Run with Perseverance
(2 Timothy 2:1-13)
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
God Disciplines His Sons
4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
A Call to Holiness
(1 Peter 1:13-21)
14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Our Kingdom Cannot Be Shaken
(Exodus 20:18-21; Deuteronomy 5:22-33)
18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart: 21And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:) 22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29For our God is a consuming fire.
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
A Call to Endurance
(2 Timothy 2:1–13)
1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him who has endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, that you don’t grow weary, fainting in your souls.
God Disciplines His Sons
4 You have not yet resisted to blood, striving against sin;
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children, “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;
6 For whom the Lord loves, he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure. God deals with you as with children, for what son is there whom his father doesn’t discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children. 9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. 11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been exercised thereby.
12 Therefore, lift up the hands that hang down and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
A Call to Holiness
(1 Peter 1:13–21)
14 Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord, 15 looking carefully lest there be any man who falls short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and many be defiled by it; 16 lest there be any sexually immoral person, or profane person, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. 17 For you know that even when he afterward desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for a change of mind though he sought it diligently with tears.
An Unshakable Kingdom
(Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:22–33)
18 For you have not come to a mountain that might be touched, and that burned with fire, and to blackness, darkness, storm, 19 the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which those who heard it begged that not one more word should be spoken to them, 20 for they could not stand that which was commanded, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned;” 21 and so fearful was the appearance, that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels, 23 to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel.
25 See that you don’t refuse him who speaks. For if they didn’t escape when they refused him who warned on the earth, how much more will we not escape who turn away from him who warns from heaven, 26 whose voice shook the earth then, but now he has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made, that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let us have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
A Call to Endurance
(2 Timothy 2:1–13)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author a and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
God Disciplines His Sons
4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord,
and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
and He chastises every son He receives.” b
7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
10 Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. 11 No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace c to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees. d 13 Make straight paths for your feet, e so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
A Call to Holiness
(1 Peter 1:13–21)
14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness f springs up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright. 17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.
An Unshakable Kingdom
(Exodus 20:18–21; Deuteronomy 5:22–33)
18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that g is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm; 19 to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken. 20 For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” h 21 The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” i
22 Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels 23 in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” j 27 The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. 29 “For our God is a consuming fire.” k
Footnotes:
2 a Or pioneer or founder
6 b Literally and He flogs every son He receives ; Proverbs 3:11–12 (see also LXX)
11 c Or it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness
12 d Isaiah 35:3
13 e Proverbs 4:26 (see also LXX)
15 f See Deuteronomy 29:18
18 g Literally to what can be touched and
20 h Exodus 19:12–13
21 i Deuteronomy 9:19
26 j Haggai 2:6
29 k Deuteronomy 4:24
Run with Perseverance
(2 Timothy 2:1-13)
1Therefore, we also having so great a cloud of witnesses set around us, every weight having put off, and the closely besetting sin, through endurance may we run the contest that is set before us, 2looking to the author and perfecter of faith -- Jesus, who, over-against the joy set before him -- did endure a cross, shame having despised, on the right hand also of the throne of God did sit down;
3for consider again him who endured such gainsaying from the sinners to himself, that ye may not be wearied in your souls -- being faint.
God Disciplines His Sons
4Not yet unto blood did ye resist -- with the sin striving;
5and ye have forgotten the exhortation that doth speak fully with you as with sons, 'My son, be not despising chastening of the Lord, nor be faint, being reproved by Him,
6for whom the Lord doth love He doth chasten, and He scourgeth every son whom He receiveth;'
7if chastening ye endure, as to sons God beareth Himself to you, for who is a son whom a father doth not chasten? 8and if ye are apart from chastening, of which all have become partakers, then bastards are ye, and not sons. 9Then, indeed, fathers of our flesh we have had, chastising us, and we were reverencing them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of the spirits, and live? 10for they, indeed, for a few days, according to what seemed good to them, were chastening, but He for profit, to be partakers of His separation; 11and all chastening for the present, indeed, doth not seem to be of joy, but of sorrow, yet afterward the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those exercised through it -- it doth yield.
