2 Timothy 3:10
in 2 Timothy 3You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,
KJV
But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
⋯
This verse in 2 Timothy 3
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThou hast fully known my doctrine - And having long had the opportunity of knowing me, the doctrine I preached, my conduct founded on these doctrines, the object I have in view by my preaching, my fidelity to God and to my trust, my long-suffering with those who walked disorderly, and opposed themselves to the truth, and did what they could to lessen my authority and render it suspected, my love to them and to the world in general, and my patience in all my adversities; thou art capable of judging between me and the false teachers, and canst easily discern the difference between their doctrines, conduct, motives, temper, spirit, etc., and mine.
This site's exposition
You, however, have observed my teaching
on 2 Timothy 3:10-12
The sufferings in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra are the mission of Acts 13 and 14 through Timothy's home region. Then comes the rule, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"But thou hast fully known my doctrine." Wherefore be strong; for thou wert not merely present, but didst follow closely. Here he seems to imply that the period had been long, in that he says, "Thou hast followed up my doctrine"; this refers to his discourse. "Manner of life"; this to his conduct. "Purpose"; this to his zeal, and the firmness of his soul. I did not say these things, he says, and not do them; nor was I a philosopher in words only. "Faith, longsuffering." He means, how none of these things troubled me. "Charity," which those men had not; "patience," nor yet this. Towards the heretics, he means, I show much longsuffering; "patience," that under persecution. "Persecutions, afflictions." There are two things that disquiet a teacher, the number of heretics, and men's wanting fortitude to endure sufferings. And yet he has said much about these, that such always have been, and always will be, and no age will be free from them, and that they will not be able to injure us, and that in the world there are vessels of gold and of silver. You see how he proceeds to discourse about his afflictions, "which came upon me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra." Why has he selected these instances out of many? Because the rest was known to Timothy, and these perhaps were new events, and he does not mention the former ones, for he is not enumerating them particularly, for he is not actuated by ambition or vainglory, but he recounts them for the consolation of his disciple, not from ostentation. And here he speaks of Antioch in Pisidia, and Lystra, whence Timothy himself was. "What persecutions I endured." There was twofold matter of consolation, that I displayed a generous zeal, and that I was not forsaken. It cannot be said, that God abandoned me, but He rendered my crown more radiant. "What persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me."
But you followed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, my sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, what persecutions I endured; and out of them all the Lord rescued …
The Medieval Church2 voices
Then when he says, but you have fully known my doctrine, he shows that Timothy is ready to resist in the face of such dangers: first, he shows that he was fit to be appointed an apostle; second, from his familiarity with the Scriptures, at …
Those, he says, are such, but you know well our relationship, and it is not like that: you did not simply attach yourself to me, but also "followed," that is, spending a long time and sharing everything with me, you attended to all that was …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
But thou hast fully known my doctrine,....
Timothy fully knew what was the great thing that Paul had in view, both in his preaching and in his conversation: "Thou hast known my purpose, what I drive at, how far it is from any worldly, carnal, secular design, and how sincerely I aim at the glory of God and the good of the souls of men." 4.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
fully known--literally, "fully followed up" and traced; namely, with a view to following me as thy pattern, so far as I follow Christ; the same Greek as in Lu 1:3, "having had perfect understanding of all things." His pious mother Eunice and grandmother Lois would recommend him to study fully Paul's Christian course as a pattern.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But thou hast fully known my doctrine ... - Margin, “been a diligent follower of.” The margin is more in accordance with the usual meaning of the Greek word, which means, properly, to accompany side by side; to follow closely; to trace out; to examine Luk 1:3, and to conform to. The meaning here, however, seems to be, that Timothy had an opportunity to follow out; i. e., to examine closely the manner of life of the apostle Paul. He had been so long his companion, that he had had the fullest opportunity of knowing how he had lived and taught, and how he had borne persecutions. The object of this reference to his own life and sufferings is evidently to encourage Timothy to bear persecutions and trials in the same manner; compare 2Ti 3:14. He saw, in the events which began already to develope themselves, that trials must be expected; he knew that all who would live holy lives must suffer persecution; and hence, he sought to prepare the mind of Timothy for the proper endurance of trials, by a reference to his own case. The word “doctrine,” here, refers to his “teaching,” or manner of giving instruction. It does not refer, as the word now does, to the opinions which he held; see the notes at 1Ti 4:16. In regard to the opportunities which Timothy had for knowing the manner of Paul’s life, see the introduction to the Epistle, and Paley, Hor. Paul., “in loc.” Timothy had been the companion of Paul during a considerable portion of the time after his conversion. The “persecutions” referred to here 2Ti 3:11 are those which occurred in the vicinity of Timothy’s native place, and which he would have had a particular opportunity of being acquainted with. […]
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Σὺ | su | You yourself | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| παρηκολούθησάς | parekolouthesas | closely followed | G3877 → | |
| μου | mou | after my | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διδασκαλίᾳ, | didaskalia | teaching, | G1319 → | 21 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγωγῇ, | agogea | conduct, | G72 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| προθέσει, | prothesei | purpose, | G4286 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πίστει, | pistei | faith, | G4102 → | 242 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| μακροθυμίᾳ, | makrothumia | patience, | G3115 → | |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀγάπῃ, | agape | love, | G26 → | 114 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑπομονῇ, | hupomonea | endurance, | G5281 → |
ΣὺYou yourself
suG4771 →2973 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
παρηκολούθησάςclosely followed
parekolouthesasG3877 →
μουafter my
mouG3165 →1936 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
διδασκαλίᾳ,teaching,
didaskaliaG1319 →21 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἀγωγῇ,conduct,
agogeaG72 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
προθέσει,purpose,
protheseiG4286 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
πίστει,faith,
pisteiG4102 →242 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
μακροθυμίᾳ,patience,
makrothumiaG3115 →
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἀγάπῃ,love,
agapeG26 →114 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ὑπομονῇ,endurance,
hupomoneaG5281 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Titus 2:7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity,
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Peter 5:3
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
- 2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to…
- Philippians 1:10
so that you may be able to test and prove what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
- 1 Timothy 4:12
Through
1 Timothy 6:11But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
- 2 Timothy 3:17
so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.
- Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
- 2 Peter 1:5–7
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- 2 Timothy 2:22
Where this verse is studied
About 2 Timothy
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 2 Timothy 8; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Timothy.