complete verse (2 Timothy 3:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 3:14:

  • Uma: “But you Timotius, you must remain [faithfully] hold to the teaching that has already been taught to you and that you really believe. You know that that teaching is true, for you know who they are who taught you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But you Timoteo, continue to obey/follow all the true teaching which has been taught to you and is truly believed by you. You know who has taught you,” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But as for you, by contrast, hold tight to the doctrine which was taught you which you know to be true. You know those who have taught you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But as for you (sing.), continue to believe what you (sing.) have learned which you (sing.) utterly know to be true, because you (sing.) know of course who taught it to you (sing.).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But you, hold fast to what you have mastered/memorized and really believed already which is the truth, because you really know/recognize and are aware of the nature/ways of those who taught you these things.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But you, Timothy, do not leave the word which was taught to you. You now are assured that the word is true because you know that those who taught you the word are not liars.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 3:14

But as for you translates an expression that is identical to that found in the beginning of verse 10. The sense of But is contrastive; the false teachers are “progressing” in their wickedness, but as for Timothy, he should advance in godliness by continuing in the truth that he has learned.

Continue is literally “remain,” “keep on,” “do not waver.” (See further on “continues” in 1 Tim 2.15.) Firmly believed translates a verb that means “to come to believe something as true,” “to be convinced and certain of the truth of something.” Both what you have learned (literally “what you were taught”) and have firmly believed are in the aorist tense, focusing on the times and occasions in the past when Timothy learned these truths and came to believe in them. But while the tense is aorist, it makes more sense, in English at least, to translate the aorist as perfect, which is what Revised Standard Version has done. Good News Translation retains the aorist in the first case but interprets the second aorist as having a stative sense; hence “firmly believe.”

What does it mean to continue in what you have learned? It can be “continue to live according to,” “continue to be loyal to” (compare Contemporary English Version “Keep on being faithful,” New American Bible, Revised “remain faithful,” Translator’s New Testament “you must be loyal”), “continue to believe,” “continue to make progress,” “hold on to,” “stand firm in” (compare Revised English Bible “stand by,” New Jerusalem Bible “you must keep to”).

Timothy should hold on to these truths because he knows that his teachers are reliable Christians and can therefore be trusted. The pronoun whom (in from whom you learned it) is plural, indicating that Paul was not only talking of himself but of others as well who played a part in the Christian education of Timothy, including Timothy’s own mother and grandmother, who are mentioned in 1.5.

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• As for you, Timothy, you must continue to hold on faithfully to the things that people taught you and that you believe in. After all, you know who taught you these truths (or, doctrines).

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator's Notes on 2 Timothy 3:14

3:14a

But as for you: The two Greek words that occur at the beginning of this verse also occurred at the beginning of 3:10a. The literal translation of these words is “but you (sing).” In this context, they clearly contrast Timothy with the evil men and impostors mentioned in 3:13. If your language has a term to indicate a strong contrast, you should use it here.

continue in the things you have learned: This phrase means “continue to believe what you have learned.”

If it is necessary to specify from whom Timothy learned the gospel, you can say “things you have learned from us.” The pronoun should be plural because in Greek, the phrase “from whom” in 3:14c is plural. Timothy learned the gospel from his mother, grandmother, and Paul.

3:14b

and firmly believed: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as firmly believed also means “have believed to be true.”

3:14c

since you know: Implied in the clause you know is “and you can trust” those people who taught the truth about God to you.

from whom you have learned them: The phrase from whom refers to Timothy’s mother, grandmother, and Paul.

them: There is no pronoun here in the Greek text, but it is implied. If in 3:14a you have chosen the word “things,” “truths,” or “teachings” to represent the word “the things” (Berean Standard Bible), you should follow English versions, such as the New American Standard Bible and Revised English Bible, and use the plural pronoun “them” here. Or you can repeat the word “things,” “truths,” or “teachings” if it is more natural in your language.

General Comment on 3:14

In some languages, it may be more natural to reorder the parts of this verse as follows:

14cYou know and can trust those from whom you learned the gospel. 14aSo continue to believe what you have learned 14band have been convinced is true.
-or-
14cYou know those who have taught you the gospel. 14aSo continue to follow what they taught you. 14bContinue to believe it.

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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.