2 Timothy 3:11

3:11 Timothy was from Lystra, near Antioch and Iconium, so he knew all about what Paul had suffered (see Acts 13:14, 45-51; 14:1-8, 19-22), though he was recruited after these events (Acts 16:1-3). • the Lord rescued me: Paul could attest from his own life that the Lord would accomplish his purposes through his faithful servant (see 2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18; Ps 22:19-22; 34:19; Dan 3:17-18; 2 Cor 1:8-10; 2 Pet 2:7-9).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

2Ti 3:11. Ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ, ἐν Ἰκονίῳ, ἐν Λύστροις, at Antioch, Iconium, Lystra) Act 13:14; Act 13:51; Act 14:6.—οἷα) οἷς shows the weightiness of the matter in hand: 1Ma 5:56, “he heard the valiant and warlike deeds, οἷα ἐποίησαν, how great were the acts which they did.”—οἶους διωγμοὺς, how great persecutions) The noun repeated after the interposition of another adds perspicuity and weight to what is said. Διωγμὸς and πάθημα are species and genus: persecution is properly, when they drive a man from one city to another, or when they attempt to apprehend him in his flight; but suffering is any calamity in general, for example, when Paul was stoned, etc.—ὑπήνεγκα, I endured) The mark of an apostle.—ἐῤῥύσατο, delivered) Another mark, to be miraculously preserved; Psalms 34 (33):17, ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτῶν ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτούς, He delivered them out of all their afflictions.—ὁ Κύριος, the Lord) Christ.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

2Ti 3:11 . Ἀντιοχείᾳ : Act 13:14 ; Act 13:45 ; Act 13:50 ; Ἰκονίῳ : Act 14:1-2 ; Act 14:5 ; Λύστροις : Act 14:6 ; Act 14:19 .

οἴους διωγμούς : There is no necessity to supply, with Alf., “Thou sawest”.

καί : and yet . The verse is an echo of Psa 33 (34):18, ὁ Κύριος … ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτῶν ἐρύσατο αὐτούς . See also reff.

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Which is in Pisidia.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

afflictions--"sufferings."

which--Greek, "such as."

in Antioch--of Pisidia (Act 13:14, Act 13:50-51).

Iconium-- (Act 14:1-5).

Lystra-- (Act 14:6, Act 14:19).

what--How grievous.

out of . . . all . . . Lord delivered me-- (Ti2 4:17; Psa 34:17; Co2 1:10). An encouragement to Timothy not to fear persecutions.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 11. Persecutions - which came unto me at Antioch] The Antioch mentioned here was Antioch in Pisidia, to which place Paul and Barnabas came in their first apostolic progress, and where Paul delivered that memorable discourse which is preserved in the 13th chapter of Acts, Ac 13:16-43. In this city, it is said, the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts; but they shook of the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium, Ac 13:50-51. Here there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and also of the Jews with their rulers, to treat them despitefully, and to stone them, and they fled unto Lystra and Derbe; and there came thither certain Jews, who persuaded the people, and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. The historian informs us that his life was miraculously restored, and that he departed thence, and came to Derbe, and afterwards returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, where they had lately been so grievously persecuted. See Ac 14:5-6; Ac 14:19-21. These are the persecutions, c., to which the apostle alludes and we find that he mentions them here precisely in the same order in which, according to the relation of St. Luke, they occurred. Now it is said here that Timothy fully knew all these things; and we may naturally suppose they could not be unknown to him, when it is evident he was either a native of, or resided in, those parts; for when the apostle, sometime after the above, visited Derbe and Lystra, behold, a certain disciple was there named Timotheus, well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium; Ac 16:1-2. As these things happened in his own neighbourhood, Timothy must have known them; for a person who had such a religious education as he had could not be unacquainted with these persecutions, especially as we may believe that his mother and grandmother had been converts to Christianity at that time. See several useful remarks in Dr. Paley's Horae Paulinae, on these circumstances, page 312.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

11 But out of them all the Lord delivered me It is a consolation which mitigates the bitterness of afflictions, that they always have a happy and joyful end. If it be objected, that the success of which he boasts is not always visible, I acknowledge that this is true, so far as relates to the feeling of the flesh; for Paul had not yet been delivered. But when God sometimes delivers us, he testifies, in this manner, that he is present with us, and will always be present; for from the feeling, or actual knowledge, of present aid, our confidence ought to be extended to the future. The meaning, therefore, is as if he had said, “Thou hast known by experience that God hath never forsaken me, so that thou hast no right to hesitate to follow my example.”

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(11) Persecutions, afflictions.—St. Paul adds to “persecutions” “afflictions”—for not merely were his plans thwarted, his hopes baffled, his friends alienated, through the persistent enmity of his opponents, but bodily suffering was inflicted on him—stoning, scourging, long and weary periods of imprisonment, were among the repeated sufferings he endured for his Master’s sake. The question has been asked why, out of the pages of the closely written diary of his life’s experiences, does St. Paul select the events which took place at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra? Was there anything special in what he endured in these places? The most satisfactory answer seems to be that, with regard to the general reader or hearer of this Epistle, what happened in these places, years before, were good examples of what had often taken place since. These were among the first cities in which St. Paul preached in the course of his missionary journeys. But a deeper reason existed for the choice of these places in his case to whom the Epistle was originally addressed. What happened on that first journey would never be forgotten by Timothy: some of the incidents were among his first experiences with St. Paul of the work—others had taken place just before St. Paul took him as his friend and associate, and, no doubt, had been often discussed in Timothy’s hearing in those anxious never-to-be-forgotten hours which preceded his choice of the calling of a missionary. Hearing of these very deeds of endurance done for the crucified Master, perhaps, not a little contributed to Timothy’s resolve to emulate these acts, and to join himself closely to the heroic missionary teacher. Certainly, the memory of what happened then St. Paul knew would possess a strong and weighty influence with his disciple, even though the events themselves were only such as had been repeated often since in his long life’s experience. (For details respecting what took place at Antioch, &c., see Acts 13, 14)

What persecutions I endured.—Some commentators understand these words as an exclamation: “What persecution I endured!” It is, however, better simply to translate the Greek, Such persecutions as I endured; in other words, Thou hast been a witness of my sufferings, such [sufferings] as I endured at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, such persecutions as I endured, but out of them, &c. Chrysostom remarks how both these clauses supply encouragement to the harassed servant of God. The first, that St. Paul displayed a noble readiness to endure persecution; the second, that God never left him alone. It was as though he said to Timothy, “surely no danger, no trouble, however great, need appall you. You know what I have gone through, yet in all God was with me and has kept me safe. Be sure He will be with you too.”

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. afflictions, which came unto me] It is better to make the ‘afflictions’ go with the preceding, and make a new clause commence with the relative. So R.V. sufferings; what things befell me; what persecutions.

The Antioch meant is that in Pisidia, originally planted by the Magnesians. Seleucus the son of Antiochus re-settled it, and called it Antioch after the name of his father: which name it kept, though under Augustus made a colony with the additional name of Cæsarea. Plin. N.H. v. xxvii. 24 ‘Pisidæ … quorum colonia Cæsarea, eadem Antiochia.’ Its ruins are still to be seen, one of the most striking objects being a very perfect aqueduct of twenty-one arches. See Lewin, Life of St Paul, i. 137. For the work and sufferings at Antioch see Act_13:14-50. The place usually understood by Antioch would be the large and important city of Antioch in Syria; but in writing to Timothy, whose home was in that district, St Paul would use the word with its well-known local meaning.

Iconium lies S.E. of Antioch at a distance of sixty miles, on the dusty highroad connecting Ephesus with Antioch of Syria. It is still called Cogni, and, like Damascus, is an oasis in the desert, by the dry plains of Lycaonia. See Act_13:51 to Act_14:6.

Lystra lies about forty miles to the south of Iconium, on the same road, in a hollow, on the north side of which rises Kara Dagh or the Black Mountain. Its ruins remain and are called ‘the thousand and one churches,’ it having been an episcopal see under the Byzantine emperors. This was Timothy’s birth-place. See Act_14:6-20.

