1 TIM 2:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT for kings and all the ones being in authority, so that we may live a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

UST They should pray particularly for kings and for everyone who rules over other people. That way, we believers can live calmly and peacefully, and we can honor God and act in ways that others respect.

BLB for kings and all those being in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

AICNT for kings and all those in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity.

OEB especially for kings and all who are in high positions, in order that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in a deeply religious and reverent spirit.

CSB for kings and all those who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

NLT Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

NIV for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

CEV Pray for kings and others in power, so we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we worship and honor God.

ESV for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

NASB for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

LSB for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

WEBBE for kings and all who are in high places, that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence.

WMBB (Same as above)

MSG ^(1-3)The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

NET even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

LSV for kings, and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all piety and gravity,

FBV Pray like this for kings and all types of leaders so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives, always thinking about God and taking life seriously.

TCNT for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and dignity.

T4T Specifically, they should pray for rulers and for all other people who ◄are in important government positions/have authority►, in order that God will help them to rule. As God enables the rulers to rule well, we can live very peaceably as we conduct ours lives doing all that God and others consider to be right and proper.

LEB on behalf of kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we may live a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.

NRSV for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity.

NKJV for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

NAB for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.

BBE For kings and all those in authority; so that we may have a calm and quiet life in all fear of God and serious behaviour.

Moff for kings and all in authority, that we may lead a tranquil life in all piety and gravity;

Wymth including kings and all who are in high station, in order that we may live peaceful and tranquil lives with all godliness and gravity.

ASV for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.

DRA For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity.

YLT for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity,

Drby for kings and all that are in dignity, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all piety and gravity;

RV for kings and all that are in high place; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and gravity.

SLT For kings, and all them being in eminence; that we may lead a gentle and quiet life, in all devotion and gravity.

Wbstr For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

KJB-1769 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

KJB-1611 For Kings, and for all that are in [fn]authoritie, that we may leade a quiet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honestie.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes)

2:2 Or, eminent place.

Bshps For kynges, and for all that are in auctoritie, that we maye leade a quiete and peaceable lyfe, in all godlynesse and honestie.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Gnva For Kings, and for all that are in authoritie, that we may leade a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godlinesse and honestie.
(For Kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty. )

Cvdl for kynges, and for all that are in auctorite, that we maye lyue a quyete & peaceable life in all godlynes and honestie.
(for kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godlynes and honesty.)

TNT for kynges and for all that are in auctorite that we maye live a quyet and a peasable life in all godlines and honestie.
(for kings and for all that are in authority that we may live a quyet and a peasable life in all godlines and honesty. )

Wycl for kingis and alle that ben set in hiynesse, that we leden a quyet and a pesible lijf, in al pite and chastite.
(for kings and all that been set in highness, that we led a quyet and a peaceable life, in all pity and chastite.)

Luth für die Könige und für alle Obrigkeit, auf daß wir ein ruhig und stilles Leben führen mögen in aller GOttseligkeit und Ehrbarkeit.
(for/in_favour_of the king(s) and for/in_favour_of all Obrigkeit, on/in/to that we/us a ruhig and still(v)s life lead may in all Godblessedkeit and Ehrbarkeit.)

ClVg pro regibus, et omnibus qui in sublimitate sunt, ut quietam et tranquillam vitam agamus in omni pietate, et castitate:
(for kings, and to_all who/which in/into/on sublimitate are, as quietam and tranquillam life agamus in/into/on all with_piety, and castitate: )

UGNT ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι.
(huper basileōn kai pantōn tōn en huperoⱪaʸ ontōn, hina aʸremon kai haʸsuⱪion bion diagōmen en pasaʸ eusebeia kai semnotaʸti.)

SBL-GNT ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι.
(huper basileōn kai pantōn tōn en huperoⱪaʸ ontōn, hina aʸremon kai haʸsuⱪion bion diagōmen en pasaʸ eusebeia kai semnotaʸti.)

RP-GNT ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι.
(huper basileōn kai pantōn tōn en huperoⱪaʸ ontōn, hina aʸremon kai haʸsuⱪion bion diagōmen en pasaʸ eusebeia kai semnotaʸti.)

TC-GNT ὑπὲρ βασιλέων καὶ πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων, ἵνα ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι.
(huper basileōn kai pantōn tōn en huperoⱪaʸ ontōn, hina aʸremon kai haʸsuⱪion bion diagōmen en pasaʸ eusebeia kai semnotaʸti. )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–15: Paul told Timothy that it was important that believers should pray

In this section Paul told Timothy some things that the believers should do when they met together regularly to worship God. They should pray for everybody. The men should pray in holiness and without anger, and the women should dress and behave modestly and appropriately.

Paragraph 2:1–7

When believers gather together, they should pray for everybody. They should pray that God would help their government officials to govern well so that believers can worship God peacefully. They should also pray for everybody else because God wants to save everybody.

