II Timothy 2:2
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And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
among--Greek, "through," that is, with the attestation (literally, "intervention") of many witnesses, namely, the presbyters and others present at his ordination or consecration (Ti1 4:14; Ti1 6:12). commit--in trust, as a deposit (Ti2 1:14). faithful--the quality most needed by those having a trust committed to them. who--Greek, "(persons) such as shall be competent to teach (them to) others also." Thus the way is prepared for inculcating the duty of faithful endurance (Ti2 2:3-13). Thou shouldest consider as a motive to endurance, that thou hast not only to keep the deposit for thyself, but to transmit it unimpaired to others, who in their turn shall fulfil the same office. This is so far from supporting oral tradition now that it rather teaches how precarious a mode of preserving revealed truth it was, depending, as it did, on the trustworthiness of each individual in the chain of succession; and how thankful we ought to be that God Himself has given the written Word, which is exempt from such risk.
Open source ↗2:2 The many reliable witnesses would confirm the validity and veracity of Paul’s teaching (see also 3:10-11). • teach these truths (literally entrust these things): This verb is a cognate of deposit (see study notes on 1:12, 14). Timothy’s own guarding of the deposit includes entrusting it to faithful people.
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
By pointing out these things to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of faith and sound instruction that you have followed.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, because he is the messenger of the LORD of Hosts.
You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.
And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which you possess, are to appoint magistrates and judges to judge all the people west of the Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach these laws to anyone who does not know them.
And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service.
Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight,
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.