12Wherefore, the hanging-down hands and the loosened knees set ye up; 13and straight paths make for your feet, that that which is lame may not be turned aside, but rather be healed;
A Call to Holiness
(1 Peter 1:13-21)
14peace pursue with all, and the separation, apart from which no one shall see the Lord, 15looking diligently over lest any one be failing of the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up may give trouble, and through this many may be defiled; 16lest any one be a fornicator, or a profane person, as Esau, who in exchange for one morsel of food did sell his birthright, 17for ye know that also afterwards, wishing to inherit the blessing, he was disapproved of, for a place of reformation he found not, though with tears having sought it.
Our Kingdom Cannot Be Shaken
(Exodus 20:18-21; Deuteronomy 5:22-33)
18For ye came not near to the mount touched and scorched with fire, and to blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19and a sound of a trumpet, and a voice of sayings, which those having heard did entreat that a word might not be added to them, 20for they were not bearing that which is commanded, 'And if a beast may touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or with an arrow shot through,' 21and, (so terrible was the sight,) Moses said, 'I am fearful exceedingly, and trembling.' 22But, ye came to Mount Zion, and to a city of the living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of messengers, 23to the company and assembly of the first-born in heaven enrolled, and to God the judge of all, and to spirits of righteous men made perfect, 24and to a mediator of a new covenant -- Jesus, and to blood of sprinkling, speaking better things than that of Abel!
25See, may ye not refuse him who is speaking, for if those did not escape who refused him who upon earth was divinely speaking -- much less we who do turn away from him who speaketh from heaven, 26whose voice the earth shook then, and now hath he promised, saying, 'Yet once -- I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven;' 27and this -- 'Yet once' -- doth make evident the removal of the things shaken, as of things having been made, that the things not shaken may remain; 28wherefore, a kingdom that cannot be shaken receiving, may we have grace, through which we may serve God well-pleasingly, with reverence and religious fear; 29for also our God is a consuming fire.
The Favor of God Paraphrase
Run with Endurance, Eyes Fixed on Jesus
¹ Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses—the countless people of faith who have gone before us—let’s throw off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. Let’s run with endurance the race that has been set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Consider His Endurance
³ Think about all the hostility He endured from sinners, and you won’t grow weary or give up. ⁴ After all, in your struggle against sin, you haven’t yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said, “My child, don’t take the Lord’s discipline lightly, and don’t give up when He corrects you. ⁶ For the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He chastens every child He accepts.”
The Discipline of a Loving Father
⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. What child is not disciplined by their father? ⁸ If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate children, but illegitimate. ⁹ We respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us; should we not even more submit to the discipline of the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how, but God’s discipline is always good for us so that we might share in His holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Strengthen Your Weary Limbs
¹² So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees! ¹³ Mark out a straight path for your feet, so that those who are weak and lame will not fall, but become strong.
Pursue Peace and Holiness
¹⁴ Strive to live in peace with everyone and pursue holiness, for without holiness no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. ¹⁶ Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ You know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought it with tears, he could not change what he had done.
A Better Mountain: Mount Zion
¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain like the one the Israelites approached at Sinai—a mountain of blazing fire, darkness, gloom, and storm. ¹⁹ They heard a trumpet blast and a voice speaking words so terrifying that they begged God to stop speaking. ²⁰ They couldn’t bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.” ²¹ The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
²² But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the assembly of God’s firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, whose sprinkled blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Do Not Refuse God’s Voice
²⁵ Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. If the Israelites did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven? ²⁶ At that time, His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” ²⁷ This means that all created things will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain.
A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken
²⁸ Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. ²⁹ For our “God is a consuming fire.”
Footnotes:
1.“Great cloud of witnesses” (verse 1) refers to the faithful ones from previous generations whose lives testify to God’s faithfulness.
2.“Discipline” (verse 6) in Greek refers to both correction and guidance, emphasizing God’s loving intention to shape us into His holiness.
3.“Pursue holiness” (verse 14) captures the active effort needed in cultivating a pure life, as holiness is foundational to seeing and experiencing God.
4.“Esau” (verse 16) is used as an example of prioritizing temporary satisfaction over eternal inheritance, a warning for believers today.
5.“Mount Zion” (verse 22) symbolizes the heavenly city where God reigns, contrasting with the terrifying encounter at Mount Sinai.
