OET interlinear 2TIM 2:5

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases

δὲ καὶ

and also

Here the phrase But also introduces another example or metaphor that Paul uses to explain how Timothy should serve Jesus. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces another example, or you could leave But also untranslated. Alternate translation: “Further” or “Similarly”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐὰν & ἀθλῇ τις, οὐ στεφανοῦται, ἐὰν μὴ νομίμως ἀθλήσῃ

if & /may_be/_competing anyone not /is_being/_crowned if not lawfully ˱he˲_/may/_compete

Here Paul speaks about an athlete who competes in a sport. He speaks about this to help Timothy understand how to behave. Just as an athlete will only receive the crown given to the winner if he competes lawfully, so Timothy will only be rewarded if he serves Jesus lawfully, that is, as Jesus desires. Since Paul tells Timothy in 2:7 to think carefully about the examples that he gives in this verse and in 2:4 and 2:6, you should not explain the meaning of this metaphor here. However, if it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that indicates that Paul is using a metaphor or giving an example. Alternate translation: “imagine that you are an athlete. If anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned if he has not competed lawfully”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / hypo

ἐὰν & ἀθλῇ τις, οὐ στεφανοῦται, ἐὰν μὴ νομίμως ἀθλήσῃ

if & /may_be/_competing anyone not /is_being/_crowned if not lawfully ˱he˲_/may/_compete

Here Paul uses an imaginary situation to show what happens when athletes do not compete lawfully. Use a natural method in your language for introducing an imaginary situation. Alternate translation: “suppose someone did not compete lawfully. In that case, he would not be crowned”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀθλῇ

/may_be/_competing

Here the word competes refers specifically to competing in an athletic event. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “competes in an athletic event” or “competes as an athlete”

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

οὐ στεφανοῦται, ἐὰν μὴ νομίμως ἀθλήσῃ

not /is_being/_crowned if not lawfully ˱he˲_/may/_compete

If it would be helpful in your language, you could state the meaning in positive form. Alternate translation: “he can only be crowned if he has competed lawfully”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

οὐ στεφανοῦται

not /is_being/_crowned

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who would do the action, it is clear from the context that it would be the officials or referees who were judging the competition. Alternate translation: “the officials will not crown him”

Note 7 topic: translate-unknown

οὐ στεφανοῦται

not /is_being/_crowned

In Paul’s culture, when athletes won competitions, they were crowned with wreaths made from the leaves of plants. If your readers would not be familiar with this custom, you could refer to how athletes are recognized as winners in your culture, or you could use a more general statement. Alternate translation: “he is not given an award” or “he is not declared the winner”

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

μὴ νομίμως ἀθλήσῃ

not lawfully ˱he˲_/may/_compete

Here Paul refers to the rules that governed a competition. The athletes had to obey the rules, or they would be removed from the competition and not have an opportunity to win. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make that idea more explicit. Alternate translation: “he has not competed according to the rules of the competition”