2 Timothy 2:14-18

Dealing with False Teachers

2:14 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.

[2:14]  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]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ tn Grk “they [who engage in it] will progress even more in ungodliness.”

[2:17]  ⁸ tn Or “eat away.”

[2:17]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “have deviated concerning the truth.”