II Timothy 2:13
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
believe not--"If we are unbelievers (literally, 'unfaithful'), He remains faithful" (Deu 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 (Rom 3:3). Three things are impossible to God, to die, to lie, and to be deceived [AUGUSTINE, The Creed, 1.1], (Heb 6:18). This impossibility is not one of infirmity, but of infinite power and majesty. Also, indirectly, comfort is suggested to believers, that He is faithful to His promises to them; at the same time that apostates are shaken out of their self-deceiving fancy, that because they change, Christ similarly may change. A warning to Timothy to be steadfast in the faith.
Open source ↗2:13 he remains faithful: This could mean that (1) he allows those who have stumbled an opportunity for repentance; (2) he faithfully judges unbelievers in accord with his unchanging will; (3) he himself is an example of faithfulness for his people to follow; and/or (4) he will faithfully accomplish his purposes in history, to save those who trust in him through the Good News (1:12; 2:19). See also Rom 3:3-4; 1 Cor 10:13; 1 Jn 1:9.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
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?
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness?
The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
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.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
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.