2 Timothy 3 · Verse 10

2 Timothy 3:10

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2 Timothy 3:10, King James Version

2 Timothy 3:10 in other translations

BSBYou, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
WEBBut you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
ASVBut thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,
YLTAnd thou--thou hast followed after my teaching, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, endurance,
DARBYBut thou hast been thoroughly acquainted with my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, endurance,
BBEBut you took as your example my teaching, behaviour, purpose, and faith; my long waiting, my love, my quiet undergoing of trouble;
WebsterBut thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience,

What does 2 Timothy 3:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. 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. He had not been yet the companion of Paul at the time of the apostle's persecutions in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra (Ac 13:50; 14:5, 19), but is first mentioned as such Ac 16:1-3. However, he was "a disciple" already, when introduced to us in Ac 16:1-3; and as Paul calls him "my own son in the faith," he must have been converted by the apostle previously; perhaps in the visit to those parts three years before. Hence arose Timothy's knowledge of Paul's persecutions, which were the common talk of the churches in those regions about the time of his conversion. The incidental allusion to them here forms an undesigned coincidence between the history and the Epistle, indicating genuineness [Paley, Horæ Paulinæ]. A forger of Epistles from the Acts would never allude to Timothy's knowledge of persecutions, when that knowledge is not expressly mentioned in the history, but is only arrived at by indirect inference; also the omission of Derbe here, in the Epistle, is in minute accordance with the fact that in Derbe no persecution is mentioned in the history, though Derbe and Lystra are commonly mentioned together. The reason why he mentions his persecutions before Timothy became his companion, and not those subsequent, was because Timothy was familiar with the latter as an eye-witness and Paul needed not to remind him of them, but the former Timothy had traced up by seeking the information from others, especially as the date and scene of them was the date and scene of his own conversion. doctrine--"teaching." manner of life--"conduct," "behavior." purpose--The Greek is elsewhere usually used of God's "purpose." But here, as in Ac 11:23, of Paul's determined "purpose of heart in cleaving unto the Lord." My set aim, or resolution, in my apostolic function, and in every action is, not my selfish gain, but the glory of God in Christ. long-suffering--towards my adversaries, and the false teachers; towards brethren in bearing their infirmities; towards the unconverted, and the lapsed when penitent (2Ti 4:2; 2Co 6:6; Ga 5:22; Ep 4:2; Col 3:12). charity--love to all men. patience--"endurance"; patient continuance in well-doing amidst adversities (2Ti 3:11; Ro 2:7).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, etc. Marg., 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, (Lk 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. Comp. 2Ti 3:14. He saw, in the events began already to develop themselves, that trials must be; 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. 1Timm 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. This circumstance, and the fact that Paul did not refer to other persecutions in more remote places, is one of the "undesigned coincidences," of which Paley has made so much in his incomparable little work, the Horae Paulinae.

Manner of life. Literally, leading, guidance; then, the method in which one is led--his manner of life. Comp. 1Thes 2:1.

Purpose. Plans, or designs.

Faith. Perhaps fidelity, or faithfulness.

Long-suffering. With the evil passions of others, and their efforts to injure him. See the word explained 1Cor 13:4.

Charity. 1Cor 13:1, seq.

Patience, "A calm temper, which suffers evils without murmuring or discontent." Webster.

(1) "fully known" "been a diligent follower of"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Thou 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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 3:10-13
The more fully we know the doctrine of Christ, as taught by the apostles, the more closely we shall cleave to it. When we know the afflictions of believers only in part, they tempt us to decline the cause for which they suffer. A form of godliness, a profession of Christian faith without a godly life, often is allowed to pass, while open profession of the truth as it is in Jesus, and resolute attention to the duties of godliness, stir up the scorn and enmity of the world. As good men, by the grace of God, grow better, so bad men, through the craft of Satan, and the power of their own corruptions, grow worse. The way of sin is down-hill; such go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. Those who deceive others, deceive themselves, as they will find at last, to their cost. The history of the outward church, awfully shows that the apostle spake this as he was moved by the Holy Ghost.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

2 Timothy 3:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΣὺSuYou yourselfG4771
δὲdehoweverG1161
παρηκολούθησάςparēkolouthēsasclosely followedG3877
μουmouafter myG3165
τῇtēa<the>G3588
διδασκαλίᾳ,didaskaliateaching,G1319
τῇtēa<the>G3588
ἀγωγῇ,agōgēaconduct,G72
τῇtēa<the>G3588
προθέσει,protheseipurpose,G4286
τῇtēa<the>G3588
πίστει,pisteifaith,G4102
τῇtēa<the>G3588
μακροθυμίᾳ,makrothumiapatience,G3115
τῇtēa<the>G3588
ἀγάπῃ,agapēlove,G26
τῇtēa<the>G3588
ὑπομονῇ,hupomonēaendurance,G5281

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 3:10

  • 1 Timothy 6:11

    But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

  • Titus 2:7

    In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

  • 2 Peter 1:5-7

    And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

  • 1 Timothy 4:6

    If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

  • Philippians 2:22

    But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

  • Hebrews 13:9

    Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

  • Acts 11:23

    Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

  • Romans 16:17

    Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

  • 1 Timothy 4:12-13

    Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

  • 2 Timothy 4:3

    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

  • 2 John 1:9-10

    Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

  • 1 Thessalonians 1:5

    For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
thou hast fully known. or, thou hast been a diligent followerof.
Lu 1:3; Php 2:22; 1Ti 4:6; *Gr:
my.
16,17; 4:3; Ac 2:42; Ro 16:17; Eph 4:14; 1Ti 1:3; 4:12,13; Tit 2:7
Heb 13:9; 2Jo 1:9,10
manner.
Ac 20:18; 26:4; 1Th 1:5; 2Pe 3:11
purpose.
Da 1:8; Ac 11:23; 2Co 1:17
faith.
2:22; 2Co 6:4-10; 1Ti 4:12; 6:11; 2Pe 1:5-7

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Timothy 3:9

    But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.

  • 2 Timothy 3:10

    But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

  • 2 Timothy 3:11

    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.

Read all of 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Pero tú has comprendido mi doctrina, instrucción, intento, fe, largura de ánimo, caridad, paciencia,
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais toi, tu as pleinement compris ma doctrine, ma conduite, mon but constant, ma foi, mon support, mon amour, ma patience,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Du aber hast genau erkannt meine Lehre, mein Betragen, meinen Vorsatz, meinen Glauben, meine Langmut, meine Liebe, mein Ausharren,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tu autem assecutus es meam doctrinam, institutionem, propositum, fidem, longanimitatem, dilectionem, patientiam,