New International Version
2 Timothy 2:13
13if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.
2 Timothy 2:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
Context of 2 Timothy 2:13
11Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 12if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 14Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles 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 25:1Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.
- Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
- Romans 3:3What if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness?
- Romans 9:6It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
- 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 human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
- Hebrews 6:18God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.
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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