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2 Timothy 2:13

2 Timothy 2:13 in Multiple Translations

if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he can not deny himself.

if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.

If we are without faith, still he keeps faith, for he will never be untrue to himself.

If we are not trustworthy, he is still trustworthy, for he cannot be untrue to himself.”

If we beleeue not, yet abideth he faithfull: he cannot denie himselfe.

if we are not stedfast, he remaineth stedfast; to deny himself he is not able.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful; for he can’t deny himself.”

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

If we believe not, he continueth faithful, he can not deny himself.

If we ◄are unfaithful/stop doing what he tells us to do►, he will treat us just like he promised to do, because he ◄can never be untrue to himself/always does what he says that he will do►.

But if we break our promise to him, that is different. He is not like us. He can never break his promise to us. He will always do what is right. That’s the sort of person he is.”

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Berean Amplified Bible — 2 Timothy 2:13

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2 Timothy 2:13 Interlinear (Deep Study)

BIB
GRK ει απιστουμεν εκεινος πιστος μενει αρνησασθαι εαυτον ου δυναται
ει ei G1487 if COND
απιστουμεν apisteō G569 to disbelieve Verb-PAI-1P
εκεινος ekeinos G1565 that Dem-NSM
πιστος pistos G4103 faithful Adj-NSM
μενει menō G3306 to stay Verb-PAI-3S
αρνησασθαι arneomai G720 to deny Verb-ADN
εαυτον heautou G1438 themself F-3ASM
ου ou G3756 no Particle-N
δυναται dunamai G1410 be able Verb-PNI-3S
Greek Word Study

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Greek Word Reference — 2 Timothy 2:13

