2TI 1:3-12

Faithfulness under Persecution

3I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forebears with a pure conscience, as I have unceasing remembrance of you in my prayers night and day, [1:4] longing to see you, mindful of your tears, so that I may be filled with joy — [1:5] having been reminded of the genuine faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded dwells in you also. [1:6] For this reason I remind you to kindle anew the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. [1:7] For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and sound-mindedness. [1:8] Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me his prisoner, but suffer hardship with me for the gospel according to the power of God — [1:9] who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before eternal times, [1:10] but now revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel, [1:11] for which I was appointed a herald and apostle and teacher. [1:12] For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed — for I know whom I have trusted, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard my deposit against that day.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Roman world, the language of (grace/favor) was deeply tied to the patronage system, where benefactors granted gifts or favors to clients, often expecting loyalty in return. Here, Paul frames his relationship with Timothy not as a patron-client exchange but as one rooted in divine , a gift from God that transcends human reciprocity. The mention of (religious service) evokes Jewish temple worship, suggesting Paul’s devotion to God aligns with ancestral Jewish piety, a significant claim in a context where Jewish identity was under scrutiny. The call to (rekindle) the gift of God reflects the cultural emphasis on maintaining honor and zeal, particularly in the face of persecution. The reference to Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother Eunice highlights the importance of household transmission of faith, a common practice in Jewish and Greco-Roman families. Paul’s emphasis on (appearing) of Christ would resonate with audiences familiar with imperial propaganda, where emperors were celebrated as divine manifestations, subtly subverting Roman claims of power.

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How other translations render this

2TI 1:3

KJV: I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
BSB: I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience as did my forefathers, as I constantly remember you night and day in my prayers.
Koinōnos: I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forebears with a pure conscience, as I have unceasing remembrance of you in my prayers night and day,

2TI 1:4

KJV: Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
BSB: Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy.
Koinōnos: longing to see you, mindful of your tears, so that I may be filled with joy —

2TI 1:5

KJV: When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
BSB: I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
Koinōnos: having been reminded of the genuine faith in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded dwells in you also.

2TI 1:6

KJV: Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
BSB: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Koinōnos: For this reason I remind you to kindle anew the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

2TI 1:7

KJV: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
BSB: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.
Koinōnos: For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and sound-mindedness.

2TI 1:8

KJV: Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
BSB: So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
Koinōnos: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me his prisoner, but suffer hardship with me for the gospel according to the power of God —

2TI 1:9

KJV: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
BSB: He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
Koinōnos: who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before eternal times,

2TI 1:10

KJV: But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
BSB: And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel,
Koinōnos: but now revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and incorruption to light through the gospel,

2TI 1:11

KJV: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
BSB: to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
Koinōnos: for which I was appointed a herald and apostle and teacher.

2TI 1:12

KJV: For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
BSB: For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.
Koinōnos: For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed — for I know whom I have trusted, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard my deposit against that day.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

2TI 1:3

Thankful:The word translated 'thankful' here is closely related to the concept of grace, implying a deep sense of gratitude that stems from a recognition of unmerited favor or blessing.
I serve:The term used here for 'I serve' often referred to the service of a slave or a hired laborer, implying a deep commitment and devotion, often in a religious context.

2TI 1:6

to kindle anew:The word translated 'to kindle anew' literally means to fan into flame or to revive a fire that is dying down, suggesting an active effort to stir up something that is already present but perhaps dormant.

2TI 1:10

appearing:The word translated 'appearing' carried a sense of a sudden, striking manifestation or a divine revelation, often associated with the arrival of a deity or a significant event.