SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Timothy 2003 – Page 2

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:9

3:9a

But they will not advance much further: The Berean Standard Bible phrase not advance much further is a figure of speech in English. Other versions have translated this as:

they will not make much progress (New Revised Standard Version)

Their successes will be short-lived (Revised English Bible)

they will not be successful (New Century Version)

Here, Paul meant that the false teachers would not be able to deceive people indefinitely. Although they might deceive them for a short period of time, eventually people would realize that the “religion” they taught and practiced did not come from God. After a while, many people would stop following them.

3:9b

For just like Jannes and Jambres, their folly will be plain to everyone: This part of the verse gives a reason why the false teachers “will not advance much further.” The Berean Standard Bible reordered the phrases in this verse. In Greek, the phrase just like Jannes and Jambres is at the end of the sentence. In some languages it may be helpful to follow the word order of the Greek, as Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation have done. See also the second Meaning Line of 3:9b in the Display.

folly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as folly means “stupidity.”

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:17

3:17a

so that: The Greek conjunction hina, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that, connects 3:17 with 3:16. It indicates the purpose for which Scripture is useful (3:16), that is, so that the man of God may be able to do good works (3:17).

the man of God: This is a general expression, as is the phrase “a servant of the Lord” in 2:24a. It is not referring to a specific man, but to any person who serves God or belongs to him.

Some ways you could translate this phrase are “a person who serves God” or “each of God’s people.”

man: The Greek noun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as man actually refers to a human being, male or female. Avoid using a word that would make people think that this refers only to men.

3:17b

may be complete, fully equipped: The two Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as complete, fully equipped have the same root and almost the same meaning. They mean, “ready,” “prepared,” or “capable.” The fact that there are two such Greek words in this sentence makes the statement emphatic. There are two ways of translating this:

• Translate them as two separate words with similar meanings as in the Berean Standard Bible. As another example, the NET Bible says:

that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

• Translate them as a single concept that includes an intensifier. For example, the New International Version (2011 Revision) says:

so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped….

If possible, you should follow the first option. If you do not have two related words, you can follow the example of the New International Version (2011 Revision) and translate one adjective modified by an intensifier to show emphasize this idea.

General Comment on 3:16–17

In Greek, 3:16 and 3:17 are one long sentence. In some languages it may be necessary to begin a new sentence at 3:17, as some modern English translations do. One way to do this is to repeat the subject of the sentence (Scripture) as follows: “Scripture is useful to you for all of this so that….” See the second Meaning Line of 3:17a in the Display.

Paragraph 4:6–8

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:7

3:7a

who are always learning: The phrase always learning indicates that these women often listened to people who taught about religion. Because they often sinned, they kept looking for something new and different. So they continued to listen to the false teachers to learn their new doctrines. Good News Translation says: “always trying to learn.” This statement does not mean that these women were slow to learn in the sense that they were mentally dull or unintelligent.

3:7b

but: Here the Berean Standard Bible has translated the Greek conjunction kai as but. Usually kai is translated as “and.” However, in this context it signals an unexpected result, so it may also be translated “but.” It is recommended that you follow the majority of modern English versions and translate the conjunction as “but.”

never able to come to a knowledge of the truth: These women were not able to recognize the true teaching of the gospel. They had heard some of the truth, but it had been mixed with false ideas, and they were not able to recognize what was true from what was false.

to come to a knowledge of: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to come to a knowledge of also means “to recognize” or “to distinguish.”

the truth: In this context the phrase the truth refers to the gospel.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:6

3:6a

(Revised Standard Version) For: Paul used the Greek conjunction gar at the beginning of 3:6 to connect 3:6 with 3:5. It is often translated “for” or “because.” This conjunction indicates that Paul was about to tell Timothy the reason why he should “have nothing to do” with those people who appear to be religious but who are actually ungodly. For reasons of style, the Berean Standard Bible and some other English versions have left this word untranslated.

They are the kind: The Greek indicates that Paul was going to begin talking about some of the people in 3:2–5. Good News Translation has “Some of them….” The Revised Standard Version has “among them are those….”

These people seemed to be Christians, but they were not. They were false teachers who deceived people for their own gain and influenced them with their false teachings.

3:6b

who worm their way into households: The clause worm their way is an English idiom. You should not translate it literally.

The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worm their way literally means “to creep into” or “to sneak into.” In this context, it means that these false teachers deceived people to get invited into their homes. This word does not mean that they entered houses secretly without the inhabitants being aware that someone had entered.

households: This word refers to the people who live in the house. The false teachers tried to deceive individuals so that they would be welcomed into the rest of the family.

3:6c

and captivate vulnerable women: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates ascaptivate literally means “to take as a captive in war.” Paul used it figuratively here, implying that the false teachers were “gain control over,” “capturing the minds” or “deceiving” some of the women in order to have influence over them. In this context it does not imply that they used force or that they literally kept them as prisoners.

vulnerable women: The Greek noun that the Berean Standard Bible translates as vulnerable women literally means “little women.” This particular form of the Greek word for “women” referred to the type of women who were immature in the way they thought about things. These women readily believed whatever the false teachers told them and would do whatever they asked them to do. Therefore other people did not respect them.

Other ways to translate this word are “weak-willed women,” “unwise women” or “foolish women.”

3:6d

who are weighed down with sins: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as weighed down literally means “to heap” or “to pile up.” This is figurative language meaning that these women had sinned so much that their sins were a “burden to them,” or their many sins “troubled their minds.” They felt very guilty about the many wrong things that they had done.

with sins: Paul did not describe the specific sins that these women had committed. The text uses the expression “by various passions” in 3:6e which suggests that these women had probably sinned in several different ways.

