2 Timothy 3 11

2 Timothy 3:11 kjv

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.

2 Timothy 3:11 nkjv

persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra?what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.

2 Timothy 3:11 niv

persecutions, sufferings?what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.

2 Timothy 3:11 esv

my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra ? which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

2 Timothy 3:11 nlt

You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra ? but the Lord rescued me from all of it.

2 Timothy 3 verses

2 Timothy 3 11 Meaning

2 Timothy 3:11 recalls the severe persecutions and sufferings the Apostle Paul endured during his missionary journeys, specifically highlighting the events in Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, and Lystra. Despite the intensity of these trials, the verse asserts that the Lord consistently delivered him from every single one of them. This serves as a reminder to Timothy, a close disciple, of God's unwavering faithfulness amidst severe opposition, preparing him for the difficulties inherent in gospel ministry.

2 Timothy 3 11 Context

Verse 11 is embedded within 2 Timothy chapter 3, a chapter where Paul paints a bleak picture of the "last days" marked by moral decay and widespread apostasy, affecting even those claiming godliness (2 Tim 3:1-9). This verse serves as a contrasting anchor of hope and assurance in the midst of predicted difficulty. Paul directly contrasts the corrupt characters mentioned previously with his own example of steadfastness in suffering, a steadfastness empowered by God's consistent deliverance. He is encouraging Timothy, who had witnessed these very persecutions firsthand or heard of them directly from Paul, to anticipate and endure similar hardships. Paul is setting himself up as a model of perseverance and divine rescue, urging Timothy to continue in what he has learned (2 Tim 3:10, 14), rather than be swayed by the pervasive evil. This personal recollection serves as powerful testimony to God's faithfulness and validates the hard path of faithful Christian witness.

2 Timothy 3 11 Word analysis

• Persecutions (διωγμοὺς, diōgmous): Plural, indicating repeated, hostile actions and active harassment. It signifies the intense opposition faced by believers. In ancient Greek context, it referred to hunting down or chasing someone. Spiritually, it implies sustained effort to suppress the gospel and those who proclaim it.
• sufferings (παθήματα, pathēmata): This term is broad, encompassing various hardships, afflictions, and experiences of pain. It suggests not only external opposition (persecution) but also the internal pain, loss, and physical hardships that accompanied Paul's ministry.
• what kinds of things happened to me (οἷά μοι ἐγένοντο, hoia moi egenonto): This phrase highlights the sheer variety and severity of the trials. It points to a deep, personal recollection, a vivid memory of the events that occurred to him. The verb "ἐγένοντο" implies they "came into being" or "occurred" to him, emphasizing that these were not theoretical but actual, life-threatening events.
• in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra: These specific cities are key historical markers from Paul's First Missionary Journey, described in Acts chapters 13-14.
  • Antioch (of Pisidia): Here Paul faced significant Jewish opposition which incited Gentiles to drive him out (Acts 13:49-50).
  • Iconium: A plot developed among both Jews and Gentiles to stone Paul and Barnabas, forcing them to flee (Acts 14:5-6).
  • Lystra: This was the most violent. Paul was stoned by a crowd from Antioch and Iconium, dragged outside the city, and left for dead (Acts 14:19-20). This specific event was likely especially poignant for Timothy, who was from Lystra or nearby Derbe (Acts 16:1-2) and would have been a child or young man at the time, possibly even witnessing it or hearing about it immediately.
• the persecutions I endured (τοὺς διωγμοὺς οὓς ὑπήνεγκα, tous diōgmous hous hypēnenka): This reiterates and emphasizes the nature of his trials. "Endured" (hypēnenka) from hypopherō (ὑποφέρω) means "to bear up under," "to sustain," "to carry from below." It speaks to active and patient suffering, not merely passive acceptance but a resolute bearing of affliction under its weight. It implies perseverance and steadfastness.
• Yet the Lord (ἐκ δὲ τοῦ κυρίου, ek de tou Kyriou): "De" (δὲ) is a strong adversative conjunction, signifying a direct contrast. Despite the severe and numerous persecutions, "the Lord" acted decisively. The reference to "the Lord" (κυρίου) refers to Jesus Christ, emphasizing His active role in Paul's life and ministry, as God's divine presence and power are constantly at work.
• rescued me (ἐρρύσατό με, errhysato me): From rhyomai (ῥύομαι), meaning "to draw or snatch to oneself, to rescue, to deliver." This is a powerful word indicating immediate, effective, and complete deliverance from imminent danger. It's often used in the context of salvation or deliverance from spiritual and physical threats. Here, it refers to actual physical deliverances (e.g., surviving the stoning at Lystra, escaping the plots).
• from all of them (ἐκ πάντων, ek pantōn): This emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God's deliverance. Not some but all of the dangers and life-threatening situations Paul faced resulted in his rescue. This does not mean he faced no more suffering, but that he was delivered through them to continue his work.