ει ei G1487 "if" COND
This word means 'if' and is used to express conditions or questions. It appears in many Bible verses, such as Matthew 11:14 and Romans 8:25, introducing a condition or hypothesis.
Definition: εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. __I. Conditional, if; __1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; __(a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; __(b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; __(with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; __(d) aor.: Luk.16:11 19:8, Jhn.13:32, 18:23, Rev.20:15, al. __2. Where the assumption is certain = ἐπεί: Mat.12:28, Jhn.7:4, Rom.5:17, al. __3. Of an unfulfilled condition, with indic, impf., aor. or plpf., before ἄν, with imp. or aor. (see: ἄν, I, i). __4. C. indic., after verbs denoting wonder, etc., sometimes, but not always, coupled with an element of doubt: Mrk.15:44, 1Jn.3:13, al. __5. C. indic., as in LXX (Num.14:3o, 1Ki.14:45, al. = Heb. אִם), in oaths, with the formula of imprecation understood in a suppressed apodosis (WM, 627; Burton, §272): Mrk.8:12, Heb.3:11" (LXX) 4:3 (LXX). __6. Rarely (cl.) with optative, to express a merely possible condition: Act.24:19 27:39, 1Co.14:10 15:37, I Pe3:14, 17. __II. Interrogative, if, whether. __1. As in cl., in indir. questions after verbs of seeing, asking, knowing, saying, etc.: with indic. pres., Mat.26:63, Mrk.15:36, Act.19:2, 2Co.13:5, al.; fut., Mrk.3:2, Act.8:22, al.; aor., Mrk.15:44, 1Co.1:16, al.; with subjc. aor. (M, Pr., 194), Php.3:12. __2. As in LXX (= Heb. אִם and interrog. הֲ, Gen.17:17, al.; see WM, 639f.; Viteau, i, 22), in direct questions: Mrk.8:23 (Tr., WH, txt.), Luk.13:23, 22:49, Act.19:2, al. __III. With other particles. __1. εἰ ἄρα, εἴγε, εἰ δὲ μήγε, see: ἄρα, γε. __2. εἰ δὲ καί, but if also: Luk.11:18; but even if, 1Co.4:7, 2Co.4:3 11:16. __3. εἰ δὲ μή, but if not, but if otherwise: Mrk.2:21, 22 Jhn.14:2, Rev.2:5, al. __4. εἰ καί, if even, if also, although: Mrk.14:29, Luk.11:8, 1Co.7:21, 2Co.4:16, Php.2:17, al. __5. καὶ εἰ, even if, see: καί __6. εἰ μή, if not, unless, except, but only: Mat.24:22, Mrk.2:26 6:5, Jhn.9:33, 1Co.7:17 (only), Gal.1:19 (cf. ἐὰν μή, 2:16; see Hort., Ja., xvi); ἐκτὸς εἰ μή, pleonastic (Bl., §65, 6), 1Co.14:5 15:2, 1Ti.5:19. __7. εἰ μήν = cl. ἦ μήν (M, Pr., 46), in oaths, surely (Eze.33:27, al.): Heb.6:14. __8. εἴ πως, if haply: Act.27:12, Rom.1:10. __9. εἴτε . . . εἴτε, whether . . . or; Rom.12:6-8, 1Co.3:22 13:8, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 459 NT verses. KJV: forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether See also: 1 Corinthians 1:14; 2 Corinthians 10:7; 1 Peter 1:6.
απιστουμεν apisteō G569 "to disbelieve" Verb-PAI-1P
To disbelieve means to not have faith or trust in something, like when Jesus' disciples didn't believe he rose from the dead in Mark 16:11. It can also mean to disobey, as seen in Romans 3:3. This word is used to describe a lack of faith in God or Jesus.
Definition: ἀπιστέω, -ῶ (ἄπιστος), [in LXX: Wis.1:2 10:7 12:17 18:13, Sir.1:27, 2Ma.8:13 * ;] __1. to disbelieve, be faithless: Mrk.16:11, 16, Luk.24:11, 41, Act.28:24, 1Pe.2:7; so prob. also Rom.3:3, 2Ti.2:13 (ICC, CGT, in ll; MM, see word). __2. = ἀπειθέω (Hdt.; on this sense in Ro, 2Ti, ll. with, see Vaughan on Ro, l.with; Lft., Notes, 265; Thayer, see word).† (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 7 NT verses. KJV: believe not See also: 2 Timothy 2:13; Luke 24:41; Romans 3:3.
εκεινος ekeinos G1565 "that" Dem-NSM
This word means 'that one' or 'that thing', as in Luke 18:14. It's used to point out a specific person or object. In the Bible, it helps distinguish between different things or people.