3:6e

and led astray: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as led astray is a passive verb. It means “to be swayed,” “to be guided,” or “to be controlled” by something.

by various passions: This implies that these women had committed several different types of sins.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:5

3:5a

having a form of godliness: Here Paul described people who do many types of religious things: they use religious words and expressions, they participate in religious ceremonies, and they may even teach other people religious beliefs that sound like the truth. But all these things are external actions and words. Their hearts have not changed. It refers to people who practice a type/kind of religion, but not true Christianity. It has only the outward appearance of true faith.

form: The word form means “outward appearance.” This Greek word occurs only here and in Romans 2:20.

godliness: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as godliness, means “the duty that man owes God to serve and worship him.” Some English versions translate this word by “religion.” (See Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible.)

3:5b

denying its power: The phrase denying its power means that people will refuse to allow God’s power to make them genuinely godly.

denying: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as denying means “to refuse” or “to reject.”

its: This word refers back to “godliness/religion” in 3:5a.

power: The word power refers to the power found in true Christianity. It is God’s power that changes people’s behavior and makes them holy.

3:5c

Turn away from such as these!: Here Paul commanded Timothy to “avoid” or “stay away from” people who have the characteristics he listed in 3:2–5.

Paragraph 3:6–9

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:4

3:4a

traitorous: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as traitorous is the word that people used to refer to traitors, such as Judas Iscariot (Luke 6:16). People who are traitorous are traitors who pretend to be the friends of someone, but in reality they are his enemies. They betray that person to his enemies.

3:4b

reckless: People are reckless when they act quickly and do whatever they want to do without stopping to think about the consequences of their action. Some other ways of expressing this are “rash,” “reckless in speech and action,” “foolhardy,” and “thoughtless.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reckless occurs only here and in Acts 19:36.

3:4c

conceited: People are conceited when they think and behave as though they are superior to other people. They are very proud. In many languages, there is an idiomatic way to say this. Good News Translation uses an English figure of speech and says “swollen with pride.” The Greek word “foolhardy,” translated here as conceited, also occurs in 1 Timothy 3:6 and 1 Timothy 6:4.

3:4d

lovers of pleasure: In the Greek text, lovers of pleasure is one word composed of the word for “love” joined to the word for “pleasure.” This Greek word means that people will do only that which they like/enjoy doing.

rather than: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translated as rather than can also mean “instead of.”

lovers of God: In Greek, lovers of God is one word composed of the word for “love” joined to the word for “God.”

The entire clause (3:4d) implies that some of the things that people enjoy doing offend God, and that when they do these things they are sinning against God.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:3

3:3a

unloving: In the last days, people will not have any love or affection even for those whom it is natural to love, such as the members of their own families. Other words for this term are “heartless,” or “unfeeling.” This Greek term also occurs in Romans 1:31.

3:3b

unforgiving: This word refers to people who refuse to resolve problems between themselves and other people. They have chosen not to forgive people who have done something wrong to them.

3:3c

slanderous: People are slanderous when they tell lies about other people and try to ruin their reputation. Paul used this same word in 1 Timothy 3:11.

3:3d

without self-control: This phrase is the Berean Standard Bible’s translation of a single Greek word. It describes people who do not have the self-discipline to stop themselves from doing things they should not do, or to make themselves do the things they know they should do.

3:3e

brutal: This word can also mean “untamed,” “savage,” “cruel,” or “fierce.” Paul used this word to describe cruel people who would not hesitate to hurt other people.

3:3f

without love of good: The phrase without love of good is a literal translation of one Greek word. This word occurs only here in the New Testament, but its opposite occurs in Titus 1:8 where an overseer is to be “one who loves what is good.”

In some languages, a term like “haters” is more meaningful than a negative expression like “without love.” For example, the New Century Version has “They…will hate what is good.” Use the term that is more natural in your language.

good: This phrase refers to anything that is righteous, such as righteous actions.

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SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:2

3:2–3:5b

In 3:2–3:5b, Paul lists several reasons why there will be terrible times. Paul used some of these words in Romans chapter 1.

3:2a

For: This verse begins with the Greek conjunction gar, which can be translated as For or “because.” This conjunction introduces Paul’s list of reasons why there will be terrible times. Use the appropriate conjunction or expression in your language to indicate such a relationship.

men will be lovers of themselves: This clause means that people will be selfish and overly concerned about themselves. They will ignore the needs of other people. They will love themselves, but not other people.

3:2b

lovers of money: The phrase lovers of money is the Berean Standard Bible translation of one Greek word. Another way to translate this word is “greedy.”

3:2c

boastful, arrogant: These two terms are have similar meanings.

boastful: People are boastful when they talk or brag about themselves in a proud way. This Greek word also occurs in Romans 1:30.

arrogant: People are arrogant when they think and feel that they are more important than other people are. Another English word for this term is “proud.” This Greek word also occurs in Romans 1:30.

3:2d

abusive: This term refers to the rude manner in which some people talk to, or talk about, other people. Some other English words for this term are “insulting” or “slanderous.” It refers to abusing people with words, not abusing them physically.

3:2f

ungrateful: People are ungrateful when they do not show appreciation to others who have helped them. Another English word for this term is “unthankful.” Many people do not recognize that ungratefulness is a sin, but it is one of the sins that Paul mentioned in Romans 1:21.

3:2g

unholy: People are unholy when they do not respect or honor God or matters having to do with God. Some synonyms for this term are “irreligious,” “irreverent,” “profane,” or “wicked.” The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as unholy occurs only here and in 1 Timothy 1:9.

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Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 2003

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:9

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:17

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:7

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:6

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:5

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:4

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:3

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:2

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