2 Timothy 2 10

2 Timothy 2:10 kjv

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 2:10 nkjv

Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 2:10 niv

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 2:10 esv

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2 Timothy 2:10 nlt

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

2 Timothy 2 verses

2 Timothy 2 10 Meaning

This verse explains the profound motivation behind the Apostle Paul's enduring suffering and hardships: it is for the sake of God's chosen people, so that they might fully receive the salvation that is found exclusively in Christ Jesus, which ultimately culminates in everlasting glory. Paul views his perseverance as a means to facilitate the divine purpose of bringing the elect to their complete spiritual inheritance.

2 Timothy 2 10 Context

2 Timothy 2:10 is embedded within Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, urging him to remain steadfast and faithful in ministry amidst opposition and false teaching. Paul uses vivid metaphors of a soldier, athlete, and farmer (vv. 3-7) to illustrate the dedication, discipline, and endurance required for effective service to Christ. His personal example of suffering (v. 9) reinforces these points, demonstrating that his perseverance is not a personal quest for merit, but a conscious, strategic effort driven by love and a specific divine purpose. This verse connects Paul's personal suffering directly to the ultimate spiritual welfare of the "elect," emphasizing the high stakes of Christian ministry and the selfless nature of apostolic work. The surrounding verses highlight the necessity of clinging to sound doctrine and living a holy life to be a "vessel for honorable use" (vv. 15-22) in the face of widespread error.

2 Timothy 2 10 Word analysis

• Therefore (διὰ τοῦτο, dia touto): This linking phrase connects Paul's subsequent statement to the preceding argument. It indicates that his enduring all things is a logical consequence or purpose stemming from the context of true gospel ministry and the suffering it entails, as presented in earlier verses (e.g., v. 9 where he mentions his imprisonment for the gospel). It signifies a rationale for his commitment.
• I endure (πάντα ὑπομένω, panta hypomenō):
  • ὑπομένω (hypomenō): "I remain under," "I bear bravely," "I persevere." This Greek word conveys patient endurance and steadfastness, not merely passive acceptance, but an active, hopeful persistence in the face of adversity. It is a hallmark of Christian virtue and crucial for fruitfulness in ministry.
  • πάντα (panta): "all things," "everything." This comprehensive term highlights the universality of Paul's suffering. He does not pick and choose his hardships but embraces whatever comes for the sake of the gospel.
  This phrase indicates Paul’s comprehensive, intentional perseverance through all difficulties. His steadfastness models the "good soldier" he called Timothy to be in v. 3.
• for the sake of (διὰ τοὺς, dia tous): "Through," "on account of," "for the benefit of." This preposition shows the object or purpose of Paul's endurance. His suffering is not for his own benefit or accidental, but purposive and for the good of others.
• the elect (ἐκλεκτούς, eklektous): "Chosen ones." This refers to those whom God has chosen from eternity past for salvation (Eph 1:4). This term underscores God's sovereignty in salvation. Paul's ministry serves God's eternal purpose for His chosen people. The term here emphasizes a specific group whom God has destined for salvation through faith in Christ.
• that they also may obtain (ἵνα καὶ αὐτοὶ τύχωσιν, hina kai autoi tychōsin): This is a purpose clause, expressing the specific aim of Paul's endurance.
  • ἵνα (hina): "in order that," denoting purpose.
  • καὶ αὐτοὶ (kai autoi): "they also," indicating that Paul is already a recipient of this salvation and glory, and he desires for "the elect" to experience the same.
  • τύχωσιν (tychōsin): "may obtain," "may lay hold of." It speaks of the full realization or experience of something. Paul's suffering enables others to fully grasp and experience salvation.
  This highlights the active role Paul plays, driven by a divinely ordained mission to bring these chosen ones to the point of salvation's experience.
• the salvation (τῆς σωτηρίας, tēs sōtērias): "Deliverance," "preservation," "spiritual well-being." This refers to the full scope of God's work in redeeming humanity from sin, death, and judgment. It encompasses justification (being declared righteous), sanctification (being made holy), and glorification (final redemption and entry into God's presence). It's a complete spiritual rescue, a comprehensive divine act.
• that is in Christ Jesus (τῆς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, tēs en Christō Iēsou): This crucial phrase identifies the unique and exclusive source and sphere of salvation. It is "in Christ," meaning salvation is tied directly to His person, His life, His death, and His resurrection. No other way or means exists to obtain it. It emphasizes the exclusivity and centrality of Jesus Christ for salvation. This serves as an indirect polemic against any alternative systems of belief that claim another path to righteousness or ultimate blessing outside of Christ.
• with eternal glory (μετὰ δόξης αἰωνίου, meta doxēs aiōniou): "With glory eternal." This describes the ultimate culmination and end-state of the salvation process.
  • δόξης (doxēs): "Glory," signifying honor, splendor, majesty, the very manifestation of God's radiant presence. It suggests a participation in divine radiance.
  • αἰωνίου (aiōniou): "Eternal," "everlasting." This emphasizes the unending nature of this future state of glory. It is a permanent inheritance for the elect.
  This is the ultimate inheritance of the elect, a share in Christ's own eternal splendor, a prospect far outweighing any present suffering.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore I endure everything": This phrase underlines Paul’s deliberate and absolute commitment to suffering for a higher purpose. His "everything" encompasses persecutions, imprisonments (as explicitly mentioned in v. 9), physical hardships, betrayals, and any form of opposition faced for the gospel's sake. It's a testament to a Spirit-empowered resilience.
• "for the sake of the elect": This clarifies the specific beneficiary group of Paul's enduring hardship. It highlights divine election as foundational to understanding the scope of God's saving work and Paul's role in it. It is not just "anyone" but God's sovereignly chosen. This serves as a vital reminder that evangelistic efforts are in service of God’s predestined plan, bringing to salvation those whom He has chosen.
• "that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory": This entire clause explains the profound and complete purpose of Paul’s endurance. The salvation is a complete spiritual redemption, exclusive to Christ, and its culmination is everlasting participation in divine glory. The term "they also" connects the experience of the elect to Paul's own expectation of salvation and future glory. The specific nature of "salvation" as "in Christ Jesus" dismisses any other religious system or personal effort as a means to achieve true deliverance and ultimate eternal blessedness.

