The Meaning of 2 Timothy 3:14 Explained

2 Timothy 3:14

KJV: But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

YLT: And thou -- be remaining in the things which thou didst learn and wast entrusted with, having known from whom thou didst learn,

Darby: But thou, abide in those things which thou hast learned, and of which thou hast been fully persuaded, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

ASV: But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  continue  thou  in  the things which  thou hast learned  and  hast been assured of,  knowing  of  whom  thou hast learned  [them]; 

What does 2 Timothy 3:14 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul identified two of Timothy"s duties in the last days to impress him with what was of highest priority.

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 3:14

But abide thou [συ δε μενε]
Emphatic contrast (συ δε — su de), “But thou.” Present active imperative of μενω — menō common verb, to remain. [source]
In the things which [εν οις]
The antecedent to οις — hois is not expressed (“in which things”) and the relative is attracted from α — ha accusative with εματες — emathes (didst learn, second aorist active indicative of μαντανω — manthanō) to the case of the unexpressed antecedent (locative with εν — en). Hast been assured of (επιστωτης — epistōthēs). First aorist passive indicative of πιστοω — pistoō old verb (from πιστος — pistos faithful), to make reliable, only here in N.T. Knowing from whom Second perfect active participle of οιδα — oida Note τινων — tinōn (ablative case after παρα — para in an indirect question). The list included the O.T. prophets, Paul, Eunice, Lois. There ought to be moral authority in such personages. [source]
Hast been assured of [επιστωτης]
First aorist passive indicative of πιστοω — pistoō old verb (from πιστος — pistos faithful), to make reliable, only here in N.T. [source]
Knowing from whom [ειδως παρα τινων]
Second perfect active participle of οιδα — oida Note τινων — tinōn (ablative case after παρα — para in an indirect question). The list included the O.T. prophets, Paul, Eunice, Lois. There ought to be moral authority in such personages. [source]
Hast been assured of [ἐπιστώθης]
N.T.oQuite often in lxx. So 2 Samuel 7:16, shall be established (of the house of David): Psalm 78:37, steadfast in his covenant. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Timothy 3:14

Galatians 3:10 Continueth - in [ἐμμένει]
The expression is figurative, the book of the law being conceived as a prescribed district or domain, in which one remains or out of which he goes. Comp. continue in the faith, Acts 14:22; in the covenant, Hebrews 13:9; in the things which thou hast learned, 2 Timothy 3:14. [source]
Galatians 1:12 Of man [παρὰ ἀνθρώπου]
Better, from man. Παρὰ fromemphasizes the idea of transmission, and marks the connection between giver and receiver. Comp. 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:14; Acts 10:22. In the Gospels and Acts παραλαμβάνειν usually means to take, in the sense of causing to accompany, as Matthew 4:5; Matthew 17:1; Mark 4:36, etc. Scarcely ever in the sense of receive: see Mark 7:4. In Paul only in the sense of receive, and only with παρὰ , with the single exception of 1 Corinthians 11:23( ἀπὸ ). The simple λαμβάνω usually with παρὰ , but with ἀπὸ , 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:22. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Timothy 3:14 mean?

You however abide in the things you have learned and have been assured of having known from whom you learned [them]
Σὺ δὲ μένε ἐν οἷς ἔμαθες καὶ ἐπιστώθης εἰδὼς παρὰ τίνων ἔμαθες

δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
μένε  abide 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: μένω  
Sense: to remain, abide.
οἷς  the  things 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Neuter Plural
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ἔμαθες  you  have  learned 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: μανθάνω  
Sense: to learn, be appraised.
ἐπιστώθης  have  been  assured  of 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Singular
Root: πιστόω  
Sense: to make faithful, render trustworthy.
εἰδὼς  having  known 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
τίνων  whom 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: τίς  
Sense: who, which, what.
ἔμαθες  you  learned  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: μανθάνω  
Sense: to learn, be appraised.