2 Timothy 1:16

1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment. ¹ 

2 Timothy 1:18

1:18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! ²  And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus. ³ 

2 Timothy 2:24

2:24 And the Lord’s slave ⁴  must not engage in heated disputes ⁵  but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient,

2 Timothy 3:2

3:2 For people ⁶  will be lovers of themselves, ⁷  lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

2 Timothy 3:11

3:11 as well as the persecutions and sufferings ⁸  that happened to me in Antioch, ⁹  in Iconium, and in Lystra. ¹⁰  I endured these persecutions and the Lord delivered me from them all.

2 Timothy 4:2

4:2 Preach the message, ¹¹  be ready ¹²  whether it is convenient or not, ¹³  reprove, rebuke, exhort ¹⁴  with complete patience and instruction.

2 Timothy 4:16

4:16 At my first defense no one appeared in my support; instead they all deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it.

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¹ tn Grk “my chain.”

² sn That day is a reference to the day when Onesiphorus (v. 16) stands before Christ to give account for his service (cf. v. 12; 1 Cor 3:13; 2 Cor 5:9-10).

³ tn Grk “all the ways he served in Ephesus.”

map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.

⁴ tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). The most accurate translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος), in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force.

sn Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”

⁵ tn Grk “must not fight” or “must not quarrel.” The Greek verb is related to the noun translated “infighting” in v. 23.

⁶ tn Grk “men”; but here ἄνθρωποι (anqrwpoi) is generic, referring to both men and women.

⁷ tn Or “self-centered.” The first two traits in 2 Tim 3:2 and the last two in 3:4 are Greek words beginning with the root “lovers of,” and so bracket the list at beginning and end.

⁸ tn Grk “persecutions, sufferings,” as a continuation of the series from v. 10.

⁹ map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2; JP4-E2.

¹⁰ sn In Antioch, in Iconium, and in Lystra. See Acts 13-14 for the account of these persecutions.

map For location see JP1-E2; JP2-E2; JP3-E2

¹¹ tn Or “the word.”

¹² tn Or “be persistent.”

¹³ tn Grk “in season, out of season.”

¹⁴ tn Or “encourage.”