Definition: ἐκεῖνος, -η, -ο (ἐκεῖ), [in LXX chiefly for הַהוּא ,הוּא, and cogn. forms ;] demonstr. pron., that person or thing (ille), implying remoteness as compared with οὗτος (hic); __1. absol., emphatic he, she, it: opposite to οὗτος, Luk.18:14, Jas.4:15; ἡμεῖς, Heb.12:25; ὑμεῖς, Mrk.4:11; ἄλλοι, Jhn.9:9; ἐγώ, Jhn.3:30; to persons named, Mk 16:[10, 13, 20], Jhn.2:21; of one (absent) who is not named, contemptuously (Abbott, JG, §§2385, 2732), Jhn.7:11 9:28; with respect, of Christ, 1Jo.2:6 3:3, al.; referring to a preceding noun, Mrk.16:[10], Jhn.7:45; resumption of a participial subject, Jhn.1:33 9:37 10:1, Rom.14:14, al. (on its reference in Jhn.19:35, see Westc, in l.; Moffatt, Intr., 568; Sanday, Fourth Gospel, 77ff.). __2. As adj., joined, like οὗτος, to a noun with the article: Mat.7:25, Mrk.3:24, Jhn.18:15, al.; esp. of time, past or future: ἐν τ. ἡμέραις ἐ., Mat.3:1, Mrk.1:9, Act.2:18" (LXX), al.; ἐν ἐ. τ. ἡμέρᾳ, esp of the Parousia, Mat.7:22, Luk.6:23, 2Th.1:10, 2Ti.1:12; adverbially, ἐκεινής (sc. ὁδοῦ) = cl. ἐκεινῇ (Bl., §36, 13), that way, Luk.19:4. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 247 NT verses. KJV: he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those See also: 1 Corinthians 9:25; John 11:53; Hebrews 3:10.
πιστος pistos G4103 "faithful" Adj-NSM
Being faithful or trustworthy is what this word means, as seen in Matthew 24:45 and 1 Corinthians 4:2. It describes someone who is loyal and dependable, like the apostles in the Bible.
Definition: πιστός, -ή, -όν (πείθω), [in LXX chiefly for אָמַן ;] __I. Pass., to be trusted or believed; __1. of persons, trusty, faithful : Mat.24:45 25:21, 23 Luk.12:42, Act.16:15, 1Co.4:2 4:17 7:25, Eph.1:1 6:21, Col.1:2, 7 4:7, 9, 1Ti.1:12, 2Ti.2:2, Heb.2:17 3:2, 5, 1Pe.5:12, Rev.2:13 19:11; of God, 1Co.1:9 10:13, 2Co.1:18, 1Th.5:24, 2Th.3:3, Heb.10:23 11:11, 2Ti.2:13, 1Jn.1:9, 1Pe.4:19; before ἐν, Luk.16:10-12 19:17, 1Ti.3:11; ἐπί, with accusative, Mat.25:23; ἄχρι θανάτου, Rev.2:10; ὁ μάρτυς ὁ π., Rev.1:5; id. καὶ ἀληθινός, Rev.3:14. __2. Of things, trustworthy, reliable, sure: Act.13:34, 1Ti.1:15 3:1 4:9, 2Ti.2:11, Tit.1:9 3:8, Rev.21:5 22:6. __II. Act., believing, trusting, relying: Act.16:1, 2Co.6:15, Gal.3:9, 1Ti.4:10 5:16 6:2, Tit.1:6, Rev.17:14; pl., Act.10:45, 1Ti.4:3 4:12; opposite to ἄπιστος, Jhn.20:27; π. εἰς θεόν, 1Pe.1:21; π. ποιεῖν, III Jn 5. (On the difficulty of choosing in some cases between the active and the passive meaning, see Lft., Gal., 157.) † (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 62 NT verses. KJV: believe(-ing, -r), faithful(-ly), sure, true See also: 1 Corinthians 1:9; Colossians 1:7; 1 Peter 4:19.
μενει menō G3306 "to stay" Verb-PAI-3S
This word means 'to stay' and is used to describe remaining in a place or state. It appears in Matthew and John to describe Jesus and the Holy Spirit staying with someone. It's often translated as 'abide' or 'remain'.
Definition: μένω, [in LXX for קוּם ,עמד, etc. ;] to stay, abide, remain. __1. Intrans.; __(i) of place: before ἐν, Luk.8:27, al.; παρά, with dative of person(s), Jhn.1:40, al; σύν, Luk.1:56; καθ᾽ ἑαυτόν, Act.28:16; with adv., ἐκεῖ, Mat.10:11; ὧδε, Mat.26:38; metaphorically, 1Jn.2:18; of the Holy Spirit, Jhn.1:32, 33 14:17; of Christ, Jhn.6:56 15:4, al.; ὁ θεός, 1Jn.4:15, conversely, of Christians, Jhn.6:56 15:4, 1Jn.4:15, al.; ὁ λόγος τ. θεοῦ, 1Jn.2:14; ἡ ἀλήθεια, II Jo 2, al. __(ii) Of time; __(a) of persons: Php.1:25; before εἰς τ. αἰῶνα, Jhn.12:34, Heb.7:24, 1Jn.2:17; ὀλίγον, Rev.17:10; ἕως ἔρχομαι, Jhn.21:22, 23; __(b) of things, lasting or enduring: cities, Mat.11:23, Heb.13:14; λόγος θεοῦ, 1Pe.1:23; ἁμαρτία, Jhn.9:41. __(iii) Of condition: with pred., μόνος, Jhn.12:24; ἄγαμος, 1Co.7:11; πιστός, 2Ti.2:13; ἱερεύς, Heb.7:3; with adv., οὕτως, 1Co.7:40; ὡς κἀγώ, ib. 8; before ἐν, ib. 20, 24. __2. Trans. (Bl., §34, 1; Field, Notes, 132): with accusative of person(s), Act.20:5, 23 (cf. ἀνα-, δια-, ἐν-, ἐπι-, κατα-, παρα-, συν-παρα-, περι-, προσ-, ὑπο-μένω). (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 105 NT verses. KJV: abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own See also: 1 Corinthians 3:14; Hebrews 7:24; 1 Peter 1:23.
αρνησασθαι arneomai G720 "to deny" Verb-ADN
To deny means to say no or reject something, like when Peter denied knowing Jesus in Matthew 26:70. It can also mean to refuse to acknowledge or disown someone, as seen in Acts 3:14 and 2 Timothy 2:12.