St Paul mentions these places and his sufferings there, (1) because they were the first, in his first period of ministry, (2) they were well known to Timothy and may well have led him to cast in his lot with the Apostle. See Introduction, pp. 57, 59, 62.

but out of them all] Rather, and, yet with an ascending force which marks a contrast, so that ‘and yet’ is hardly too strong; though the more exact rendering is to lay stress on ‘all’ and on ‘delivered,’ cf. Winer, iii. § 53, 3.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus,.... All that live according to the will of God revealed in his word; and to the glory of God, as the end of all their actions; and which the grace of God in the Gospel, and in their own hearts, teaches them; and who have the principles of a godly life from Christ, and derive the fresh supplies of grace and life from him, to maintain it; in whom their life is hid, and who live by faith upon him; all such that live, and that will live so, are desirous of living after this manner; in whom God has wrought in them both to will and to do, and are concerned when it is otherwise with them: these

shall suffer persecution; it is the will of God, and the appointment of heaven; Christ has foretold it, that so it shall be; and he the head has suffered it himself, and it is necessary that his members should, that they may be conformed unto him; it is the way Christ himself went to glory, and through many tribulations his people must enter the kingdom; and this is the common lot and certain case of all the saints, in one shape or another; for though all do not suffer confiscation of goods, beating, scourging, imprisonment, or a violent death; yet all are more or less afflicted and distressed by wicked men, and are subject to their reproaches and revilings, which are a branch of persecution; and that for professing Christ, and living a godly life in him and under his influence: and since such suffer as Christians, and not as evildoers; and this is the common condition of the people of God, in this world, it should not be thought strange, but be cheerfully endured; to encourage to which is the apostle's view in this passage.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

Ver. 11. What persecutions I endured] Gr. οιους, what manner of persecutions. A Christian may without sin be sensible of injuries and indignities. Only it must be the mourning of doves, and not the roaring of bears. A sheep may be as sensible of the biting of a dog as a swine is, though he raise not such a dust, make not such a din.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Persecutions - On the meaning of this word, see the notes at Mat 5:10.

Afflictions - Trials of other kinds than those which arose from persecutions. The apostle met them everywhere; compare the notes at Act 20:23.

Which came unto me at Antioch - The Antioch here referred to is not the place of that name in Syria (see the notes at Act 11:19); but a city of the same name in Pisidia, in Asia Minor; notes, Act 13:14. Paul there suffered persecution from the Jews; Act 13:45.

At Iconium; - notes, Act 13:50. On the persecution there, see the notes at Act 14:3-6.

At Lystra; - Act 14:6. At this place, Paul was stoned; notes, Act 14:19. Timothy was a native of either Derbe or Lystra, cities near to each other, and was doubtless there at the time of this occurrence; Act 16:1.

But out of them all the Lord delivered me - See the history in the places referred to in the Acts .

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

What persecutions for the preaching of the gospel I was under; what

afflictions I met with at Antioch in Pisidia, Act 13:14,45,50; at Iconium, whither he went from Pisidia; of the afflictions he met with there also, read Act 14:1-28.

At Lystra; what persecutions I endured: the apostle went from Iconium to Lystra, Act 14:6, there also he was persecuted, Act 14:19. Now it seemeth that in all these motions Timothy was in Paul’s company and a follower of him, so as he was a witness to all; which assureth us that though we first read of Timothy. Act 16:3, when he was circumcised, yet Paul knew him before.

