2 Timothy 2:14

Dealing with False Teachers

2:14 Remind people¹ of these things and solemnly charge them² before the Lord³ not to wrangle over words. This is of no benefit; it just brings ruin on those who listen.⁴

2 Timothy 4:3

4:3 For there will be a time when people⁵ will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires,⁶ they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.⁷

¹tn Grk “remind of these things,” implying “them” or “people” as the object.

²tn Grk “solemnly charging.” The participle διαμαρτυρόμενος (diamarturomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style.

³tc ‡ Most witnesses (A D Ψ 048 1739 1881 Ï sy) have κυρίου (kuriou, “Lord”) instead of θεοῦ (qeou, “God”) here, while a few have Χριστοῦ (Cristou, “Christ”; 206 {429 1758}). θεοῦ, however, is well supported by א C F G I 614 629 630 1175 al. Internally, the Pastorals never elsewhere use the expression ἐνώπιον κυρίου (enwpion kuriou, “before the Lord”), but consistently use ἐνώπιον θεοῦ (“before God”; cf. 1 Tim 2:3; 5:4, 21; 6:13; 2 Tim 4:1). But this fact could be argued both ways: The author’s style may be in view, or scribes may have adjusted the wording to conform it to the Pastorals’ universal expression. Further, only twice in the NT (Jas 4:10 [v.l. θεοῦ]; Rev 11:4 [v.l. θεοῦ]) is the expression ἐνώπιον κυρίου found. That such an expression is not found in the corpus Paulinum seems to be sufficient impetus for scribes to change the wording here. Thus, although the external evidence is somewhat on the side of θεοῦ, the internal evidence is on the side of κυρίου. A decision is difficult, but κυρίου is the preferred reading.

⁴tn Grk “[it is] beneficial for nothing, for the ruin of those who listen.”

⁵tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people in that future time) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁶tn Grk “in accord with.”

⁷tn Grk “having an itching in regard to hearing,” “having itching ears.”