SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Timothy 2003 – Page 4

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:17

4:17a

But the Lord stood by me: In 4:16–17, Paul contrasted those who deserted him with the Lord, who had not deserted him. To express the contrast, you might be able to say,

The Lord, however, stood by me….

the Lord: The word Lord here probably refers to Christ.

stood by me: The words stood by me are a figure of speech that mean that Jesus stayed with him to help him. Use this figure of speech in your translation if people understand it. Or, your language may have an expression that describes a person who is not afraid to be the only one with you when the authorities accuse you of having done something wrong.

4:17b

so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed: The judge asked Paul what his enemies had accused him of doing. The judge’s questions gave Paul an opportunity to clearly tell the good news about Jesus Christ to the judge and to all the other people who were in the court on that day.

4:17c

and all the Gentiles would hear it: There were people from many different nations in Rome, in addition to the Roman citizens. Some Jews were present. But most of the people there were Gentiles (that is, non-Jews). Therefore, when the judge gave Paul the opportunity to defend himself in the court of the Roman government, many non-Jews heard him preach the gospel.

4:17d

So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion: The clause I was delivered from the mouth of the lion is a very dramatic metaphor which means:

I was delivered from death
-or-
Christ saved me from death.

This was a live figure of speech at the time when Paul wrote, because the Roman government sometimes punished people by forcing them to stand in an arena where lions could attack them and kill them.

This was Paul’s way of saying that the Roman judge did not condemn him to death. The Roman judge could have decided that Paul must die. But Christ rescued Paul from this very great danger by causing the judge to decide to let him live. Paul compared this to being in a place where a lion was going to attack him, and Christ rescued him immediately before the lion could attack him.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

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 4:16

4:16a

At my first defense: The phrase my first defense refers to a session of a Roman court in which a judge asked Paul some preliminary questions. Paul tried to prove that he was innocent of the things people had accused him of doing. During the first session, the judge did not decide definitely whether Paul was guilty or innocent, and so he ordered Paul to appear in court a second time.

If the people in your area do not completely understand expressions that refer to courts and trials, it may be necessary for you to translate the phrase At my first defense something like this: “the first time I had to stand in front of the judge and answer his questions….”

4:16b

no one stood with me: No one went with Paul to testify in his favor when the judge questioned him that first time.

The order of words in Greek indicates that Paul was emphasizing no one.

4:16c

but everyone deserted me: Paul used the strong Greek word of contrast, alla, to emphasize everyone in contrast to the “no one” in 4:16b. He had hoped that at least one of his friends would be at the court to defend him when the judge asked him questions, but they all had abandoned him.

4:16d

May it not be charged against them: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as charged against is a term used to describe a person calculating costs and debts. Here Paul used the term figuratively, in the sense that God keeps a record of people’s sins. Paul’s friends had abandoned him, but he prayed that God would not count or record this act against them as a sin.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:15

4:15a

You too should beware of him: Paul said that Timothy should “be on guard against,” or “watch out” for Alexander the coppersmith. Alexander might try to prevent Timothy from working as he should work, even as he had tried to prevent Paul from working.

4:15b

for he has vigorously opposed our message: This clause gives the reason why Timothy should beware of him. Alexander had opposed the message about Christ that Paul and his companions had preached and taught. Since Timothy preached the same message as Paul, Alexander surely would oppose him also.

opposed: The word opposed means “to be against.” Paul used the same Greek word in 3:8.

Paragraph 4:16–18

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 2:24

2:24a

a servant of the Lord: The phrase a servant of the Lord is a general statement referring to all pastors and all teachers of Christian doctrine. Timothy was also a servant of the Lord, so Paul obviously intended it to apply to him also.

Paul made this general statement using the word servant in the singular. In some languages, it will be necessary to follow the example of the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) and make servant plural.

The Lord’s servants must not quarrel

In many languages the form for general statements has a particular person and number marker or pronoun to indicate the subject of the verb. Some examples are:

We^(incl) who are the Lord’s servants…
-or-
You (sing) who are the Lord’s servant… (See Good News Translation, for example.)
-or-
Someone who is the Lord’s servant…
-or-
People who are the Lord’s servants…

You should use the pattern that is natural in your language and use consistent pronouns. In this context, the statements in 2:24–25 apply to Paul himself, to Timothy, and to anyone else who serves as a pastor or a leader for other Christians.

the Lord: Here the Lord refers to God.

2:24b

but: The word but is a translation of the Greek conjunction de. Here Paul contrasts 2:24a with 2:24b. Some English versions translate this word as “instead.”

must be kind to everyone: In 2:24a, Paul told Timothy how the servant of the Lord must not act toward other people. In 2:24b, he told Timothy how the servant of the Lord should act toward everyone, including non-Christians, including those who want to argue with him. He did not say that Timothy should completely avoid people who did not believe the good news. He knew that if Timothy talked with them in a kind manner, he might be able to explain to them the truths that they needed to hear.

2:24c

able to teach: A servant of the Lord must be able to teach. The teaching referred to here implies teaching the truth to both believers and non-believers. It also refers to teaching against false doctrine.