But out of them all the Lord delivered me; yet God delivered Paul from all these, and that Timothy, being all that time in company with Paul, knew; from whence the apostle would have him take courage, exercise patience under suffering for such preaching and such living, being assured that God would deliver him also, preaching the same truth, and living the same holy life, though he met with the same troubles, persecutions, and afflictions.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Suffering for afflictions, A.V; what things befell me for which came unto me, A.V; and for but, A.V Persecutions (diwgmoiv); as Mat_13:21; Act_8:1 Act_13:50 masin); 2Co_12:10, etc. Sufferings (toiv paqh) usually so rendered in the A.V (Rom_8:18; 2Co_1:5; Col_1:24. etc.) rendered "afflictions" in Heb_10:32; 1Pe_5:9. At Antioch; in Pisidia. (Act_13:14) For an account of the persecutions encountered by St. Paul at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, see Act 13:, Act_13:14. It was at St. Paul"s second, or rather third, visit to Lystra that he chose Timothy for his companion. (Act_16:1-3) I endured (uJpenegka); not simply "suffered," but "underwent," willingly and firmly suffered. (see 1Pe_2:19) As regards the construction, the antecedent to oi=a is paqhmasin, and the difference between aJ and oi=a is that aJ would limit the reference to the actual paqhmata at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, but oia extends the reference to all similar sufferings. The proper English rendering is "such as befell me." But the clause at the end of the sentence should be rendered "what great persecutions I endured." As Bengel notes, "oiov demonstrat rei gravitatem," and oiouv preceding the substantive with which it agrees (diwgmouv), cannot be construed the same as oia the relative. The sentence, oiouv diwgmouv uJpenegka, is an amplification of the preceding diwgmoiv: "Thou hast fully known my persecutionsviz. what great persecutions I endured." And out of them all, etc. This is added for Timothy"s encouragement, that he might stand fast in the face of persecutions and sufferings. Delivered me (me ejrjrJusato). Had the apostle in his mind the clause in the Lord"s Prayer, "Deliver us from evil"? (Mat_6:13) Comp. 2Ti_4:18, where the resemblance is still more striking. Observe the testimony to Christ"s omnipotence in this ascription to him, in both passages, of St. Paul"s deliverance. (comp. Act_18:10)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. Persecutions … at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra. See Acts, chapters 13, 14. These persecutions befell Paul in the part of Asia where Timothy was reared, and hence he would be familiar with all. Out of them all the Lord delivered me. Hence, let Timothy cheerfully suffer, if need be, and trust the Lord.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

11. τοῖς διωγμοῖς, τοῖς παθήμασιν, persecutions, sufferings, which the mention of ὑπομονή has suggested. He dwells on them parenthetically in this and the next verse.

οἶά μοι ἐγένετο, such as befell me; he only gives illustrations, as it were, of what a Christian apostle has to expect.

ἐν Ἀντιοχείᾳ κ.τ.λ. In Antioch (sc. of Pisidia, Act 13:50), in Iconium (Act 14:2), in Lystra (Act 14:19). These persecutions are selected for mention, not necessarily because they were the first which St Paul had to endure, or the most severe (for he suffered worse things at Philippi), but because they were especially well known to Timothy, who was himself of Lystra (Act 16:2), and must have been matter of common talk in that district when Timothy was a youth.

οἵους διωγμοὺς ὑπήνεγκα, such persecutions as I endured, a supplementary clause calling special attention to the fact that these particular persecutions had been endured by him.

καὶ ἐκ πάντων κ.τ.λ. And (yet, despite the greatness of the danger) out of all the Lord (sc. Christ) delivered me. See note on 2Ti 4:17-18.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

11. οἷά μοι ἐγένετο] St. Paul enumerates the first only of a long train of persecutions, 2Co 11:30-33. Timothy was not his companion in these; but he doubtless heard of them and followed St. Paul in spite of them. On account of this difficulty Wohlenberg separates this verse from 10, and treats it as an exclamation. Oh, what I suffered! what persecutions I endured from the first—yet the Lord delivered me!

ἐκ πάντων κ.τ.λ.] cf. 4:18. There is here perhaps a conscious reminiscence of Psa 33:18 and 20.

ἐκέκραξαν οἱ δίκαιοι καὶ ὁ Κύριος εἰσήκουσεν αὐτῶν

καὶ ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτῶν ἐρύσατο αὐτούς

. . . . . . .

πολλαὶ αἱ θλύψεις τῶν δικαίων

καὶ ἐκ πασῶν αὐτῶν ῥύσεται αὐτούς.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Persecutions, afflictions [διωγμοις, παθημασιν] . Diwgmov persecution, only here in Pastorals. Occasionally in Paul. Paqhma, only here in Pastorals. Often in Paul, usually in the sense of sufferings, but twice of sinful passions, Rom 7:5; Gal 5:24.

Antioch, Iconium, Lystra. See Act 13:50; Act 14:2 ff.; Act 14:19. 'these cities may have been selected as illustrations because Timothy was at home in that region. See Act 16:1, 2. Antioch is mentioned by Paul, Gal 2:11. Iconium and Lystra nowhere in his letters.

Delivered [ερυσατο] Often in Paul. Originally, to draw to one's self; to draw out from peril. Paul, in Rom 11:26, applies the prophecy of Isa 69:20 to Christ, who is called a oJ rJuomenov the deliverer, LXX

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.