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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - 2 Timothy 1:3 - 1:3
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
I thank God (χάριν ἔχω τῷ θεῷ)
Lit. I have thanks to God. The phrase in Luk 17:9; Act 2:47; oP. unless 2Co 1:15; 1Ti 1:12; Heb 12:28; 3Jo 1:4. Paul uses εὐχαριστῶ I give thanks (not in Pastorals) or εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεός blessed be God (not in Pastorals). The phrase χάριν ἔχω is a Latinism, habere gratiam, of which several are found in Pastorals.
I serve (λατρεύω)
In Pastorals only here. Comp. Rom 1:9, Rom 1:25; Phi 3:3. Frequent in Hebrews. Originally, to serve for hire. In N.T. both of ritual service, as Heb 8:5; Heb 9:9; Heb 10:2; Heb 13:10; and of worship or service generally, as Luk 1:74; Rom 1:9. Especially of the service rendered to God by the Israelites as his peculiar people, as Act 26:7. Comp. λατρεία service, Rom 9:4; Heb 9:1, Heb 9:6. In lxx always of the service of God or of heathen deities.
From my forefathers (ἀπὸ προγόνων)
Πρόγονος, Pasto. See on 1Ti 5:4. The phrase N.T.o. For the thought, comp. Act 14:14; Phi 3:5. He means, in the spirit and with the principles inherited from his fathers. Comp. the sharp distinction between the two periods of Paul's life, Gal 1:13, Gal 1:14.
With pure conscience (ἐν καθαρᾷ συνειδήσει)
As 1Ti 3:9. The phrase, Pasto. Heb 9:14 has καθαριεῖ τὴν συνίδησιν ἡμῶν shall purge our conscience.
That without ceasing (ὡς ἀδιάλειπτον)
The passage is much involved. Note (1) that χάριν ἔχω τῷ θεῷ I thank God must have an object. (2) That object cannot be that he unceasingly remembers Timothy in his prayers. (3) That object, though remote, is ὑπόμνησιν λαβὼν when I received reminder (2Ti 1:5). He thanks God as he is reminded of the faith of Timothy's ancestors and of Timothy himself. Rend. freely, “I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, as there goes along with my prayers an unceasing remembrance of thee, and a daily and nightly longing, as I recall thy tears, to see thee, that I may be filled with joy - I thank God, I say, for that I have been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee,” etc. Ἀδιάλειπτον unceasing, only here and Rom 9:2. Ἁδιαλείπτως, Rom 1:9; 1Th 1:3; 1Th 2:13; 1Th 5:17.
I have remembrance (ἔχω τὴν μνείαν)
The phrase once in Paul, 1Th 3:6. Commonly, μνείαν ποιοῦμαι I make mention, Rom 1:9; Eph 1:16; 1Th 1:2; Phm 1:4.
Night and day (νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας)
See 1Ti 5:5. The phrase in Paul, 1Th 2:9; 1Th 3:10; 2Th 3:8. Const. with greatly desiring.