2 Timothy 2.11a-Paul Asserts the Hymn is a Trustworthy Doctrinal Statement
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday April 22, 2015
Second Timothy: Second Timothy 2:11a-Paul Asserts the Hymn is a Trustworthy Doctrinal Statement
Lesson # 36
2 Timothy 2:11 It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (NASB95)
In verse 11, the apostle Paul is once again employing the figure of asyndeton meaning he is not using a connective word between his previous statement in Second Timothy 2:10 and his statement here in Second Timothy 2:11.
This figure is used to emphasize the solemn nature of Paul’s statement in Second Timothy 2:11-13 in relation to his statements in Second Timothy 2:8-10.
This is indicated by the fact that Paul’s statements in Second Timothy 2:11-13 are tied to his statements in Second Timothy 2:8-11.
In Second Timothy 2:8-10, Paul is exhorting Timothy to remain faithful to the gospel in the face of suffering undeserved suffering just like he was doing when he penned this epistle.
In Second Timothy 2:11-13, he is teaching Timothy that he will be rewarded for faithful service but will not be rewarded for unfaithful service but even if he is unfaithful, he will never lose his salvation.
Therefore, in Second Timothy 2:11, the apostle Paul employs the figure of asyndeton because he wants Timothy to understand the eternal implications of remaining faithful to the gospel in face of persecution and underserved suffering.
He also wants him to understand the eternal implications for not remaining faithful to the gospel.
In other words, this figure emphasizes how serious Paul viewed his teaching in Second Timothy 2:8-13.
“It is a trustworthy statement” is composed of the following: (1) nominative masculine singular form of the adjective pistos (πιστός), “a trustworthy” (2) articular nominative masculine singular form of the noun logos (λόγος), “a statement.”
This expression πιστὸς ὁ λόγος appears five times in the Pastorals, three in 1 Timothy (1:15; 3:1; 4:9), once in 2 Timothy (2:11) and once in Titus (3:8).
First Timothy 1:15 This saying is, as an eternal spiritual truth, trustworthy, indeed, worthy of full acceptance, namely that Christ, who is Jesus entered the human race in order to save sinners among whom I myself am the foremost. (Author’s translation)
In 1 Timothy 1:15, this faithful saying “that Christ came into the world to save sinners” is the heart of the gospel and is an articulation of the gospel as well as an expression of Paul’s apostolic authority.
It is designed to rebuke and refute those pastors in Ephesus who sought to be teachers of the Law and taught false doctrine.
It implicitly rejects the Law as the basis for eternal salvation and as the means of transforming the sinner into an obedient child and servant of God.
First Timothy 3:1 This saying is, as an eternal spiritual truth, trustworthy: if and let us assume that it is true for the sake of argument that any man, at any time does aspire to the office of overseer for himself and we agree that there are men who do, then he, as an eternal spiritual truth, desires a noble occupation. (Author’s translation)
“This saying is, as an eternal spiritual truth, trustworthy” refers to the first class conditional statement that follows indicating that this statement is a commendation of the office of overseer.
This is designed to refute those who reject the authority of the overseer as a result of those overseers in Ephesus who were abusing their authority and teaching false doctrine.
It is a Spirit inspired evaluation of the office of overseer, affirming its value and implying its importance to the body of Christ.
First Timothy 4:8 For you see physical exercise is, as an eternal spiritual truth beneficial for a short period of time. However, godliness is, as an eternal spiritual truth beneficial throughout all the ages because it does, as an eternal spiritual truth include the promise, which is experiencing life during this present lifetime and in addition as a certainty during the future. 9 This saying is, as an eternal spiritual truth, trustworthy, indeed, worthy of full acceptance. (Author’s translation)
“This saying” refers to 1 Timothy 4:8b, “godliness is, as an eternal spiritual truth beneficial throughout all the ages because it does, as an eternal spiritual truth include the promise, which is experiencing life during this present lifetime and in addition as a certainty during the future.”
That “this saying” refers to the adversative clause in verse 8 and not 10b is indicated by the fact that verse 9 is grammatically independent from verse 10b since the intervening comment “for to this end we toil and strive” separates the statement “we have our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe” from the trustworthy statement in verse 9.
