malhechor; pero la palabra de Dios no está presa.

10 T herefore I persevere and stand my ground with patience and endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Por eso todo lo soporto por causa de los escogidos, para que ellos también obtengan la salvación que es en Cristo Jesús con gloria eterna.

11 T he saying is sure and worthy of confidence: If we have died with Him, we shall also live with Him.

Esta palabra es fiel: Si morimos con él, también viviremos con él;

12 I f we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny and disown and reject Him, He will also deny and disown and reject us.

Si sufrimos, también reinaremos con él; Si lo negamos, también él nos negará.

13 I f we are faithless, He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.

Si somos infieles, él permanece fiel; Él no puede negarse a sí mismo. Un obrero aprobado

14 R emind of these facts and charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers.

Recuérdales esto, y exhórtalos ante el Señor a no contender acerca de palabras, que para nada aprovecha y que sólo lleva a la perdición de los que escuchan.

15 S tudy and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing the Word of Truth.

Procura con diligencia presentarte ante Dios aprobado, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse y que usa bien la palabra de verdad.

16 B ut avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness.

Pero evita las palabrerías vanas y profanas, porque más y más conducen a la impiedad

17 A nd their teaching will eat its way like cancer or spread like gangrene. So it is with Hymenaeus and Philetus,

y su palabra carcome como gangrena; entre esa gente están Himeneo y Fileto,

18 W ho have missed the mark and swerved from the truth by arguing that the resurrection has already taken place. They are undermining the faith of some.

que se desviaron de la verdad al decir que la resurrección ya se efectuó, con lo que trastornan la fe de algunos.

19 B ut the firm foundation of (laid by) God stands, sure and unshaken, bearing this seal (inscription): The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it.

Pero el fundamento de Dios está firme, y tiene este sello: «El Señor conoce a los que son suyos»; y: «Que se aparte de la iniquidad todo aquel que invoca el nombre de Cristo.»

20 B ut in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble and some for menial and ignoble.

En una casa grande hay no sólo utensilios de oro y de plata, sino también de madera y de barro; y unos son para usos honrosos, y otros para usos viles.

21 S o whoever cleanses himself will be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.

Así que, quien se limpia de estas cosas será un instrumento para honra, santificado, útil al Señor, y dispuesto para toda buena obra.

22 S hun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); faith, love, peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all, who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.

Huye también de las pasiones juveniles, y sigue la justicia, la fe, el amor y la paz, junto con aquellos que con un corazón limpio invocan al Señor.

23 B ut refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels.

Pero desecha las cuestiones necias e insensatas; tú sabes que generan contiendas.

24 A nd the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong.

Y el siervo del Señor no debe ser contencioso, sino amable para con todos, apto para enseñar, sufrido;

25 H e must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth,

que corrija con mansedumbre a los que se oponen, por si acaso Dios les concede arrepentirse para que conozcan la verdad

26 A nd that they may come to their senses escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, to do His will.

y escapen del lazo del diablo, en el cual se hallan cautivos y sujetos a su voluntad.