2 Timothy 3:11
in 2 Timothy 3my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
persecutions, sufferings; what things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: and out of them all the Lord delivered me.
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.
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This verse in 2 Timothy 3
Commentary
12 notes on this versePersecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch,.... In Pisidia; where the Jews that contradicted and blasphemed his doctrine, and envied his success, stirred up the chief of the city, both men and women, against him, and Barnabas; who persecuted them and expelled them out, of their coasts, Act 13:45 and also at Iconium; where both Jews and Gentiles made an assault upon them, to use them ill, and stone them, Act 14:5 and likewise at Lystra; where the apostle was stoned, and drawn out of the city, and left for dead, Act 14:
This site's exposition
But thou hast fully known
on 2 Timothy 3:10-12
Against the counterfeit stands an open life: thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, nine items with teaching first and character inseparable from it. The persecutions named, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, are the Acts 13-14 mission through Timothy's own home country; the boy from Lystra saw the apostle stoned and left for dead there, and out of them all the Lord delivered me is testimony Timothy can check against memory. The conclusion is a promise wearing the grammar of a warning: all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, normal Christianity, not its failure.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 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 …
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusINTERPRETATION OF THE SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY · Written before 458.
proposed
Paul's point in recalling these events is to show the divine help, thus adding spirit to the disciple.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He refers to the things which he suffered at Thecla.
Then in regard to enduring evils, he instructs him in regard to three things by reducing them to memory: first, the patience he had; second, the evil he suffered; third, divine help which aided him. First, therefore, he mentions patience, which has a perfect work …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
I, he says, was not only persecuted, but also suffered. Two circumstances especially trouble a teacher — namely, that there are heretics and that one must suffer. Concerning heretics, much was said when the apostle urged Timothy not to be troubled by them. Now he …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
): "Thou hast fully known the persecutions and afflictions that came unto me " (he mentions those only which happened to him while Timothy was with him, at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra ); "and therefore let it be no surprise to thee if thou suffer hard things, it is no more than I have endured before." 6.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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:
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
afflictions--"sufferings." which--Greek, "such as." in Antioch--of Pisidia (Ac 13:14, 50, 51). Lystra-- (Ac 14:6, 19). what--How grievous. out of . . . all . . .
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
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, Acts 13:16-43. In this city, it is said, the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable 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, Act 13:50, Act 13:51. 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 Act 14:5, Act 14:6, Act 14:19-21. These are the persecutions, etc., 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; Act 16:1, Act 16:2. […]
The words behind it
23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| διωγμοῖς, | diogmois | persecutions, | G1375 → | |
| τοῖς | tois | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| παθήμασιν, | pathemasin | sufferings | G3804 → | |
| οἷά | hoia | such as | G3634 → | |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐγένετο | egeneto | happened | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἀντιοχείᾳ, | antiocheia | Antioch, | G490 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἰκονίῳ, | ikonio | Iconium, | G2430 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Λύστροις· | lustrois | Lystra; | G3082 → | |
| οἵους | oious | what manner of | G3634 → | |
| διωγμοὺς | diogmous | persecutions | G1375 → | |
| ὑπήνεγκα, | hupenegka | I endured! | G5297 → | |
| καὶ | kai | And yet | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐκ | ek | out of | G1537 → | 911 times |
| πάντων | panton | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| με | me | me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐρρύσατο | errusato | delivered | G4506 → | 17 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κύριος. | kurios | Lord. | G2962 → | 711 times |
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
διωγμοῖς,persecutions,
diogmoisG1375 →
τοῖς<the>
toisG3588 →19766 times
παθήμασιν,sufferings
pathemasinG3804 →
οἷάsuch as
hoiaG3634 →
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
ἐγένετοhappened
egenetoG1096 →667 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Ἀντιοχείᾳ,Antioch,
antiocheiaG490 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Ἰκονίῳ,Iconium,
ikonioG2430 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
Λύστροις·Lystra;
lustroisG3082 →
οἵουςwhat manner of
oiousG3634 →
διωγμοὺςpersecutions
diogmousG1375 →
ὑπήνεγκα,I endured!
hupenegkaG5297 →
καὶAnd yet
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐκout of
ekG1537 →911 times
πάντωνall
pantonG3956 →1235 times
μεme
meG3165 →1936 times
ἐρρύσατοdelivered
errusatoG4506 →17 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κύριος.Lord.
kuriosG2962 →711 times
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
Psalms 34:19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:17
The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles.
- 1 Peter 4:12–13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- Psalms 34:6
This poor man called out, and the LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17
For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison.
- John 16:33
I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- Psalms 34:17
Through
Acts 13:45But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy, and they blasphemously contradicted what Paul was saying.
it leads to
- Jude 1:10
These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
- Acts 18:6
But when they opposed and insulted him, he shook out his garments and told them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to…
- 1 Thessalonians 2:16
hindering us from telling the Gentiles how they may be saved. As a result, they continue to heap up their sins to full capacity; the utmost wrath has come upon them.
- Jude 1:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About 2 Timothy
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 11 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 Damascene, Commentary (church-history corpus); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, COMMENTARY ON 2 TIMOTHY; Theodoret of Cyrus, INTERPRETATION OF THE SECOND LETTER TO TIMOTHY; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Timothy and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 2 Timothy.