Definition: ἀρνέομαι -οῦμαι, depon., [in LXX: Gen.18:15 (כָּחַשׁ pi.), Wis.12:27 16:16 17:10, 4Ma.8:7 4Mac 10:15 * ;] __1. to deny, say no, opposite to είπεῖν: absol., Mat.26:70, Luk.8:45; before ἅτι, 1Jn.2:22; with inf., Heb.11:24 __2. In late Gk. (MM, see word), with accusative of person(s), to deny, refuse to acknowledge, disown: Act.3:14 7:35; Ἰησοῦν, Mat.10:33, 2Ti.2:12, 1Jn.2:22, Ju 4; ἑαυτόν, Luk.9:23, 2Ti.2:13 (prove false to) __3. C. accusative of thing(s) (in cl. to refuse), to deny, abjure: 1Ti.5:8, Tit.2:12, 2Ti.3:5 (cf. ἀπαρνέομαι) (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 28 NT verses. KJV: deny, refuse See also: 1 John 2:22; John 18:27; Hebrews 11:24.
εαυτον heautou G1438 "themself" F-3ASM
This reflexive pronoun means 'themself' or 'themselves', referring back to the subject of a sentence, as in Matthew 27:42 and Luke 23:35.
Definition: ἑαυτοῦ, -ῆς, -οῦ, dative -ῷ, etc., accusative -όν, etc., pi. -ῶν, etc. (Att. contr. αὑτοῦ, etc); reflex pron.; __1. prop, of 3rd person (Lat. sui, sibi, se), of himself, herself, itself, etc.: Mat.27:42, Mrk.15:31, Luk.23:35, al.; added to a middle verb, διεμερίσαντο ἑαυτοῖς, Jhn.19:24; to an active verb, Act.14:14 (M, Pr., 157); ἀφ᾽ ἑαυτοῦ, Luk.12:57 21:30, Jhn.5:19, al. (see: ἀπό); δι᾽ ἑαυτοῦ, Rom.14:14; ἐν ἑ., Mat.3:9, Mrk.5:30, al.; εἰς ἑ., Luk.15:17; καθ᾽ ἑαυτόν, Act.28:16, Jas.2:17; παρ᾽ ἑαυτῷ, at his own house, 1Co.16:2; πρὸς ἑ., with, to himself, Luk.18:11; as poss. pron. (with emphasis weakened; see M, Pr., 87f.), τ. ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς, Luk.9:60. __2. As reflexive 1st and 2nd of person(s) (so also frequently in cl., chiefly poetry), Mat.23:31, Mrk.9:50, Rom.8:23, 1Th.2:8, al. __3. In pl., for reciprocal pron., ἀλλήλων, -οις, -ους, of one another, etc.: Mat.21:38, Mrk.16:3, Eph.5:19, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 306 NT verses. KJV: alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves) See also: 1 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 2:20; 1 Peter 1:12.
ου ou G3756 "no" Particle-N
This is a strong 'no', used to deny something completely. It appears in the New Testament, such as in Matthew 13:29 and John 1:21. It is a negative answer to a question.
Definition: οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); __1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. __2. Most frequently negativing a verb or other word, Mat.1:25 10:26, 38, Mrk.3:25 9:37, Jhn.8:29, Act.7:5, Rom.1:16, Php.3:3, al.; in litotes, οὐκ ὀλίγοι (i.e. very many), Act.17:4, al.; οὐκ ἄσημος, Act.21:39; πᾶς . . . οὐ, with verb, (like Heb. כֹּל . . . לֹא), no, none, Mat.24:22, Mrk.13:20, Luk.1:37, Eph.5:5, al.; in disjunctive statements, οὐκ . . . ἀλλά, Luk.8:52 Jhn.1:33 Rom.8:2o, al.; with 2 of person(s) fut. (like Heb. לֹא, with impf.), as emphatic prohibition, Mat.4:7, Luk.4:12, Rom.7:7, al. __3. With another negative, __(a) strengthening the negation: Mrk.5:37, Jhn.8:15 12:19, Act.8:39, al.; __(b) making an affirmative: Act.4:20, 1Co.12:15. __4. With other particles: οὐ μή (see: μή); οὐ μηκέτι, Mat.21:19; with μή interrog., Rom.10:18, 1Co.9:4, 5 11:22. __5. Interrogative, expecting an affirmative answer (Lat. nonne): Mat.6:26, Mrk.4:21, Luk.11:40, Jhn.4:35, Rom.9:21, al. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 1410 NT verses. KJV: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but See also: 1 Corinthians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:32; 1 Peter 1:8.
δυναται dunamai G1410 "be able" Verb-PNI-3S
To be able or have power, as in Matthew 6:24 and Mark 2:7, meaning to have the capability or strength to do something.
Definition: δύναμαι, depon., [in LXX chiefly for יָכֹל ;] to be able, have power, whether by personal ability, permission, or opportunity: with inf. (M, Pr., 205; WM, §44, 3) pres., Mat.6:24, Mrk.2:7, Jhn.3:2, 1Co.10:21, al.; with inf. aor., Mat.3:9, Mrk.1:45, Jhn.3:3, 4 Rom.8:39, al.; with accusative, to be able to do something: Mrk.9:22, Luk.12:26; 2Co.13:8; absol., to be able, capable, powerful: 1Co.3:2 10:13. (AS)
Usage: Occurs in 199 NT verses. KJV: be able, can (do, + -not), could, may, might, be possible, be of power See also: 1 Corinthians 2:14; John 15:4; Hebrews 2:18.