Everything that Paul wrote in this paragraph (2:1–7) was to help Timothy communicate the gospel to everyone.

One reason that Paul emphasized that the gospel was for everyone was probably because the false teachers were doing exactly the opposite. They were encouraging their followers to consider themselves as better than other people and as part of a small, elite group that excluded other people.Fee, pages 61 and 62, says, “…what might be the place of this first paragraph in the argument? The frequent answer is that the point lies in verse 2, that prayer be made for rulers so that the church may enjoy a peaceful existence. It has even been suggested that a correct Christian attitude toward the state is what is in view. Verses 4–7, then, are seen as nearly irrelevant to that point, but go back to elaborate on a secondary point made in verse 1 (prayer be made for everyone). However, it seems much more likely that precisely the opposite is the case. The one clear concern that runs through the whole paragraph has to do with the gospel as for everyone (‘all people,’ vv. 1, 4–6, and 7). In this view, the phrase this is good in verse 3 refers to prayer for everyone in verse 1, thus seeing verse 2 as something of a digression —albeit as before (1:12–17), a meaningful one. The best explanation for this emphasis lies with the false teachers, who either through the esoteric, highly speculative nature of their teaching (1:4–6) or through its ‘Jewishness’ (1:7) or ascetic character (4:3) are promoting an elitist or exclusivist mentality among their followers. The whole paragraph attacks that narrowness.”

2:2a

for kings and all those in authority—

You^(plur) should pray especially for kings and all other government officials.
Especially pray that God may help all those who rule and have authority to rule justly

for kings and all those in authority: In 2:1 Paul said that people should pray for everyone. Here in 2:2 Paul became more specific and said that believers should especially pray for people in positions of authority. Paul probably wanted the believers to ask God to help government officials to govern justly. When the authorities govern well, it is much more likely that people can live “peaceful and quiet lives,” as Paul mentioned in 2:2b.

kings: Notice that Paul used the plural form of the word for “king.” So he was not referring only to the Roman emperor (who ruled over all the countries in the Roman empire), but also to other rulers under the Emperor’s authority. For example, people called Agrippa a king, even though he was under the authority of the Roman emperor (Acts 25:13).

all those in authority: Paul wanted believers to pray not only for kings, but also for everyone who had authority in the community. This refers to government rulers and includes people like district officials and village chiefs—anyone who has been appointed or elected as a leader of the community.

General Comment on 2:2a

Paul uses the expression “kings and all those in authority” to include everyone who was involved in governing people in any way or who was responsible for making sure people acted peacefully. It is important that you also communicate that all rulers are included from the most important ones to the lower officials.

2:2b

so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives

In that way, we^(incl) will be able to live peacefully and safely.
so that they will enable us^(incl) to live in peace and security.

so that: The Greek word hina that the BSB translates as so that shows the result of 2:2a, that is, the result when people in authority govern justly.

tranquil and quiet: The Greek words that the BSB translates as tranquil and quiet are very similar in meaning. They both refer to a way of life that is calm and orderly. In this context, Paul meant that if believers prayed for those in authority, then no one would cause trouble for the believers. They would be free to tell other people about Christ, to meet with other believers, and to worship God.

2:2c

in all godliness and dignity.

Then we^(incl) will be able to freely worship God and to do what he wants us^(incl) to do.

When government officials govern justly, it is much easier for believers to obey God’s laws. They are able to meet together to worship God. They can tell also others freely about Christ because they do not fear that they will be persecuted or imprisoned.

godliness: The Greek word that the BSB translates as godliness refers to the way people behave when they respect God. See godliness, godly in the Glossary.

dignity: The Greek word that the BSB translates here as dignity could also be translated as “proper conduct,” “respect for God,” and “honesty.” This word also occurs in 3:4b.

It could be translated as:

to act in the right way

to act as one ought

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων

all who in prominence being

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea of authority, you could express the same idea in another way. Alternate translation: [all the ones being authorized to govern]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

ἵνα

in_order_that

Here, the phrase so that introduces the purpose for which believers should pray for kings and all the ones being in authority. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces a purpose. Alternate translation: [in order that]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns

ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καὶ σεμνότητι

˓a˒_tranquil (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὑπέρ βασιλέων καί πάντων τῶν ἐν ὑπεροχῇ ὄντων ἵνα ἤρεμον καί ἡσύχιον βίον διάγωμεν ἐν πάσῃ εὐσεβείᾳ καί σεμνότητι)

If your language does not use abstract nouns for the ideas of life, godliness, and dignity, you could express the same ideas in another way. Alternate translation: [we may live peacefully and quietly, in a godly and dignified way]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet

ἤρεμον καὶ ἡσύχιον βίον

The terms peaceful and quiet mean similar things. Paul is using the two terms together for emphasis. If it would be clearer for your readers, you could express the emphasis with a single phrase. Alternate translation: [a very peaceful life] or [a completely quiet life]