2 Timothy 2:12

ἀρνησόμεθα. So א*AC f and the Bohairic. ἀρνούμεθα, the rec. reading, is supported by אcD2EKLP d e; it seems to be a correction of tense due to a misunderstanding of the sequence of thought in the three clauses. See note in loc.

12. εἰ ὑπομένομεν. We have again a close parallel in the Ep. to the Romans (Romans 8:17), εἵπερ συνπάσχομεν ἵνα καὶ συνδοξασθῶμεν; cp. Romans 5:17 and Revelation 1:6. The verb συμβασιλεύειν only occurs in the N.T. here and in 1 Corinthians 4:8.

εἰ�.τ.λ., if we shall deny Him, He also will deny us, a reminiscence of our Lord’s words recorded in Matthew 10:33, words which may well have been present to the mind of many a martyr for the Name of Christ. The tense ἀρνησόμεθα has in this third clause been made future, to mark a mere contingency, improbable in itself and to be deprecated.