Discovery Box2 Timothy 2:14--4:8
Context2:14 Remind people 1 of these things and solemnly charge them 2 before the Lord 3 not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. 4 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. 5 2:16 But avoid profane chatter, 6 because those occupied with it will stray further and further into ungodliness, 7 2:17 and their message will spread its infection 8 like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. 9 2:18 They have strayed from the truth 10 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,” 11 and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord 12 must turn away from evil.”
2:20 Now in a wealthy home 13 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. 14 2:21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, 15 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 16 who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 17 2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant 18 controversies, because you know they breed infighting. 19 2:24 And the Lord’s slave 20 must not engage in heated disputes 21 but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, 2:25 correcting 22 opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth 23 2:26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive 24 to do his will. 25
3:1 But understand this, that in the last days difficult 26 times will come. 3:2 For people 27 will be lovers of themselves, 28 lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3:3 unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, savage, opposed to what is good, 3:4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, loving pleasure rather than loving God. 3:5 They will maintain the outward appearance 29 of religion but will have repudiated its power. So avoid people like these. 30 3:6 For some of these insinuate themselves 31 into households and captivate weak women 32 who are overwhelmed with sins and led along by various passions. 3:7 Such women are always seeking instruction, 33 yet never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 3:8 And just as Jannes and Jambres 34 opposed Moses, so these people – who have warped minds and are disqualified in the faith 35 – also oppose the truth. 3:9 But they will not go much further, 36 for their foolishness will be obvious to everyone, just like it was with Jannes and Jambres. 37
3:10 You, however, 38 have followed my teaching, my 39 way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, 3:11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings 40 that happened to me in Antioch, 41 in Iconium, and in Lystra. 42 I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all. 3:12 Now in fact all who want to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 3:13 But evil people and charlatans will go from bad to worse, 43 deceiving others and being deceived themselves. 44 3:14 You, however, must continue 45 in the things you have learned and are confident about. You know 46 who taught you 47 3:15 and how from infancy you have known the holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 3:16 Every scripture 48 is inspired by God 49 and useful for teaching, for reproof, 50 for correction, and for training in righteousness, 3:17 that the person dedicated to God 51 may be capable 52 and equipped for every good work.
4:1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 4:2 Preach the message, 53 be ready 54 whether it is convenient or not, 55 reprove, rebuke, exhort 56 with complete patience and instruction. 4:3 For there will be a time when people 57 will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, 58 they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. 59 4:4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. 60 4:5 You, however, be self-controlled 61 in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. 4:6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart 62 is at hand. 4:7 I have competed well; 63 I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 4:8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on 64 his appearing.
[2:14] 1 tn Grk “remind of these things,” implying “them” or “people” as the object.
[2:14] 2 tn Grk “solemnly charging.” The participle διαμαρτυρόμενος (diamarturomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.
[2:14] 3 tc ‡ Most witnesses (A D Ψ 048 1739 1881 Ï sy) have κυρίου (kuriou, “Lord”) instead of θεοῦ (qeou, “God”) here, while a few have Χριστοῦ (Cristou, “Christ”; 206 {429 1758}). θεοῦ, however, is well supported by א C F G I 614 629 630 1175 al. Internally, the Pastorals never elsewhere use the expression ἐνώπιον κυρίου (enwpion kuriou, “before the Lord”), but consistently use ἐνώπιον θεοῦ (“before God”; cf. 1 Tim 2:3; 5:4, 21; 6:13; 2 Tim 4:1). But this fact could be argued both ways: The author’s style may be in view, or scribes may have adjusted the wording to conform it to the Pastorals’ universal expression. Further, only twice in the NT (Jas 4:10 [v.l. θεοῦ]; Rev 11:4 [v.l. θεοῦ]) is the expression ἐνώπιον κυρίου found. That such an expression is not found in the corpus Paulinum seems to be sufficient impetus for scribes to change the wording here. Thus, although the external evidence is somewhat on the side of θεοῦ, the internal evidence is on the side of κυρίου. A decision is difficult, but κυρίου is the preferred reading.
[2:14] 4 tn Grk “[it is] beneficial for nothing, for the ruin of those who listen.”
[2:15] 5 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.”
[2:16] 9 sn Profane chatter was apparently a characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus (cf. 1 Tim 1:3-4; 4:7; 6:20).
[2:16] 10 tn Grk “they [who engage in it] will progress even more in ungodliness.”
[2:17] 14 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.
[2:18] 17 tn Grk “have deviated concerning the truth.”
