God’s Word Translation
2 Timothy 2:13
13If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot be untrue to 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Context of 2 Timothy 2:13
11This is a statement that can be trusted: If we have died with him, we will live with him. 12If we endure, we will rule with him. If we disown him, he will disown us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful because he cannot be untrue to himself. 14Remind believers about these things, and warn them in the sight of God not to quarrel over words. Quarreling doesn’t do any good but only destroys those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly.
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 highly honor you; I will praise your name. You have done miraculous things. You have been completely reliable in carrying out your plans from long ago.
- Matthew 24:35The earth and the heavens will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
- Romans 3:3What if some of them were unfaithful? Can their unfaithfulness cancel God’s faithfulness?
- Romans 9:6Now it is not as though God’s word has failed. Clearly, not everyone descended from Israel is part of Israel
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful and will strengthen you and protect you against the evil one.
- Numbers 23:19God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.
- Hebrews 6:18God did this so that we would be encouraged. God cannot lie when he takes an oath or makes a promise. These two things can never be changed. Those of us who have taken refuge in him hold on to the confidence we have been given.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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