Study Notes — 2 Timothy 2:13

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Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
2 Romans 3:3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?
3 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
4 1 Thessalonians 5:24 The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
5 Titus 1:2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
6 1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
7 Hebrews 6:18 Thus 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 strongly encouraged.
8 Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
9 Romans 9:6 It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
10 Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, You are my God! I will exalt You; I will praise Your name. For You have worked wonders— plans formed long ago— in perfect faithfulness.

2 Timothy 2:13 Summary

[This verse tells us that even when we are not faithful to God, He remains faithful to us because that's who He is - a faithful God. As it says in Psalm 36:5, God's faithfulness reaches to the heavens, and His faithfulness is a fundamental aspect of His character. This means we can always trust in Him, no matter what. It's not about our performance, but about His promise and character, as expressed in 1 Corinthians 1:9, which says that God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.]

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean that God remains faithful even if we are faithless?

This means that God's character and promises do not depend on our actions or faithfulness, as seen in Deuteronomy 7:9, which says that God is a faithful God who keeps His covenant with those who love Him.

Does this verse imply that our faithlessness has no consequences?

No, as 2 Timothy 2:12 says, if we deny Him, He will also deny us, indicating that our actions do have consequences, but God's faithfulness is not dependent on our faithfulness, rather on His own character, as stated in Numbers 23:19, which says that God is not a man that He should lie or a son of man that He should change His mind.

How can we be assured of God's faithfulness in our lives?

We can be assured of God's faithfulness by trusting in His promises and character, as expressed in Psalm 119:90, which says that God's faithfulness endures to all generations, and in Lamentations 3:22-23, which says that His mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness.

What does it mean that God cannot deny Himself?

This means that God's actions and character are consistent with His nature, as seen in Hebrews 6:18, which says that it is impossible for God to lie, and in Titus 1:2, which says that God does not lie and cannot deny Himself, indicating that God's faithfulness is a fundamental aspect of His character.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the knowledge of God's faithfulness in the face of our faithlessness bring comfort and peace to your life?
  2. In what ways can you trust in God's faithfulness today, even when you feel faithless or uncertain?
  3. How does this verse challenge your understanding of God's character and your relationship with Him?
  4. What are some areas in your life where you need to trust in God's faithfulness, and how can you apply this verse to those situations?

Gill's Exposition on 2 Timothy 2:13

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful,.... The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, "if we believe not him".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 2 Timothy 2:13

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Believe not - `if we are unbelieving' [ apistoumen (G569)]; continued unbelief: a further step than 'denying' (2 Timothy 2:12), which might be temporary.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:13

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; whether we believe or believe not, or whether we be faithful to our trust or be not, yet God will show himself faithful, either to his promises made to them that believe, or to his threatenings denounced against those that believe not. He cannot deny himself; for it is impossible that he who is truth titself should be otherwise, that were for him to deny himself.

Trapp's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:13

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Ver. 13. If we believe not] Some sense it thus: though we prove perfidious, yet he is no loser by us, as having all within himself. Howbeit hereby we show that we have no interest in Christ; for he cannot deny himself, though we can deny him.