Words-group by Words-group analysis:

• "Persecutions, sufferings — what kinds of things happened to me...": This opening sets a personal, experiential tone. Paul isn't speaking theoretically but recounting firsthand, intense experiences. The list serves as tangible evidence of his past faithfulness and God's intervention.
• "...in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra...": These locations are highly specific and carry historical weight, making the statement verifiable for Timothy and those familiar with Paul's ministry. They represent foundational experiences for Paul and highlight the early, brutal nature of gospel opposition.
• "...the persecutions I endured.": This phrase emphasizes the duration and effort involved. Paul didn't just experience these things; he actively "endured" them, a testament to his spiritual fortitude rooted in Christ.
• "Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.": This climactic phrase is the theological pivot. It shifts focus from Paul's trials to God's omnipotent intervention. The "yet" (δὲ) profoundly contrasts human suffering with divine sovereignty and faithfulness. This isn't about Paul's strength but about God's. "From all of them" asserts a complete and consistent pattern of divine rescue, strengthening the conviction of God's trustworthiness.

2 Timothy 3 11 Bonus section

• The particular specificity of the three cities mentioned – Antioch (Pisidian), Iconium, and Lystra – implies Paul knew Timothy had direct or immediate knowledge of these events. Timothy was likely converted on Paul's second journey or confirmed his faith there. This shared history between mentor and protégé adds significant weight to Paul's appeal, making it intensely personal and not just a general theological statement.
• Paul's emphasis on "all" of them (from pantōn) highlights a pattern of consistent divine intervention throughout his apostolic journey, reassuring Timothy that God’s faithfulness is not conditional or sporadic but constant. This divine rescue isn't merely about physical preservation but also spiritual sustainment and the ultimate purpose of continuing to preach the gospel.
• This verse can be viewed as Paul modeling transparency and vulnerability about his past hardships, a powerful way to mentor. He isn't presenting a sanitized view of ministry but an honest account that still glorifies God through deliverance.

2 Timothy 3 11 Commentary

2 Timothy 3:11 serves as a vital anchor of Paul's personal testimony within a broader prophecy of declining spiritual times. Paul, knowing Timothy is stepping into a challenging ministry landscape, recalls specific, harrowing experiences from their shared history. He reminds Timothy not only of the severity of the opposition he himself faced in places like Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—places Timothy would have known intimately—but, more crucially, of the unfailing hand of the Lord in his deliverance. This isn't a mere historical recount but an essential lesson in perseverance grounded in God's faithfulness.

The types of "persecutions" and "sufferings" mentioned range from verbal attacks and expulsions to severe physical assault, including being stoned and left for dead. Paul’s endurance was not through his own strength but by relying on God’s power. The consistent theme is that the Lord never abandoned him but intervened directly. This "rescue" was often not removal from the trials but through them, enabling him to continue his ministry. This powerful witness transforms the memory of suffering into a foundation for present courage and future hope, encouraging Timothy to embrace a ministry that will inevitably involve its own share of trials, assured of the same divine preservation.