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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
2 Tim 2 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V20 V21 V22 V23 V24 V25 V26
OET (OET-LV) However the solid foundation of_ the _god has_stood, having the this seal:
The_master knew the ones being of_him, and, let_ everyone - naming the name of_the_master _Withdraw from unrighteousness.
OET (OET-RV) However God’s solid foundation has stood with this inscription on it: ‘Yahweh knew his own ones,’ and ‘Let everyone who claims to follow Yahweh avoid disobedience.’
Paul was writing only to Timothy here, so the verbs are singular.
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands,
But God’s foundation is strong and is not ruined.
However, God’s people are like a foundation that does not move.
In spite of all that, God’s people always continue to believe.
Nevertheless: The Greek word that the BSB translates as Nevertheless indicates a strong contrast with 2:16–18. The idea is that heretics might destroy the faith of some believers, but they cannot destroy God’s foundation. Other English versions translate this word as “but” or “however.”
God’s firm foundation stands: In some cultures, people who are constructing a building begin by putting large stones in the ground as a foundation. Then they build the walls of the building on this foundation. This causes the building to be more stable. Here, Paul used the image of a foundation in a figurative sense.
He was referring to the church, that is, the people who believe the teachings of Jesus. In the same way that the foundation stones of a building never move, the body of true believers always continues to trust firmly in Christ.
There are several options for translating this phrase:
Translate it literally using the figure of a foundation, as many English translations do.
Translate the phrase using a simile. In this case, you will have to refer to the church/believers as part of the translation. For example,
The true believers in God are strong in their faith like the strong foundation of a building.
Replace the figure of speech with the direct meaning. An example of this would be:
God’s people always stand/remain firm.
God’s people always continue to believe the truth.
stands: Most English versions translate the Greek verb as “stands,” “stands firm,” or “remains standing.” The idea is that the foundation cannot break, nor can anyone destroy it.
This verb indicates that the church consists of people who have believed and continue to strongly believe the message of God’s word even when others have chosen to stop believing it.
bearing this seal:
These two sayings are written on this foundation:
On this foundation God wrote these words:
God has said/written:
bearing this seal: Paul continued to use the figure of speech of a foundation.
The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as bearing this seal is literally “having this seal.” In the time of Paul, people would make a mark or carve words on the foundation stones of a building to show who owned the building. Sometimes the writing also told the purpose of the building. This mark or writing was called a “seal.”
In cultures where people do not build on large stones or write on them, you may need to supply a footnote. This footnote could describe buildings that people build on stone foundations and it could explain what these stones are for. The note could also say what kinds of things people write on the foundation stones of their buildings.
“The Lord knows those who are His,”
The first saying is: “The Lord knows which people are his.”
“The Lord knows which people really belong to him.”
“The Lord knows those who are His”: This saying comes from Numbers 16:5 in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. It means that God knows which people believe firmly in him. He knows who is part of his church and who is not.
Lord: The word Lord refers to God.
and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”
And “When someone says ‘The Lord is my master,’ that person must abandon evil.”
And the other saying is: “Those who say that they are followers of the Lord must stop doing wrong/evil.”
and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity”: Various parts of this saying resemble parts of verses in the Old Testament, but there is no one verse in the Old Testament that contains this entire saying. Therefore, it is uncertain whether Paul wanted to quote from the Old Testament or whether he made this a summary statement of principles from the Old Testament. Nevertheless, because it is one of the two sayings that Paul lists, use the same form of punctuation as you did in the first saying.
calls on the name of the Lord: The Greek phrase which the BSB translates as calls on the name of the Lord means that the person claims that the Lord is his/her master or leader. TEV says: “Whoever says that they belong to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing.”
the Lord: As in 2:19c, the Lord here refers to God.
turn away from iniquity: The Greek word that the BSB translates as turn away also means “abandon,” “desert,” or “renounce.” The NCV translates this clause clearly when it says: “must stop doing wrong.”
