English Standard Version
2 Timothy 2:13
13if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
2 Timothy 2:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
- New International Version (NIV)if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
Context of 2 Timothy 2:13
11The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 14Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Read all of 2 Timothy 22 Timothy 2:13 word by word
εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν, ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς μένει· ἀρνήσασθαι γὰρ ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 2 Timothy 2:13
- Isaiah 25:1O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
- Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
- Romans 3:3What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God?
- Romans 9:6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.
- Numbers 23:19God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
- Hebrews 6:18so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
Commentaries on 2 Timothy 2:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13If we believe not - Should we deny the faith and apostatize, he is the same, as true to his threatenings as to his promises; he cannot deny - act contrary to, himself.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful - This cannot mean that, if we live in sin, he will certainly save us, as if he had made any promise to the elect, or formed any purpose that he would save them; whatever might be their conduct; because: (1) he had just said that if we deny him he will deny us; and, (2) there is no such promise in the Bible, and no such purpose has been formed. The promise is, that be that is a believer shall be saved, and there…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-13Verses 8-13 Let suffering saints remember, and look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despised the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of the throne of God. We must not think it strange if the best men meet with the worst treatment; but this is cheering, that the word of God is not bound. Here we see the real and true cause of the apostle's suffering trouble in, or for…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13He remains faithful: This could mean that: he gives those who have sinned a chance to ask God for forgiveness; he judges non-Christians in truth according to his will that never changes; he acts as a true example for his people to follow; and/or he will achieve his purposes in history. He will save those who trust in him through the good news about Jesus (1:12; 2:19). See also Romans 3:3–4; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 John 1:9.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. believe not--"If we are unbelievers (literally, 'unfaithful'), He remains faithful" (De 7:9, 10). The oldest manuscripts read, "For He cannot (it is an impossibility that He should) deny Himself." He cannot be unfaithful to His word that He will deny those who deny Him, though we be not faithful to our profession of faith in Him (Ro 3:3). Three things are impossible to God, to die, to lie, and to be deceived [Augustine, The Creed, 1.1], (He 6:18)…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Timothy 2:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Timothy 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries