The Meaning of 2 Timothy 3:11 Explained

2 Timothy 3:11

KJV: Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

YLT: the persecutions, the afflictions, that befell me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of all the Lord did deliver me,

Darby: persecutions, sufferings: what sufferings happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, in Lystra; what persecutions I endured; and the Lord delivered me out of all.

ASV: persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Persecutions,  afflictions,  which  came  unto me  at  Antioch,  at  Iconium,  at  Lystra;  what  persecutions  I endured:  but  out of  [them] all  the Lord  delivered  me. 

What does 2 Timothy 3:11 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Timothy 3:10-17 - Hold Fast To Inspired Scripture
The world does not love Christ or Christians any better than of old; and all who are minded to live godly lives will come inevitably to the cross in one form or another. To be without persecution should put us in serious doubt as to whether we are right. The spirit of the gospel is in absolute disagreement with the spirit of the world. But, whatever the losses and trials, let the children of God abide in the things which they have learned, and walk in blameless purity and consistency. The conduct, purpose, and patience of this great and holy Apostle gleam in front of us for our inspiration and guidance; and his experience will be ours-that there is no sorrow out of which we shall not be delivered, when we have learned the lesson it was sent to teach.
In the stern experiences of human life there is no stay that is comparable to the Holy Scriptures. The infinite variety of Scripture adapts itself to different states of the soul. Whatever our need, we can find its solace and remedy here. Thus we may live a complete life, finding in the Bible an equipment for all our emergencies. In this armory is every weapon for offense and defense; in this pharmacopoeia is a medicine and antidote for every wound. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Timothy 3

1  Paul advises Timothy of the difficult times to come;
6  describes the enemies of the truth;
10  explains unto him his own example;
16  and commends the holy Scriptures;

Greek Commentary for 2 Timothy 3:11

What things befell me [οια μοι εγενετο]
Qualitative relative See also Galatians 2:11. [source]
What persecutions I endured [οιους διωγμους υπηνεγκα]
Qualitative relative again with διωγμους — diōgmous The verb is first aorist active indicative of υποπερω — hupopherō old verb, to bear under as in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Delivered me (με ερυσατο — me erusato). First aorist middle of ρυομαι — ruomai old verb, with εκ — ek here as in 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Used again of the Lord Jesus in 2 Timothy 4:18. [source]
Delivered me [με ερυσατο]
First aorist middle of ρυομαι — ruomai old verb, with εκ — ek here as in 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Used again of the Lord Jesus in 2 Timothy 4:18. [source]
Persecutions, afflictions [διωγμοῖς, παθήμασιν]
Διωγμός persecutiononly here in Pastorals. Occasionally in Paul. Πάθημα , only here in Pastorals. Often in Paul, usually in the sense of sufferings, but twice of sinful passions, Romans 7:5; Galatians 5:24. [source]
Antioch, Iconium, Lystra []
See Acts 13:50; Acts 14:2ff.; Acts 14:19. These cities may have been selected as illustrations because Timothy was at home in that region. See Acts 16:1, Acts 16:2. Antioch is mentioned by Paul, Galatians 2:11. Iconium and Lystra nowhere in his letters. [source]
Delivered [ἐρύσατο]
Often in Paul. Originally, to draw to one's self; to draw out from peril. Paul, in Romans 11:26, applies the prophecy of Isaiah 59:20to Christ, who is called a ὁ ῥυόμενος thedeliverer, lxx. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 3:11

Acts 13:50 The chief men of the city [τους πρωτους της πολεως]
Probably city officials (the Duumviri, the Praetors, the First Ten in the Greek Cities of the east) or other “foremost” men, not officials. The rabbis were shrewd enough to reach these men (not proselytes) through the women who were proselytes of distinction. Stirred up a persecution (επηγειραν διωγμον — epēgeiran diōgmon). First aorist active indicative of επεγειρω — epegeirō old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 14:2. Paul seems to allude to this persecution in 2 Timothy 3:11 “persecutions, sufferings, what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured.” Here Paul had perils from his own countrymen and perils from the Gentiles after the perils of rivers and perils of robbers on the way from Perga (2 Corinthians 11:26). He was thrice beaten with rods (τρις εραβδιστην — tris erhabdisthēn 2 Corinthians 11:25) by Roman lictors in some Roman colony. If that was here, then Paul and Barnabas were publicly scourged by the lictors before they left. Probably the Jews succeeded in making the Roman officials look on Paul and Barnabas as disturbers of the public peace. So “they cast them out of their borders” (εχεβαλον αυτους απο των οριων αυτων — exebalon autous apo tōn horiōn autōn). Second aorist active indicative of εκβαλλω — ekballō forcible expulsion plainly as public nuisances. Just a few days before they were the heroes of the city and now! [source]
Acts 13:50 Stirred up a persecution [επηγειραν διωγμον]
First aorist active indicative of επεγειρω — epegeirō old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 14:2. Paul seems to allude to this persecution in 2 Timothy 3:11 “persecutions, sufferings, what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra, what persecutions I endured.” Here Paul had perils from his own countrymen and perils from the Gentiles after the perils of rivers and perils of robbers on the way from Perga (2 Corinthians 11:26). He was thrice beaten with rods Second aorist active indicative of εκβαλλω — ekballō forcible expulsion plainly as public nuisances. Just a few days before they were the heroes of the city and now! [source]
Acts 14:8 At Lystra [εν Λυστροις]
Neuter plural as in Acts 16:2; 2 Timothy 3:11 while feminine singular in Acts 14:6, Acts 14:21; Acts 16:1. There was apparently no synagogue in Lystra and so not many Jews. Paul and Barnabas had to do open-air preaching and probably had difficulty in being understood by the natives though both Greek and Latin inscriptions were discovered here by Professor Sterrett in 1885. The incident narrated here (Acts 13:8-18) shows how they got a real hearing among these rude heathen. [source]
Acts 14:20 Stood round about him [κυκλωσαντων αυτον]
Genitive absolute with first aorist active participle of κυκλοω — kukloō old verb from κυκλος — kuklos (circle, cycle) to make a circle round, to encircle. The would-be murderers left and a group of disciples gathered round to see if Paul was dead or alive and, if dead, to bury him. In that group Timothy may very well have been along with Eunice and Barnabas. Timothy, a lad of about fifteen, would not soon forget that solemn scene (2 Timothy 3:11). But Paul suddenly (apparently a miraculous recovery) rose up (αναστας — anastas) and entered the city to the surprise and joy of the disciples who were willing to brave persecution with Paul. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Timothy []
Appears in all the Pauline Epistles except Galatians and Ephesians. He was associated with Paul longer than any one of whom we have notice. First mentioned Acts 16:1, Acts 16:2; comp. 2 Timothy 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:11. He accompanied Paul on his second missionary tour (Acts 16:3), and was one of the founders of the churches in Thessalonica and Philippi. He is often styled by Paul “the brother” (2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philemon 1:1); with Paul himself “a bondservant of Jesus Christ” (Philemon 1:1); comp. 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 1:2. Paul's confidence in him appears in Philemon 2:19-22, and is implied in his sending him from Athens to the Thessalonian church to establish and comfort its members (1 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul sent him again to Macedonia in company with Erastus (Acts 19:22), and also to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17). To the Corinthians he writes of Timothy as “his beloved and faithful child in the Lord” who shall remind them of his ways in Christ (1 Corinthians 4:17), and as one who worketh the work of the Lord as he himself (1 Corinthians 16:10). He joined Paul at Rome, and his name is associated with Paul's in the addresses of the letters to the Colossians and Philemon. In every case where he is mentioned by name with Silvanus, the name of Silvanus precedes. [source]
2 Timothy 3:10 Didst follow [παρηκολουτησας]
First aorist active indicative of παρακολουτεω — parakoloutheō for which see note on 1 Timothy 4:6. Some MSS. have perfect active παρηκολουτηκας — parēkolouthēkas (thou hast followed). Nine associative-instrumental cases here after the verb (teaching, διδασκαλιαι — didaskaliāi Romans 12:7; conduct, αγωγηι — agōgēi old word here only in N.T.; purpose, προτεσει — prothesei Romans 8:28; faith, πιστει — pistei 1 Thessalonians 3:6; longsuffering, μακροτυμιαι — makrothumiāi Colossians 1:11; persecutions, διωγμοις — diōgmois 2 Thessalonians 1:4; sufferings, πατημασιν — pathēmasin 2 Corinthians 1:6.). The two last items belong to 2 Timothy 3:11. [source]
1 Peter 2:19 If a man endureth griefs [ει υοπερει τις λυπας]
Condition of first class with ει — ei and present active indicative of υποπερω — hupopherō old verb, to bear up under, in N.T. only here, 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 3:11. Note plural of λυπη — lupē (grief).For conscience toward God (δια συνειδησιν τεου — dia suneidēsin theou). Suffering is not a blessing in and of itself, but, if one‘s duty to God is involved (Acts 4:20), then one can meet it with gladness of heart. Τεου — Theou (God) is objective genitive. For συνειδησις — suneidēsis (conscience) see note on Acts 23:1; and see note on 1 Corinthians 8:7. It occurs again in 1 Peter 3:16.Suffering wrongfully Present active participle of πασχω — paschō and the common adverb αδικως — adikōs unjustly, here alone in N.T. This is the whole point, made clear already by Jesus in Matthew 5:10-12, where Jesus has also “falsely” See also Luke 6:32-34. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 3:11 mean?

- persecutions - sufferings such as to me happened in Antioch Iconium Lystra what manner of persecutions I endured And yet out of all me delivered the Lord
τοῖς διωγμοῖς τοῖς παθήμασιν οἷά μοι ἐγένετο ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ Ἰκονίῳ Λύστροις οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπήνεγκα καὶ ἐκ πάντων με ἐρρύσατο Κύριος

τοῖς  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
διωγμοῖς  persecutions 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: διωγμός  
Sense: persecution.
τοῖς  - 
Parse: Article, Dative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παθήμασιν  sufferings 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: πάθημα  
Sense: that which one suffers or has suffered.
οἷά  such  as 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: οἷος  
Sense: what sort of, what manner of, such as.
μοι  to  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐγένετο  happened 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
Ἀντιοχείᾳ  Antioch 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἀντιόχεια  
Sense: Capital of Syria, situated on the river Orontes, founded by Seleucus Nicanor in 300 B.
Ἰκονίῳ  Iconium 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: Ἰκόνιον  
Sense: a famous city of Asia Minor, which was the capital of Lycaonia.
Λύστροις  Lystra 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: Λύστρα  
Sense: a city in the eastern part of the great plain of Lycaonia.
οἵους  what  manner  of 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: οἷος  
Sense: what sort of, what manner of, such as.
διωγμοὺς  persecutions 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: διωγμός  
Sense: persecution.
ὑπήνεγκα  I  endured 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ὑποφέρω  
Sense: to bear by being under, bear up (a thing placed on one’s shoulders).
καὶ  And  yet 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐκ  out  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐκ 
Sense: out of, from, by, away from.
με  me 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἐρρύσατο  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ῥύομαι  
Sense: to draw to one’s self, to rescue, to deliver.
Κύριος  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.