06-2Tim1:5

Bible Word study on 2 Timothy 1:5

Paul is mindful of the sincere faith of Timothy. 

Anupokritos (sincere) is a compound word, composed of a negative prefix attached to hupokritēs, from which we get the obviously related English word hypocrite. Timothy’s faith was completely genuine, unhypocritical, without pretense or deceit.

Sincere love of the brethren – 1 Peter 1:22(ESV)  – 22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 

Sincere faith means our possessing heartfelt trust, not merely professing religious words.

To trust God each day is a decision we must make, not an emotion that we feel.

Is your faith halfhearted? Do you rely on how you feel to determine your faithfulness to God?

Various Bible Translators use the same Greek word and translate it differently.  In this example the NRSV (New Revised Std. Vers.) translate pepeismai    as “I am sure” both times in Verse 5 and 12. 

In the NKJV (New King James Version)  it is translate “I am persuaded” both times.

In the ESV (English Standard Version) it is translated “I am sure” and then “I an convinced”

WORD BIBLE STUDY:  (How Different Translations use different phrases(words))  The phrase “I am sure” is from Paul’s word pepeismai    – that phrase strikes us in English as if it was wishful thinking.    However, go to verse 12 the same Greek word  pepeismai   is used by translated to what the Greek word means, that is “I am persuaded” (NKJV), and Paul used them again in verse 12 (“I am convinced” ESV & NIV) to speak of his own confidence in Christ. Timothy had been “on the job” in Ephesus for a few years. Perhaps his outward success may have been in doubt, but Paul was certain of his faithfulness. 

The two verses in the NRSV:

NRSV – 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.

NRSV- V12 – 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. 

The two verses in the NKVJ and the ESV: 

NKJV – 5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

NKJV- 12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.

ESV –  I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.  

ESV – 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

V.5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

V. 12 

NKJV:  “I am Persuaded”   

Note the arrows pointing to the same GREEK word and comparing the ESV and the NKJV version.

The heritage of Timothy of the sincere faith first dwelt in his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice.