2 Timothy 3
{{New Testament chapter short description}}
{{Bible chapter|letname=2 Timothy 3|previouslink= 2 Timothy 2 |previousletter= chapter 2 |nextlink= 2 Timothy 4 |nextletter= chapter 4 | book= Second Epistle to Timothy | biblepart=New Testament | booknum= 16 |category= Pauline epistles | filename= Uncial 015 (1 Tm 2.2-6).jpg |size=250px | name= Uncial 015, 6th century |caption=
2 Timothy 3 is the third chapter of the Second Epistle to Timothy in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The letter is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle, the last one written in Rome before his death (c. 64 or 67), addressed to Timothy.{{Citation | last1 = May | first1 = Herbert G. | first2 = Bruce M. | last2 = Metzger | title = The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha | year = 1977 | pages = 1440, 1446–49}}.Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, Paul: A Critical Life, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1996, pp. 356–59. However, most biblical scholars believe that it and the other Pastoral Epistles are the work of an anonymous follower, writing after Paul's death in the first century AD.{{Citation | URL = http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Paul-Disputed.htm | title = New Testament Letter Structure | work = Catholic Resources | first = Felix | last = Just}}.{{sfn|Drury|2007|p=1220}} This chapter contains a charge to Timothy to keep away from heterodoxy, and use Paul's steadfast faith under persecution as an example to contrast the opponents' characters, while continuing to follow the teachings of the Scriptures.{{sfn|Drury|2007|pp=1229–1230}}
Text
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 17 verses.
=Textual witnesses=
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:
- Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330–360)
- Codex Alexandrinus (400–440)
- Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus (c. 450; complete)
- Codex Freerianus (c. 450; extant verses 6–8; 16–17)
- Codex Claromontanus (c. 550)
The heresy in Ephesus in prophetic perspective (3:1–9)
Paul paints a picture of the false teachers as 'actual deviants from the norm established by his gospel' who, as a result, endanger the faith of themselves and their followers.{{sfn|Towner|2006|p=553}} A lengthy list of their vices spans verses 2-4. Among the terms listed is {{langx|el|βλασφημοι}} (blasphēmoi), translated in some places as "blasphemers",{{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:2|KJV}}: King James Version but also as "abusive".{{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:2|ESV}}: English Standard Version
=Verse 5=
:[People] ... having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!{{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:5|NKJV}}: New King James Version
This verse makes clear that the listed vices "belong to heterodox Christians", given the directive that Timothy and his congregation are to keep away from them.{{sfn|Drury|2007|p=1229}}
The way of following Paul (3:10–17)
In this section Paul instructs Timothy to commit to Paul's teaching, as Timothy already shared many experiences with Paul, and urge him to 'accept the mantle of the Pauline mission'.{{sfn|Towner|2006|p=570}}
=Verse 16=
:All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,{{bibleverse|2|Timothy|3:16|NKJV}}: NKJV
- "God-breathed" (Greek: {{lang|grc|θεόπνευστος}}, {{Strong-number|theopneustos|G|2315}}): can be rendered as "given by inspiration of God".Ellicott, C. J. (Ed.) [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/2_timothy/3.htm Ellicott's Bible Commentary for English Readers. 2 Timothy 3.] London : Cassell and Company, Limited, [1905-1906] Online version: (OCoLC) 929526708. Accessed on 28 April 2019. The Syriac version renders it "written by the Spirit", the Ethiopian version: "by the Spirit of God".{{Cite web|url=https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/2-timothy-3-16.html|title=2 Timothy 3:16 - Meaning and Commentary on Bible Verse|website=biblestudytools.com}} All Scripture ({{lang|grc|πᾶσα γραφὴ}}, {{Strong-number|pasa|G|3956}} {{Strong-number|graphē|G|1124}}; Towner renders it: "every [text of] Scripture"
=Verse 17=
:so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.{{bibleverse|2 Timothy|3:17|NKJV}}: NKJV
The thoroughness in preparation for the work of God is significantly stressed and applicable for every Christian workers although the term
the man of God narrowly can be interpreted for Christian teachers.{{sfn|Guthrie|1994|p=1309}}
See also
- Antioch
- Iconium
- Jambres
- Jesus Christ
- Lystra
- Moses
- Related Bible parts: Matthew 24, Romans 5, 1 Timothy 4
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite book|last=Guthrie|first= Donald| author-link= Donald Guthrie (theologian)| chapter= The Pastoral Letters| editor-last=Carson |editor-first=D. A. |title=New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition|editor-link= D. A. Carson| editor-last2= France |editor-first2= R. T. | editor2-link= R. T. France |editor-first3=J. A. |editor-last3= Motyer | editor3-link = J. Alec Motyer| editor-first4= G. J. |editor-last4= Wenham | editor4-link = Gordon Wenham| edition=4, illustrated, reprint, revised| publisher= Inter-Varsity Press | date= 1994| isbn = 978-0-85110-648-9 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=uveHQgAACAAJ |pages= 1292–1315}}
- {{cite book|last= Drury | first= Clare | chapter = 73. The Pastoral Epistles | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 1220–1233 | isbn = 978-0-19-927718-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
- {{cite book|last=Towner | first= Philip H.|author-link= Philip H. Towner | title=The Letters to Timothy and Titus | series= The New International Commentary on the New Testament |editor-first= Frederick Fyvie|editor-last= Bruce | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing| date = 2006 | isbn = 978-0-8028-2513-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tRwFvpn1a44C}}
External links
- {{bibleverse|2 Timothy|3|KJV}} King James Bible - Wikisource
- [http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=1&b=16&c=3 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate]
- [http://www.gospelhall.org/bible/bible.php?passage=2Timothy+3 Online Bible at GospelHall.org] (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
- [http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=62&chapter=3 Multiple bible versions at Bible Gateway] (NKJV, NIV, NRSV etc.)
{{Second Epistle to Timothy}}