2:24d

and forbearing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as forbearing means “to be patient” with those who oppose you. Many English versions translate this word as “patient.” For example, the New Living Translation (2004 Revision) says: “They must be…patient with difficult people.” It is recommended that you also translate this word as “patient.”

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:13

4:13a

cloak: The word cloak refers to a garment that a person would wear to stay warm. Another word for cloak is “coat.” In 4:21a Paul wrote about the season of cold weather arriving before long, so he had a real need for his warm clothing.

You have two main options in translating this word:

• Use your word for whatever type of outer garment people wear to stay warm.

• Use a descriptive phrase. For example, “outer garment used to keep warm.”

I left with Carpus at Troas: Paul had left his cloak at the house of a man called Carpus. This man lived in the town of Troas, which was on the northwest coast of the Roman province of Mysia. Timothy had been in that town with Paul some years earlier during one of Paul’s missionary journeys.

4:13b

and my scrolls, especially the parchments: The people of Paul’s culture used scrolls the way that people use paper and books now. A scroll was long piece of papyrus, leather or parchment that people wound around a stick in order to occupy less space and make it easy to carry. Paul probably wrote each of his letters on a scroll.

People usually made scrolls from papyrus, a kind of thick paper made from papyrus reed. People also made scrolls from parchment. Parchment was made from animal skin, usually sheepskin or goatskin. Parchment lasted longer than papyrus, so it was more expensive.

especially the parchments: Because parchments lasted longer than other types of scrolls, people wrote the most important documents on parchments. That is why Paul especially wanted Timothy to bring the parchments.

In many languages, there will be no word for scrolls or parchments. If this is true in your language, you can use a descriptive phrase or use a modern equivalent. For example, the Good News Translation uses the word “books” instead of scrolls.

Some ways to translate this verse part are:

Bring my scrolls/books, especially the important ones.
-or-
Bring my scrolls/books, especially the expensive ones.

Paragraph 4:14–15

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:12

4:12

Tychicus…I have sent to Ephesus: Tychicus was another one of Paul’s co-workers. He apparently had been in Rome before Paul told him to go to Ephesus. So Tychicus was yet another person who was no longer with Paul. This is a reason why Paul wanted Timothy to come and bring Mark along to help him.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:11

4:11a

Only Luke is with me: This is another reason Paul asked Timothy to come to him. He did not have enough people to help him do all the work he wanted to do.

4:11b

Get Mark and bring him with you: Bible scholars are not sure where Mark was at this time. Apparently Timothy knew where he was. It also seems probable that Timothy would be able to go to the place where Mark was staying as he traveled on his way to Rome. The important point is that Paul wanted Timothy to contact Mark and to bring him to Rome.

4:11c

because he is useful to me in the ministry: This clause gives the reason why Paul wanted Timothy to bring Mark with him.

in the ministry: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the ministry is literally “in service.” Paul probably meant that Mark could help him both in preaching and teaching the word of God Mark could also help Paul in personal and practical ways while Paul was a prisoner.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:10

4:10a

because: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because indicates that Paul was about to give Timothy some reasons why he wanted him to come and visit him. Another common English translation for this word is “for.”

Demas: Demas had been a fellow worker of Paul the first time that Paul had been in prison in Rome. (See Philemon 24 and Colossians 4:14.) Demas had been in Rome again during this second time Paul was in jail, but he had left without Paul’s approval.

in his love of this world: This means that Demas preferred to enjoy what he thought were the good things in this world. It also included the customs and practices that people did to please themselves at that time. Paul used the expression this world in 1 Timothy 6:17 with the same meaning.

Although Paul was disappointed that Demas abandoned him, he did not say that Demas was no longer a believer.

has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica: Thessalonica is the name of a town that was in the Roman province of Macedonia. Today that area is part of the country of Greece. Paul and Timothy had been there together in earlier times. (See Acts 16:3–17:15.)

4:10b

Crescens has gone to Galatia: The second reason that Paul wanted Timothy to come to him was because Crescens had gone to Galatia. Your translation should also show this connection to 4:9. One way to do this is to say, “Also, Crescens….”

Crescens:
Crescens is the name of a man who had been with Paul in Rome. Paul did not imply that Crescens (and Titus, 4:10c) had disobeyed him or abandoned him by leaving. He probably had sent him to preach the good news about Jesus Christ. He was just pointing out another reason why he needed Timothy.

No other passage in the New Testament mentions Crescens.

Galatia: Galatia was a Roman province located in the center of the area that is now the country of Turkey.

4:10c

and Titus to Dalmatia: This statement is the third reason in Paul’s list.

The verb in this clause is missing in the Berean Standard Bible (and in the Greek) because the original readers would understand it to be the same verb as Paul used in 4:10a and 4:10b, that is, “has gone.”

Titus: Titus was a Greek man who believed in Christ. He was one of the men whom Paul trusted to help him to establish churches when Paul went on some of his missionary journeys.

Dalmatia: Dalmatia was the region that is now the country of Albania and included certain areas to the northwest of Albania. However, in your translation, it is sufficient to identify Dalmatia as a Roman province.

Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 2003

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:17

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:16

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:15

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 2:24

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:13

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:12

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:11

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 4:10

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

American Bible Society