10But you have closely followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, [3:11] persecutions, sufferings — such as came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. Such persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me. [3:12] Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. [3:13] But evil men and impostors will advance to the worse, deceiving and being deceived. [3:14] You, however, remain in what you have learned and have become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned it — [3:15] and that from infancy you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [3:16] All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, [3:17] so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2TI 3:10-17
All Scripture Is God-Breathed
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, the term (God-breathed) would evoke the idea of divine inspiration as an active, life-giving force, akin to the Stoic concept of (spirit) that permeates and animates the cosmos. For Jewish listeners, this would resonate with the belief in the Torah as divinely inspired and authoritative. The mention of (imposters) would recall itinerant magicians or charlatans who deceived through sorcery or false teachings, a common concern in both Jewish and pagan contexts. The reference to (infant) emphasizes the foundational nature of Timothy’s instruction, likely rooted in the Jewish practice of teaching children Torah from a young age. The speaker’s recounting of persecutions in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra highlights the social and political hostility faced by early Christians, particularly in urban centers where their message disrupted established religious and civic norms. The call to endure persecution aligns with the honor-shame culture, where steadfastness in suffering was a mark of virtue.
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How other translations render this
2TI 3:10
- KJV
- But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
- BSB
- You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
- Koinōnos
- But you have closely followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,
2TI 3:11
- KJV
- Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
- BSB
- my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
- Koinōnos
- persecutions, sufferings — such as came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. Such persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2TI 3:12
- KJV
- Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- BSB
- Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
- Koinōnos
- Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
2TI 3:13
- KJV
- But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
- BSB
- while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- Koinōnos
- But evil men and impostors will advance to the worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2TI 3:14
- KJV
- But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
- BSB
- But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them.
- Koinōnos
- You, however, remain in what you have learned and have become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned it —
2TI 3:15
- KJV
- And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
- BSB
- From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- and that from infancy you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2TI 3:16
- KJV
- All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- BSB
- All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
- Koinōnos
- All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness,
2TI 3:17
- KJV
- That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
- BSB
- so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
- Koinōnos
- so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
2TI 3:10
- closely followed:The word translated 'closely followed' implies a diligent, thorough investigation and understanding of something, not just a casual observation. It suggests a deep familiarity with the subject.
2TI 3:13
- imposters:The term used here for 'imposters' often referred to sorcerers, jugglers, or charlatans who used deception and trickery to manipulate others, not just someone who pretends to be something they are not.
2TI 3:15
- childhood:The word translated 'childhood' more specifically refers to an infant or a very young child, emphasizing the earliest stages of life and development.
2TI 3:16
- God-breathed:The word translated 'God-breathed' literally means 'breathed out by God,' conveying the idea that Scripture originates directly from God's own breath or spirit, making it divine in origin.