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ὁ & στερεὸς θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν
the & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Μέντοι στερεός θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν ἔχων τήν σφραγῖδα ταύτην ἔγνω Κύριος τούς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπό ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα Κυρίου)
Here Paul speaks of a firm foundation that stands to indicate that something that God has established is secure and will remain. Paul could be referring to: (1) God’s people, the church. In this case, God has established his people as a firm foundation, and no false teaching can make them stop believing. Alternate translation: [the church of God stands like a firm foundation] (2) the gospel. In this case, God has established the gospel as a firm foundation, and no false teaching can corrupt it. Alternate translation: [the gospel of God stands like a firm foundation]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἔχων τὴν σφραγῖδα ταύτην
having (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Μέντοι στερεός θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν ἔχων τήν σφραγῖδα ταύτην ἔγνω Κύριος τούς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπό ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα Κυρίου)
Here Paul speaks as if the foundation had a seal on it. He means that God has made official statements about the foundation. These official statements guarantee that the foundation is valid and belongs to God. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express the idea in simile form or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [having these official statements from God which are like a seal] or [about which God has officially said]
Note 3 topic: writing-quotations
ἔγνω Κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ, καί, ἀποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου
knew ˓the˒_Lord (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Μέντοι στερεός θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν ἔχων τήν σφραγῖδα ταύτην ἔγνω Κύριος τούς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπό ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα Κυρίου)
Here Paul introduces a quotation and a summary, both of which come from the Old Testament Scriptures. The first quotation is from [Numbers 16:5](../num/16/05.md). Paul quotes these words from an ancient translation into Timothy’s language. The second quotation is a summary of many verses in the Old Testament. If it would be helpful to your readers, you could format these words as quotations, as the ULT and UST do, and you could include information about the quotations in a footnote.
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
Κύριος & Κυρίου
˓the˒_Lord & ˱of˲_˓the˒_Lord
Here the word Lord could refer to: (1) Jesus specifically. Alternate translation: [Jesus the Lord … of Jesus the Lord] (2) God generally. Alternate translation: [The Lord God … of the Lord God]
Note 5 topic: translate-tense
ἔγνω
knew
Here the author of the quotation uses the past tense to refer to something that is always true. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use whatever tense is natural for stating a general truth. Alternate translation: [has known]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
ἀποστήτω ἀπὸ & πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Μέντοι στερεός θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν ἔχων τήν σφραγῖδα ταύτην ἔγνω Κύριος τούς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπό ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα Κυρίου)
Here Paul speaks of unrighteousness if it were a location from which people should depart. He means that these people should stop doing what is unrighteous. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [Let everyone naming the name of the Lord avoid] or [Let everyone naming the name of the Lord reject]
Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / imperative3p
ἀποστήτω & πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Μέντοι στερεός θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν ἔχων τήν σφραγῖδα ταύτην ἔγνω Κύριος τούς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπό ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα Κυρίου)
If your language does not use the third-person imperative in this way, you could state this in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [Everyone naming the name of the Lord should depart]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom
ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα Κυρίου
the ¬which naming (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Μέντοι στερεός θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν ἔχων τήν σφραγῖδα ταύτην ἔγνω Κύριος τούς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπό ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα Κυρίου)
Here the phrase naming the name of the Lord refers to claiming that one serves and believes in the Lord. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable phrase or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [who claims to follow the Lord] or [who claims to believe in the Lord]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
ἀπὸ ἀδικίας
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὁ Μέντοι στερεός θεμέλιος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἕστηκεν ἔχων τήν σφραγῖδα ταύτην ἔγνω Κύριος τούς ὄντας αὐτοῦ καί Ἀποστήτω ἀπό ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τό ὄνομα Κυρίου)
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of unrighteousness, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [from acting unrighteously]
2:19 Paul assures Timothy that the false teaching will not win (see 3:9), and he reinforces the call to purity.
• foundation stone: This metaphor emphasizes immunity to destruction (Isa 28:16) and might reflect a temple (see also 1 Tim 3:15; 1 Cor 3:11; Eph 2:20; 1 Pet 2:4-7; Rev 21:14).
• The Lord knows: This quotation alludes to Num 16:5.
• All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil: See Isa 52:11; cp. Num 16:26-27; Lev 24:16; Ps 6:8.
OET (OET-LV) However the solid foundation of_ the _god has_stood, having the this seal:
The_master knew the ones being of_him, and, let_ everyone - naming the name of_the_master _Withdraw from unrighteousness.
OET (OET-RV) However God’s solid foundation has stood with this inscription on it: ‘Yahweh knew his own ones,’ and ‘Let everyone who claims to follow Yahweh avoid disobedience.’
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.