Ellicott's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:13

(13) If we believe not.—Better rendered, if we are faithless—that is, untrue to the vows of our Christian profession. The faithlessness implies more than mere unbelief in any of the fundamental doctrines of the faith, such as the Resurrection of the Lord or His divinity. Yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.—Those who have understood these words as containing soothing, comforting voices for the sinner, for the faithless Christian who has left his first love, are gravely mistaken. The passage is one of distinct severity—may even be termed one of the sternest in the Book of Life; for it tells how it is impossible even for the pitiful Redeemer to forgive in the future life. “He cannot deny Himself”—cannot treat the faithless as though he were faithful—cannot act as though faithfulness and faithlessness were one and the same thing. The Christian teacher, such as Timothy, and the members of his flock likewise, must remember that, sure and certain as are the promises of glory and happiness to those who love the Lord and try to live His life, so surely will fall the chastisement on all who are faithless and untrue. With the solemn words of this “faithful saying” St. Paul closes this, the second division of his Epistle—fellowship in the sufferings of Christ here, on this side the grave, and fellowship in the glory of Christ there, on the other side the grave—the one side was the sure consequence of the other; the one could not exist without the other.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:13

Verse 13. If 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.

Cambridge Bible on 2 Timothy 2:13

13. if we believe not] R.V. if we are faithless giving both the play of words in the contrast ‘he abideth faithful’ and the stronger force required for the climax; as ‘sovereignty’ is better than ‘life,’ so a ‘faithless rejection’ is worse than ‘the denials of our weaker moments,’ a Judas than a Peter. The word ‘seems always in the N.T. to imply not ‘untrueness,’ ‘unfaithfulness,’ but definitely ‘unbelief.’ Ellicott Cf. Mark 16:11; Mark 16:16.he abideth faithful] To His covenant and promise, cf. Romans 3:3. We should insert with mss. the conjunction, to connect the final clause with this; for he cannot deny himself. The balance of probability is strongly in favour of this clause being part of the quotation, if only from the rhetorical weakness of adding such a tail piece, however true and weighty. The aorist infinitive represents the idea of the verb in itself simply and absolutely, free from any limit or condition of time; ‘for deny Himself—He cannot.’ So in Mark 15:31 ‘save Himself—He cannot.’We may render the passage thus, to shew its balanced force and rhythm:—‘If with Him we died,Life with Him we shall have won;If we suffer at His side,We shall share His throne;—With Him—Yes, here and ever.If we Him deny,We shall be by Him denied;If we leave Him faithlessly,Faithful doth He bide;—Deny Himself—No, never.’

Barnes' Notes on 2 Timothy 2:13

If 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

Whedon's Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:13

13. Abideth faithful—Faithful to what? Not faithful to restore us from our apostasy and still save us.

Sermons on 2 Timothy 2:13

SermonDescription
A.W. Tozer (Titus - Part 4): In Hope of Eternal Life Ii by A.W. Tozer In this sermon, the preacher begins by emphasizing the importance of family night and invites everyone to attend. He then focuses on a passage from the book of Titus, where Paul de
A.W. Tozer God's Peculiar People by A.W. Tozer In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being zealous for good works as children of God. He highlights that God does not approve of armchair Christianity or ivory
Stephen Kaung Call to the Fellowship of God's Son by Stephen Kaung In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the exhortation given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians. The exhortation is to be perfectly united in the same mind and opinion, without
David Wilkerson Faithfulness in Spite of Our Failures by David Wilkerson David Wilkerson emphasizes the theme of God's faithfulness despite our failures, using the life of David as an example. Despite being anointed and chosen by God, David faced trials
John Gill Of the Faithfulness of God. by John Gill John Gill emphasizes the faithfulness of God as an essential attribute that defines His nature, asserting that without faithfulness, God would not be God. He illustrates this by re
Thomas Bradbury His Fullness by Thomas Bradbury Thomas Bradbury preaches about the all-encompassing grace of God, starting with the disputed point of who spoke the words in John 1:16, highlighting the ministry of John the Baptis
C.H. Spurgeon Back, Then Forward by C.H. Spurgeon C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness in His covenant with us, reminding us that despite our sins, He looks back fondly on the early days of our relationship with

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