[2:19] 21 sn A quotation from Num 16:5.
[2:19] 22 tn Grk “names the name of the Lord.”
[2:20] 25 tn Grk “a great house.”
[2:20] 26 tn Grk “for dishonor,” probably referring to vessels used for refuse or excrement.
[2:21] 29 tn Grk “from these,” alluding to the errors and deeds of the false teachers described in vv. 14-19.
[2:22] 33 tn Grk “and peace, with those.”
[2:22] 34 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.
[2:23] 37 tn Or “uninstructed,” “silly.”
[2:23] 38 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.
[2:24] 41 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.
[2:24] 42 tn Grk “must not fight” or “must not quarrel.” The Greek verb is related to the noun translated “infighting” in v. 23.
[2:25] 45 sn Correcting is the word for “child-training” or “discipline.” It is often positive (training, educating) but here denotes the negative side (correcting, disciplining).
[2:25] 46 tn Grk “repentance unto knowledge of the truth.”
[2:26] 49 tn Grk “having been captured by him.”
[2:26] 50 tn Grk “for that one’s will,” referring to the devil, but with a different pronoun than in the previous phrase “by him.” Some have construed “for his will” with the earlier verb and referred the pronoun to God: “come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap (though they have been captured by him) in order to do His will.” In Classical Greek the shift in pronouns would suggest this, but in Koine Greek this change is not significant. The more natural sense is a reference to the devil’s will.
[3:1] 53 tn Or perhaps, “dangerous,” “fierce.”
[3:2] 57 tn Grk “men”; but here ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) is generic, referring to both men and women.
[3:2] 58 tn Or “self-centered.” The first two traits in 2 Tim 3:2 and the last two in 3:4 are Greek words beginning with the root “lovers of,” and so bracket the list at beginning and end.
[3:5] 62 tn Grk “and avoid these,” with the word “people” implied.
[3:6] 65 tn Grk “For from these are those who sneak.”
[3:7] 69 tn Grk “always learning,” continuing the description of the women from v. 6. Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation.
[3:8] 73 sn Jannes and Jambres were the traditional names of two of Pharaoh’s magicians who opposed Moses at the time of the Exodus.
[3:8] 74 tn Grk “disapproved concerning the faith.”
[3:9] 77 tn Grk “for they will not progress any more.”
[3:9] 78 tn Grk “as theirs came to be,” referring to the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres. The referent of “theirs” (Jannes and Jambres) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[3:10] 81 sn There is a strong emphasis on the pronoun you in contrast to the people described in vv. 2-9.
[3:10] 82 tn The possessive “my” occurs only at the beginning of the list but is positioned in Greek to apply to each of the words in the series.
[3:11] 85 tn Grk “persecutions, sufferings,” as a continuation of the series from v. 10.
[3:11] 86 map For location see JP1 E2; JP2 E2; JP3 E2; JP4 E2.
[3:11] 87 sn In Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. See Acts 13-14 for the account of these persecutions.
[3:13] 89 tn Grk “will advance to the worse.”
[3:13] 90 tn Grk “deceiving and being deceived.”
[3:14] 93 tn Grk “but you, continue,” a command.
[3:14] 94 tn Grk “knowing,” giving the reasons for continuing as v. 14 calls for.
[3:14] 95 tn Grk “those from whom you learned.”
[3:16] 97 tn Or “All scripture.”
[3:16] 98 sn Inspired by God. Some have connected this adjective in a different way and translated it as “every inspired scripture is also useful.” But this violates the parallelism of the two adjectives in the sentence, and the arrangement of words makes clear that both should be taken as predicate adjectives: “every scripture is inspired…and useful.”
[3:16] 99 tn Or “rebuke,” “censure.” The Greek word implies exposing someone’s sin in order to bring correction.
[3:17] 101 tn Grk “the man of God,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpos) is most likely used here in a generic sense, referring to both men and women.
[3:17] 102 tn This word is positioned for special emphasis; it carries the sense of “complete, competent, able to meet all demands.”
[4:2] 106 tn Or “be persistent.”
[4:2] 107 tn Grk “in season, out of season.”
[4:3] 109 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people in that future time) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:3] 110 tn Grk “in accord with.”
[4:3] 111 tn Grk “having an itching in regard to hearing,” “having itching ears.”
[4:4] 113 sn These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; and Titus 1:14.
[4:5] 117 tn Or “sober,” “temperate.”
[4:6] 121 tn Grk “of my departure.”
[4:7] 125 sn The expression I have competed well (Grk “I have competed the good competition”) uses words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.”
