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2 Timothy Chapter 2

2 Timothy Chapter 2

(Underlining marks a quotation/allusion. [Brackets] mark a textual variant.fnWhen two (or more) different copies of an original manuscript disagree on any given word or phrase — addition, omission, word order, etc. — the disagreement is called a "textual variant". ~99% of existing textual variants are either minor (like spelling), obviously not original (often appearing only in a few late manuscripts), or don't affect meaning (like "Jesus Christ" vs. "Christ Jesus"). The ~1% that remain do not affect any central doctrine of Christianity. The BOS Bible only marks significant textual variants that affect the meaning; smaller variants that do not affect meaning won't be marked for readability.  "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.fn"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love".  However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings — agapé centers on choice and behavior.  It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings.  (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".)  Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé".  Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing.  It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. An asterisk (*) indicates a verb in the Greek perfect tense.fnThe Greek perfect tense signifies a completed action in the past with a result and/or an ongoing state that extends into the present. For example, Hebrews 12:2 says in part: "He *sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"; the verb for "sat" is in the perfect tense, indicating that He sat down once (completed action in the past), and also that He remains seated until the present moment (ongoing state).)

Glossary

Note: this glossary is currently a work in progress; entries that do not expand will be added as time permits

Ages/of ages
“ages” and “of ages” are the Greek words “αἰών” (aión, noun form) and “αἰώνιος” (aiónios, adjective form) respectively.  The adjective form is typically translated “eternal”, as in “eternal life”. The noun form refers to a whole time period, (Keizer, “Life Time Entirety”) such as a person’s lifetime (an older Greek sense), an age/epoch (e.g., 2 Cor 4:4), or even time in its entirety, making its meaning similar to “forever” (e.g., John 14:16). The adjective form is similarly context-dependent, and the New Testament context often dictates a meaning similar to “forever” (but not always: e.g. 2 Tim 1:9).  Alternately or additionally, it can indicate the quality of a time period — indicating greatness/severity — like the English idiom “of ages” (e.g. “battle of the ages”). Thus, “of ages” was chosen for the adjective form so that both the time and quality senses remain visible.

Clean/unclean

Covenant

Faith

Flesh

Forgive/forgiveness

Grace
The Greek word is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace”, “gift”, or “thanks”. It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place. The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis). A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron. The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful” by giving thanks in this way. Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation. A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons. The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met. New Testament usage typically casts God the Father as a Heavenly Patron, to whom Christians should be grateful and faithful because of the gifts He has given us. (e.g. salvation, provision, protection, etc.)

Holy

Justification

Law (Torah)

Make purification

Pure/Impure

Purification offering
In the Old Testament, this is typically the Hebrew “חַטָּ֖את” (khat-tat); in the New Testament, it’s typically “περὶ ἁμαρτίας” (peri hamartias), which is what the Septuagint (an ancient translation of the Old Testament into Greek) used to translate the Hebrew. It’s traditionally translated “sin offering”, but that translation has less support in high-level scholarship. The Hebrew word can mean “sin”, but it can also mean “purification” (e.g. Numbers 8:7). This offering was used to purify uncleanness, whether or not a sin was committed. Thus, it was required even when no sin was committed, such as after childbirth (Leviticus 12:1-8), for certain diseases (Leviticus 14), etc. High-level, peer-reviewed scholarship dedicated to the field (e.g. Milgrom, Levine, Gane, Sklar, Wright, Gorman, etc.) is largely united on the “purification offering” understanding. The BOS Bible has aligned itself with that high-level, peer-reviewed scholarship in its translation.

Ransom

Redemption

Repent/repentance

Righteous/righteousness

Salvation/save

Soul
“soul” is the Greek word “ψυχή/psuché” and Hebrew word “נֶפֶשׁ/nephesh”. The BOS Bible translates these words as “soul” for consistency, and so the full meaning of “soul” isn’t obscured by different translations in different places. They closely overlap in meaning and are typically translated “soul” or “life”. They refer to the animating force of a living thing, and thus can also refer to its life, or to the whole of any person or creature, including animals (e.g. fish in Revelation 8:9 and Genesis 1). They are frequently used as an emphatic reference to a person’s whole self, including longings, deep emotions, and inner life. (e.g. Ps 42:11) Note: while “soul” has significant overlap in meaning with “spirit”, the words have distinct meanings and usages throughout scripture. For example, lions tear apart a soul in Psalm 7:2, and a “dead soul” is mentioned in Leviticus 21:11; “spirit” has no analogous usages, and it returns to God at death (Ecc 12:7; Acts 7:59). The adjective forms of soul and spirit are contrasted in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15; see also: Hebrews 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

Sin

Click to Collapse the Glossary
Be Strengthened
  1. So you, my child, be strengthened by the grace which is in Jesus the Anointed.
  2. And what you heard from me among many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful men who will also be fit to teach others.
  3. Suffer with me as a good soldier of Jesus the Anointed.
  4. No one serving as a soldier entangles himself in the affairs of life so he might please the man who enlisted him.
  5. And also, if someone competes as an athlete, he isn’t crowned victorious unless he competes lawfully.
  6. It’s proper for the farmer toiling to partake of the first fruits.
  7. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.
  8. Remember Jesus the Anointed, from the seed of David, has been raised from the dead according to my gospel,
  9. by which I suffer evil, even to being bound in chains like a criminal, but the word of God hasn’t been bound.
  10. Because of this, I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so they also might obtain the salvation in Jesus the Anointed with the glory of ages.
  11. The saying is trustworthy: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him.
  12. If we endure, we will also reign with Him.  If we will deny Him, He will also deny us.
  13. If we’re unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He isn’t able to deny Himself.
  14. Remind them of these things, solemnly charging them in the sight of God not to quarrel about words, which is profitable for nothing except for the ruin of the men hearing it.
An approved workman
  1. Be zealous to present yourself to God as an approved workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
  2. But avoid profane, worthless babblings for they will lead to more ungodliness
  3. and their talk will have growth like gangrene.  Among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
  4. who went astray concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened and they overthrow the faith of some.
  5. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God *stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows the men belongingfn“belonging to Him” is literally “being His” to Him”, and: “Every man uttering the name of the Lord must depart from unrighteousness”.
  6. Now, in a great house there aren’t only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and clay vessels.  And indeed, some are for honor, but some for dishonor.
  7. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, having been *made holy, useful to the Master, and having been *prepared for every good work.
  8. And flee youthful cravings and pursue righteousness, faith, ^love, and peace with the men calling on the name of the Lord from a pure heart.
  9. But shun foolish and ignorant controversies, *knowing that they give birth to quarrels.
  10. Now, it’s not proper for a slave of the Lord to quarrel, but to be gentle toward all, skilled at teaching, patiently enduring evil,
  11. correcting the men opposing us in gentle strength, lest at some time God might give them repentance for knowledge of the truth,
  12. and they might recover their senses, coming out of the snare of the Accuser after having been *captured by him to do his will.

 

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