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2 Timothy 1:3

Whom I serve with a clear conscience. The circumcision party said Paul was a traitor to God because he preached the Good News to the Gentiles without forcing them to convert to Judaism. But Paul could say truthfully that he had a clear conscience (see note on Acts 23:1). He was doing what God had commanded him to do (Acts 26:16-18). As my ancestors did. Two thoughts are in Paul's mind: (1) the awareness of God which he inherited from his ancestors (compare 2 Timothy 1:5); (2) the continuity of God's revealed Word. The same light of truth is in the New Covenant as the Old, but the brightness of the New is like the sun compared to the moon. Compare Acts 26:19-23 and notes.

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See also 2 Timothy 1:3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Timothy 1:3. _WHOM I SERVE FROM_ MY _FOREFATHERS_] Being born a _Jew_, I was carefully educated in the knowledge of the true God, and the proper manner of worshipping him. _WITH PURE CONSCIEN...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS - Paul reckoned among his forefathers the patriarchs and the holy men of former times, as being of the same nation with himself, though it may be that he...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. PAUL'S PERSONAL WORD TO TIMOTHY CHAPTER 1 _ 1. Paul's affectionate words and confidence (2 Timothy 1:1)_ 2. Difficulties and assurance (2 Timothy 1:6) 3. Holding the fo...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    INTRODUCTORY SALUTATION (2 TIMOTHY 1:1 F.) AND THANKSGIVING (2 TIMOTHY 1:3). For the official form of salutation _cf._ 1 Timothy 1:1 f.* Moved by affectionate remembrance, Paul, thanks God for some re...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    This is a letter from Paul, who was made an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and whose apostleship was designed to make known to all men God's promise of real life in Christ Jesus, to Timot...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    AN APOSTLE'S GLORY AND AN APOSTLE'S PRIVILEGE (2 Timothy 1:1-7)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    THANK. See 1 Timothy 1:12. SERVE. App-190. FOREFATHERS. Greek. _progonos._ See 1 Timothy 5:4. WITH. in. Greek. _en._ WITHOUT CEASING. Greek. _adialeiptos._ See Romans 9:2