Titus 3:1 Continue to make it your habit of reminding them to make it their habit of voluntarily subjecting themselves to governmental rulers, or in other words, governmental authorities by making it their habit of being obedient, to be ready for any kind of act which is divine good in quality and character. 2 They are to be characterized as slandering absolutely no one, to be characterized as peaceable, magnanimous with the result that together they show every consideration for each and every member of the human race. 3 For, we ourselves also, at one time, were existing in the state of being foolish ones, disobedient ones, deceived ones, those enslaved to various lusts as well as pleasures, continually spending our lives in malice as well as envy, hateful ones, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness, yes the love for mankind originating from the Savior who is our God was manifested, 5 He saved us, by no means on the basis of meritorious actions as constituting its source. In other words, on the basis of human self-righteousness which we ourselves have done. But rather on the basis of His mercy as constituting the standard, by means of a washing produced by regeneration, specifically, a renovation produced by the Spirit who is holy, 6 whom He poured out upon us in full measure through Jesus who is the Christ, our Savior. 7 The divine purpose was accomplished so that we became heirs in order that we can confidently expect to experience eternal life because we have been justified by this His grace. 8 This is, as an eternal spiritual truth a trustworthy statement. Therefore, concerning these things, I myself always want you to discipline yourself in making it your habit of confidently communicating in order that those who have placed their absolute confidence in God would be intent on disciplining themselves in making it their habit of performing excellent works. These things are as an eternal spiritual truth excellent, indeed, beneficial for the human race. (Author’s translation)
Paul informs Titus that his doctrinal statement in Titus 3:4-7 is a trustworthy statement.
With this statement he affirmed that his teaching in Titus 3:4-7 was trustworthy regarding when the Christian was saved and the basis for their salvation, the means by which they were saved as well as the purpose for which they were saved.
As a result of his doctrinal statement in Titus 3:4-7 being trustworthy, Paul wanted Titus to continue disciplining himself in making it his habit of confidently communicating to the Cretan Christian community not only his doctrinal statement in Titus 3:4-7 but also his instructions in Titus 3:1-3.
In Second Timothy 2:11, the adjective pistos means “faithful, trustworthy” and modifying the noun logos, which means “statement” and refers to the statement Paul communicated in Second Timothy 2:11-13.
Pistos expresses the idea that Paul’s teaching in Second Timothy 2:11-13 is an accurate and faithful presentation of the gospel or in other words, a faithful and accurate presentation of God’s message to Timothy and the entire Christian community.
The adjective pertains to the fact that this teaching in Second Timothy 2:11-13 is worthy of trust or belief and is dependable and implies that it originates from God and is inspired by Him.
This adjective is ascribed to Paul’s teaching in Second Timothy 2:11-13 expressing the fact that it is an articulation of the gospel as well as an expression of Paul’s apostolic authority.
The adjective pistos, “faithful” functions as a predicate nominative as indicated by the articular construction of the nominative form of the noun logos, “statement” which indicates that it is the subject.
It is therefore making the assertion about Paul’s teaching in Second Timothy 2:11-13, namely that it is trustworthy in the sense of being an accurate and faithful presentation of the gospel to the Christian community.
In Second Timothy 2:11, the noun logos means “statement” or “saying” and denotes a declaration or an assertion, which is identified in Second Timothy 2:11-13 and is thus referring to Paul’s teaching in these verses.
Therefore, it refers to the doctrinal statement contained in these verses.
“It is” does not translate a word in the original text but is correctly added by the translators since they interpret Paul as deliberately omitting the third person singular present active indicative form of the verb eimi (εἰμί) due to his use of the figure of ellipsis.
The verb eimi means “to possess a particular characteristic,” which is identified by the adjective pistos, “trustworthy” which indicates that Paul’s teaching in Second Timothy 2:11-13 possesses the characteristic of being trustworthy.
The present tense of the verb is “gnomic” used of a general timeless fact indicating an eternal spiritual truth or spiritual axiom which indicates that Paul’s teaching in Second Timothy 2:11-13 is “as an eternal spiritual truth” trustworthy.
Therefore, “it is a trustworthy statement”” refers to the doctrinal statement Paul communicated in Second Timothy 2:11-13.
It expresses the idea that his teaching in these verses is an accurate and faithful presentation of the gospel.
In other words, it is a faithful and accurate presentation of God’s message to Timothy and the entire Christian community.
It pertains to the fact that this teaching in these verses is worthy of trust or belief and is dependable and implies that it originates from God and is inspired by Him and is expressing the fact that it is an articulation of the gospel as well as an expression of Paul’s apostolic authority.