The big picture
2 Timothy 2 opens in verse 1 with “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 13 with “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he can not deny himself.”, and closes in verse 26 with “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken…” Repeated or prominent terms include Christ, Lord, Jesus, strive, deny. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
2 Timothy · King James Version · 262 Timothy 2:1-7
1–7: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1–7 opens with “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” and reaches “Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A soldier, athlete, farmer, and approved worker illustrating focused endurance and faithful handling of the word, with particular weight carried by Christ, Jesus, soldier.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Naming Christ and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Timothy 2:1-7
King James Version1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
2 Timothy 2:8-14
8–14: Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead…
2 Timothy 2:8–14 opens with “Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” and reaches “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A soldier, athlete, farmer, and approved worker illustrating focused endurance and faithful handling of the word, with particular weight carried by deny, Christ, dead.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” Naming Christ and David keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Timothy 2:8-14
King James Version8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9Where in I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he can not deny himself.
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2 Timothy 2:15-21
15–21: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to…
2 Timothy 2:15–21 opens with “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly…” and reaches “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A soldier, athlete, farmer, and approved worker illustrating focused endurance and faithful handling of the word, with particular weight carried by some, honour, truth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Naming Study keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” The line’s distinctive content terms include babblings, increase, profane. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
2 Timothy 2:15-21
King James Version15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2 Timothy 2:22-26
22–26: Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity…
2 Timothy 2:22–26 opens with “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call…” and reaches “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on A soldier, athlete, farmer, and approved worker illustrating focused endurance and faithful handling of the word, with particular weight carried by Lord, acknowledging, avoid.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a…” Naming Flee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
2 Timothy 2:22-26
King James Version22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
2 Timothy 2:1 begins with “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
Where the chapter turns
2 Timothy 2:10 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”
The final note
2 Timothy 2:26 leaves the reader with “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words Christ, Lord, Jesus, strive, deny, faithful help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Which gifts come before the prohibition?
Life, the garden, food and meaningful work. The command occurs inside generosity.
How does chapter 2 deepen chapter 1?
It concentrates on dependence, partnership and responsibility within the shared human calling.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- hath
- has
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.