2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with him. 3
If we deny 4 him, 5 he will also deny us.
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult 12 times will come.
1 tn The Greek word here usually means “for,” but is used in this verse for a milder continuation of thought.
2 tn Grk “in all things.”
1 tn Grk “died together…will live together…will reign together,” without “him” stated explicitly. But “him” is implied by the parallel ideas in Rom 6:8; 8:17 and by the reference to Christ in vv. 12b-13.
2 tn Or “renounce,” “disown,” “repudiate.” It is important to note that the object of Christ’s denial is “us.” The text does not contain an implied object complement (“he will deny us [x]”), which would mean that Christ was withholding something from us (for example, “The owner denied his pets water”), since the verb ἀρνέομαι (arneomai) is not one of the category of verbs that normally occurs in these constructions (see ExSyn 182-89).
3 tn Grk “if we renounce,” but the “him” is implied by the parallel clauses.
1 sn Profane chatter was apparently a characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus (cf. 1 Tim 1:3-4; 4:7; 6:20).
2 tn Grk “they [who engage in it] will progress even more in ungodliness.”
1 tn Or “uninstructed,” “silly.”
2 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.
1 tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.
2 tn Grk “must not fight” or “must not quarrel.” The Greek verb is related to the noun translated “infighting” in v. 23.
1 tn Or perhaps, “dangerous,” “fierce.”
1 tn Grk “will advance to the worse.”
2 tn Grk “deceiving and being deceived.”
1 tn Grk “the man of God,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpos) is most likely used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.
2 tn This word is positioned for special emphasis; it carries the sense of “complete, competent, able to meet all demands.”
1 tn Grk “of my departure.”
1 tn Grk “against whom,” as a continuation of the previous clause. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
1 map For location see JP1-C2; JP2-C2; JP3-C2; JP4-C2.