2 Timothy 2 10 Bonus section

The concept of "the elect" here should not be misunderstood as promoting inaction or spiritual complacency. Instead, it serves to undergird the necessity and purposefulness of Paul’s labor and suffering. God’s choice does not negate human responsibility; rather, it provides the ultimate guarantee that missionary efforts will indeed bear fruit, bringing the foreordained ones into their eternal destiny. Paul endures because of the elect, emphasizing that his labor is not in vain. This perspective combats any notion that Christian perseverance, evangelism, or discipleship is merely an optional endeavor. Furthermore, Paul's embrace of suffering echoes the example of Christ, who "for the joy that was set before him endured the cross" (Heb 12:2). Thus, Paul's life becomes a living sermon, illustrating the cost and glory of following Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission. His perspective reveals that the minister is a divine instrument in the hand of God, serving God’s sovereign plan of redemption.

2 Timothy 2 10 Commentary

2 Timothy 2:10 succinctly captures the selfless essence of apostolic ministry and true Christian discipleship. Paul's willingness to endure all things speaks to a profound dedication, born from his personal encounter with Christ and his understanding of God's salvific plan. His suffering is not meaningless; rather, it is purposeful, directly serving God's design to bring His chosen people ("the elect") to the full realization of "salvation that is in Christ Jesus." This salvation is not merely freedom from condemnation, but a comprehensive deliverance culminating in "eternal glory," an unending participation in God's divine radiance and majesty. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that spiritual work, especially in the face of hardship, is never in vain but is integral to the unfolding of God's sovereign purposes, drawing His elect into their eternal inheritance found uniquely and solely in Jesus Christ. Paul’s example calls believers, especially those in ministry, to a high level of sacrificial commitment, seeing their own difficulties as pathways through which God brings others to the ultimate blessing.

Examples for practical usage:

• A missionary perseveres through cultural adaptation, loneliness, and persecution, knowing their endurance aids others' access to the gospel.
• A Christian leader endures unjust criticism and false accusations, driven by the knowledge that their steadfastness will lead seekers to clarity about the truth and salvation.
• A believer suffering from chronic illness or personal tragedy finds strength to share their faith, understanding their experience might serve as a testimony that opens doors for others to find hope and salvation in Christ.