New English Translation
2 Timothy 2:13
13If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since 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.
- 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 saying is trustworthy: If we died with him, we will also live with him. 12If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself. 14Remind people of these things and solemnly charge them before the Lord not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen. 15Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately.
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 in praise, I will extol your fame. For you have done extraordinary things, and executed plans made long ago exactly as you decreed.
- Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
- Romans 3:3What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God?
- Romans 9:6It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel,
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24He who calls you is trustworthy, and he will in fact do this.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.
- Numbers 23:19God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a human being, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not make it happen?
- Hebrews 6:18so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.
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
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