2TI 2:1-13

Grace and Perseverance

1You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. [2:2] And what you heard from me through many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. [2:3] Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. [2:4] No soldier on active duty entangles himself in the affairs of this life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. [2:5] And if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully. [2:6] The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crops. [2:7] Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things. [2:8] Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, from the seed of David, according to my gospel — [2:9] for which I suffer hardship even to chains as an evildoer. But the word of God has not been chained. [2:10] For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. [2:11] Faithful is the word: For if we died with him, we will also live with him. [2:12] If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. [2:13] If we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.

In the world it was spoken into

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, military service was a well-understood institution, often tied to honor and loyalty. Soldiers were expected to remain undistracted by civilian affairs, focusing solely on their duty to please their commanding officer. This metaphor would resonate deeply with Timothy, who was likely familiar with Roman military discipline. Athletic competitions, such as those in the Greek games, were also a common cultural reference point. Victory required strict adherence to the rules , and only those who competed lawfully received the crown. Similarly, farming was a familiar occupation, and the hardworking farmer’s right to the firstfruits of his labor was a widely accepted principle. These images—soldier, athlete, and farmer—would have been vivid to Timothy, illustrating the need for endurance, focus, and diligence in his ministry. The mention of suffering together reflects the communal nature of hardship in early Christian communities, where shared trials strengthened bonds. The enduring freedom of God’s word , despite human constraints, would have been a source of hope in a context where persecution and imprisonment were real threats.

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How other translations render this

2TI 2:1

KJV: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
BSB: You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Koinōnos: You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2TI 2:2

KJV: And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
BSB: And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
Koinōnos: And what you heard from me through many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2TI 2:3

KJV: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
BSB: Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Koinōnos: Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2TI 2:4

KJV: No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
BSB: A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him.
Koinōnos: No soldier on active duty entangles himself in the affairs of this life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him.

2TI 2:5

KJV: And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
BSB: Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.
Koinōnos: And if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully.

2TI 2:6

KJV: The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
BSB: The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.
Koinōnos: The hardworking farmer ought to have the first share of the crops.

2TI 2:7

KJV: Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
BSB: Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.
Koinōnos: Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

2TI 2:8

KJV: Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
BSB: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel,
Koinōnos: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, from the seed of David, according to my gospel —

2TI 2:9

KJV: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
BSB: for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained!
Koinōnos: for which I suffer hardship even to chains as an evildoer. But the word of God has not been chained.

2TI 2:10

KJV: Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
BSB: For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Koinōnos: For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2TI 2:11

KJV: It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
BSB: This is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;
Koinōnos: Faithful is the word: For if we died with him, we will also live with him.

2TI 2:12

KJV: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
BSB: if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us;
Koinōnos: If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us.

2TI 2:13

KJV: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
BSB: if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
Koinōnos: If we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.

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

Translator's notes

2TI 2:3

you yourself:The word translated 'you yourself' here is a compound verb meaning to suffer hardship alongside someone, implying a shared experience of difficulty and endurance.

2TI 2:4

life:The term used here for 'life' refers to one's manner or way of living, including their resources and conduct, rather than simply biological existence.

2TI 2:5

lawfully:The word translated 'lawfully' implies acting in accordance with established rules, customs, or principles, suggesting proper and legitimate conduct within a given system.

2TI 2:9

has been bound!:The phrase 'has been bound' uses a verb that can refer to physical restraint, but also to being held captive or imprisoned, emphasizing the severe restriction of freedom.