2 Timothy 2:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

NIV: if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

NASB: If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

CSB: if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.

NLT: If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

KJV: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

NKJV: If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.

The final phrase in this hymn ends on a word of hope: God can hold us, even if we fail. Those who are saved (2 Timothy 2:11) and endure will reign with the Lord (2 Timothy 2:12). Those who reject Him will be rejected by Him. Those believers who struggle, or are "faithless," are still held by God. He remains faithful, even when His people are not. This theme is consistent with God's faithfulness to His people Israel in the Old Testament. Though they often rejected Him, He continued to keep His promises to them.

The final phrase "for he cannot deny himself," reveals that the audience in mind in this last verse involves believers. We are clothed in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:1–5) and cannot be separated from His love: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38–39).

Second Timothy 2:1–13 presents a series of examples Paul wants Timothy to consider. Among these are soldiers, athletes, farmers, Jesus Christ, and Paul himself. Rather than give extensive details, Paul encourages Timothy to consider how each of these applies to his own life. The context for all of this is ''suffering,'' meaning the hardships endured for the sake of Christ. Those who endure do so by the power of God, not their own efforts.

Paul gives Timothy a clear mandate to defend the truth. This includes both upholding the gospel accurately, and presenting that defense in a gentle and loving way. While truth is important, Paul also notes that there are some issues which are only distractions. He considers these "babble," and arguments over them a form of spiritual disease. Like gangrene, this bickering only spreads and spreads until it becomes catastrophic. The ultimate goal of our evangelism is not to "win" an argument, but to rescue lost people.

In chapter 1, Paul gave Timothy encouragement by reminding him of his heritage and spiritual power. Here, in chapter 2, Paul expands on these commands. Rather than giving minute details, Paul presents a series of examples and tells Timothy to consider them carefully. Paul's instructions here set the stage for the warnings coming up in the next chapter. Timothy—and all believers—need to be prepared and right-minded, because the world is going to become spiritually darker and darker.

Second Timothy is the last New Testament letter written by Paul. Paul writes these words while awaiting execution by Rome. At this time, around AD 67, Timothy was leading the church in Ephesus. Paul writes to Timothy in order to encourage him. Paul is facing the worst of all hardships: his own impending death. So, he encourages Timothy to stand strong in his faith, with a reliance on the written Word of God. This letter echoes many of the themes Paul uses in his other letters.

Accessed 4/30/2024 12:19:50 AM