2 Timothy 3:11 - Exposition

Suffering for afflictions , A.V.; what things befell me for which came unto me , A.V.; and for but , A.V. Persecutions ( διωγμοῖς ); as Matthew 13:21 ; Acts 8:1 ; Acts 13:50 ; 2 Corinthians 12:10 , etc. Sufferings ( τοῖς παθήμασιν ); usually so rendered in the A.V. ( Romans 8:18 ; 2 Corinthians 1:5 ; Colossians 1:24 . etc.); rendered "afflictions" in Hebrews 10:32 ; 1 Peter 5:9 . At Antioch ; in Pisidia ( Acts 13:14 ). For an account of the persecutions encountered by St. Paul at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, see Acts 13:1-52 ., 14. It was at St. Paul's second, or rather third, visit to Lystra that he chose Timothy for his companion ( Acts 16:1-3 ). I endured ( ὑπενεγκα ); not simply "suffered," but "underwent," willingly and firmly suffered (see 1 Peter 2:19 ). As regards the construction, the antecedent to οἷα is παθήμασιν , and the difference between ἁ and οἷα is that ἁ would limit the reference to the actual παθήματα at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, but οἷα extends the reference to all similar sufferings. The proper English rendering is "such as befell me." But the clause at the end of the sentence should be rendered "what great persecutions I endured." As Bengel notes, " οἷος demonstrat rei gravitatem," and οἷους preceding the substantive with which it agrees ( διώγμους ), cannot be construed the same as οἷα the relative. The sentence, οἵους διώγμους ὑπένεγκα , is an amplification of the preceding διώγμοις : "Thou hast fully known my persecutions…viz. what great persecutions I endured." And out of them all, etc. This is added for Timothy's encouragement, that he might stand fast in the face of persecutions and sufferings. Delivered me ( με ἐῤῥύσατο ). Had the apostle in his mind the clause in the Lord's Prayer, "Deliver us from evil" ( Matthew 6:13 )? Comp. 2 Timothy 4:18 , where the resemblance is still more striking. Observe the testimony to Christ's omnipotence in this ascription to him, in both passages, of St. Paul's deliverance (comp. Acts 18:10 ).