2 Timothy 3:12

ζῆν εὐσεβῶς. This is the order of אAP, the Bohairic and the Harclean; the rec. text has εὐσεβῶς ζῆν with CD2EGKL, the Peshito, the Latin versions &c., perhaps from confusion with Titus 2:12.

12. καὶ πάντες δέ, and, moreover, all. For καὶ … δέ cp. Romans 11:23; 1 Timothy 3:10.

οἱ θέλοντες, who are minded, expressing not a mere passing desire, but the continual bent of the will.

ζῆν εὐσεβῶς. For the order of words see the critical note. εὐσεβῶς only occurs again in the Greek Bible at Titus 2:12 (which see) and 4Ma 7:21. See on 1 Timothy 2:2 for the meaning of εὐσέβεια and its cognates.

ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, in Christ Jesus, the sphere of the godly life. ‘Life in Christ’ is the perpetual theme of St Paul’s Epistles, and, however difficult the phrase may be to interpret, it is impossible to doubt that he meant more by it than life lived in obedience to the precepts of Christ, or under the influence of the Gospel of Christ. There is a deep sense in which the baptized believer is in Christ, who as the Incarnate Word took human nature into Himself.

διωχθήσονται, shall be persecuted. And in such moments of persecution the promise will be recalled, μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστὶν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν (Matthew 5:10); cp. John 15:20.