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Timothy's inheritance of Personal Faith and Ministerial Gifts a double ground of Appeal From what St Paul was himself follows now the first appeal to Timothy, based on his affectionate remembrance of...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _whom I serve … with pure conscience_ The verb -serve" with its noun -service" was specially used to render the worship of Jehovah by the covenant people; it is the same as in St Paul's profession bef...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    EXPRESSION OF THANKSGIVING FOR TIMOTHY’S FAITH...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΘΕΩ͂Ι. D2*E* and some other authorities add μου, plainly from a reminiscence of Romans 1:8. 3. ΧΆΡΙΝ ἜΧΩ. see on 1 Timothy 1:12. The construction is not quite clear, but it seems best to take ὑπόμνησ...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΈΧΩ _praes. ind. act._ (G2192) иметь, ΧΆΡΙΝ ΈΧ ΤΏ ΘΕ "я благодарю Бога" "я воздаю хвалу Богу". Это слово обозначает благодарность человека, который удостоился милости от своего благодетеля; в те врем...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _2 TIMOTHY 1:3_.— St. Paul,in what follows, seems to intimate that the Judaizers were not only ashamed of him in his present sufferings, but gloried over him; so far were they themselves from being wi...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    PAUL'S GRATITUDE, 2 Timothy 1:3-5 _TEXT 1:3-5_ 3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day 4 longi...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; I THANK, [ charin (G5485) echoo (G2192)] - 'I feel...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    2 Timothy had been with the apostle in Rome, whence he was probably sent to Philippi (Php_2:19). The most loving and intimate relations existed between them, and Paul continually refers to him as his...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:3 serve (b-8) _ Latreuo_ . see Matthew 4:10 ....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    I THANK GOD] The construction is involved. What St. Paul thanks God for is Timothy's unfeigned faith which he remembers night and day, thinking of their last sad parting and hoping to see him again....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    EXPRESSIONS OF AFFECTION AND EXHORTATIONS TO FAITHFULNESS 1, 2. Salutation. According to the promise of life] St. Paul declares himself appointed an Apostle with the view of his spreading the knowled...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    HOW WE SHOULD ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TO DO GOD’S WORK 2 TIMOTHY _IAN MACKERVOY_ ABOUT THIS LETTER THE WRITER AND TO WHOM HE WROTE At the end of the book of Acts, the *apostle Paul was still in pri...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    I THANK GOD. — The exact reference of these words of thankfulness on the part of St. Paul has been the subject of much argument. Although the sense is a little obscured by the long parenthesis which i...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    χάριν ἔχω : The expression of thanksgiving in the exordium of an epistle is usually prefaced by St. Paul with εὐχαριστῶ (Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3;...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    I know that your weak point is deficiency in moral courage. Be braced, therefore, by the assurance that I am constantly thinking with thankfulness and prayer about your genuine and inborn faith; and b...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “STIR UP THE GIFT WHICH IS IN THEE” 2 Timothy 1:1 Lonely and facing death the Apostle fell back on the bedrock of the will of God. If it were the divine plan that he should finish his life-work in th...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The second letter to Timothy was written from prison. Paul, conscious of the evil existing in the Church, forecast the terrible days that were coming. He was conscious also of the grave responsibility...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    TIMOTHY'S FAITH AND FAMILY HISTORY Paul served God, as his fathers had, with a pure, or clear conscience (Acts 23:1; Acts 24:16). The apostle's actions were always in accord with that which he believe...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (1) I thank God, whom I serve from [my] (b) forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; (1) The purpose that he aims at in this epist...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Whom I serve from my forefathers with a pure conscience. That is, have always served and worshipped the one true God, as my forefathers had done, which was true, even when he persecuted the Christian...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) В¶ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, (2) To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Fath...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Turning to the SECOND EPISTLE, we find that, although there is the same grand truth of the Saviour God maintained, the state of things had become sensibly worse, and the hour for the apostle's departu...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    3_I give thanks _The meaning usually assigned to these words is, that Paul “gives thanks to God,” and next assigns the cause or ground of thanksgiving; namely, that he is unceasingly mindful of Timoth...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The Second Epistle to Timothy has a very peculiar character. It is the expression of his heart, who out side Palestine had, under God, founded and built the assembly of God on earth, and it was writte...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I THANK GOD,.... After the inscription and salutation follows the preface to the epistle; which contains a thanksgiving to God upon Timothy's account, and has a tendency to engage his attention to wha...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    I thank God, whom I serve from _my_ forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Ver. 3. _Whom I serve from my forefathers_] Those tw...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Paul, an apostle by the will of God_ See 1 Corinthians 1:1; _according to the promise of life_ Appointed to exhibit, by preaching the gospel, and to bring men to, eternal life, promised by God to all...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    FROM MY FOREFATHERS; as I have received from them, both by example and precept, the duty of living in all good conscience before God. Acts 23:1. True religion is in all ages the same. Pious ancestors...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I THANK GOD, WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS WITH PURE CONSCIENCE, THAT WITHOUT CEASING I HAVE REMEMBRANCE OF THEE IN MY PRAYERS NIGHT AND DAY;...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    PAUL REMINDS TIMOTHY OF HIS EARLY TRAINING AND ITS OBLIGATIONS....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Despite the fact of his heart being so drawn out in this epistle, Paul writes as "an apostle," not as a servant, nor even as a brother. Does this not stress the strongly authoritative character of tha...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-5 The promise of eternal life to believers in Christ Jesus, is the leading subject of ministers who are employed according to the will of God. The blessings here named, are the best we can ask for...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Paul here by his FOREFATHERS either intends his immediate parents, or Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for he served the same God whom they served. But how did Paul from his forefathers serve God _with pure...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Origen de Principiis Book II , that "on these two commandments hang the law and the prophets? "For how shall that which is strange and foreign to God depend upon Him? And when Paul says, "I thank my...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Timothy 1:3 thank G2192 (G5719) G5485 God G2316 whom G3739 serve G3000 (G5719) with G1722 pure...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    2 Timothy 1:3. WHOM I SERVE FROM MY FOREFATHERS. The English word suggests more remote ancestors than were in St. Paul's thoughts. We have no word that precisely answers to the Greek, and are compelle...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    I THANK (χαριν εχω). "I have gratitude." As in 1 Timothy 1:12. Robinson cites examples of this phrase from the papyri. It occurs also in Luke 17:9; Acts 2:47. Χαρις in doxologies Paul uses ...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    2 Timothy 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved son:_ There is the greatest possible affe...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    2 Timothy 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    2 Timothy 1:1. _Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,_ Paul takes high ground. He is not an apostle by the will of the Church...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Apostolic greetings and exhortations to Timothy. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Timothy, Eunice, Phygelus, Hermogenes, Onesiphorus. CONCLUSION: The best of Christ's servants ne...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Timothy 1:1. _Paul according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus._ On this promise of eternal life the whole system of revelation is built; for this cause Paul was made an apostle, that...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 TIMOTHY—NOTE ON 2 TIMOTHY 1:3 Enduring for the Gospel. Paul’s thanksgiving (2 Timothy 1:3) leads to encouraging Timothy ...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ 2 Timothy 1:3. I THANK GOD.—We have here the purely classical form, which means “to entertain and show thankfulness.” WHOM I SERVE.—The idea in the word is that of pai...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 TIMOTHY 1:1 _Christ Jesus _for _Jesus Christ, _A.V. and T.R.; _the life _for _life, _A.V. The life is a little clearer than _life, _as showing that "life" (not "promise") is the antecede...

  • The Typology of Scripture by Patrick Fairbairn

    Vers. 3-5. _I give thanks to God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience._ The form of expression at the commencement, χάριν ἔχω occurs only once again in St. Paul's acknowledged epistl...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Shall we turn now to second Timothy? This is the last epistle that Paul wrote. He is again in prison in Rome. It would seem that he was released from the first imprisonment and allowed a little more t...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Thessalonians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 1:19;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    I thank God [χ α ρ ι ν ε χ ω τ ω θ ε ω]. Lit. I have thanks to God. The phrase in Luke 17:9; Acts 2:47; o P. unless 2 Corinthians 1:15; 130 1 Timothy 1:12

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    SEVEN BIBLE MOTHERS 2 Timothy 1:1; _2 Timothy 3:13_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS We are studying a theme today which should have in it much of value to every one of us; even the men and the young men love mot...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE UPS AND DOWNS OF A CHRISTIAN 2 Timothy 1:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS It is a mistake to imagine that those who walk with Christ will find a level pathway without any valley or any mountain top, a path...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    OUR GUIDE AMONG THE WRECKAGE 2 Timothy 1:3; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:14; 2 Timothy 4:1;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Whom I serve from my forefathers — That is, whom both I and my ancestors served. With a pure conscience — He always worshipped God according to his conscience, both before and after his conversion One...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    But how could Paul, before conversion, be said to serve the God of his forefathers with. pure conscience, when he was. persecutor, and the chief of sinners? ANS. The meaning is, That he worshipped th...

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Old Testament