2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Original Language Analysis
ἀπιστοῦμεν
we believe not
G569
ἀπιστοῦμεν
we believe not
Strong's:
G569
Word #:
2 of 9
to be unbelieving, i.e., (transitively) disbelieve, or (by implication) disobey
ἐκεῖνος
yet he
G1565
ἐκεῖνος
yet he
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
3 of 9
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
μένει
abideth
G3306
μένει
abideth
Strong's:
G3306
Word #:
5 of 9
to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy)
ἑαυτὸν
himself
G1438
ἑαυτὸν
himself
Strong's:
G1438
Word #:
7 of 9
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
Cross References
Numbers 23:19God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?Romans 3:3For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?2 Thessalonians 3:3But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.Titus 1:2In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;1 Thessalonians 5:24Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.1 Corinthians 1:9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.Hebrews 6:18That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.Romans 9:6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:Isaiah 25:1O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
Historical Context
This verse provided crucial pastoral comfort in persecution. Many Christians experienced fear, doubts, wavering faith when facing torture and death. Did temporary weakness mean loss of salvation? Paul reassures: Christ remains faithful even when believers struggle. This echoes Old Testament covenant theology where God remained faithful despite Israel's repeated failures. The doctrine of perseverance of the saints rests here: true believers may falter but cannot finally fall away because Christ holds them (John 10:28-29, Philippians 1:6).
Questions for Reflection
- When your faith wavers or you struggle with doubts, do you rest in Christ's unchanging faithfulness or spiral into despair over your weakness?
- How does understanding that salvation depends on Christ's faithfulness rather than yours provide both comfort and motivation for obedience?
- In what areas of Christian life do you need to trust Christ's faithfulness more than your own ability to remain faithful?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. The hymn's final couplet addresses believer unfaithfulness versus Christ's faithfulness. "If we believe not" (ei apistoumen, εἰ ἀπιστοῦμεν) can mean either "if we are faithless" or "if we disbelieve." Context favors "are faithless"—failing to trust fully, wavering in faith, showing weakness. This differs from verse 12's outright denial. Here Paul addresses struggling believers whose faith wavers but doesn't wholly fail.
The promise: "yet he abideth faithful" (ekeinos pistos menei, ἐκεῖνος πιστὸς μένει). The pronoun ekeinos (ἐκεῖνος) emphasizes Christ—"that one," contrasting human faithlessness with divine faithfulness. The verb menō (μένω) means remain, continue, abide—Christ's faithfulness is unchanging, permanent, not dependent on human faithfulness. Even when believers falter, Christ remains faithful to His covenant promises.
The basis: "he cannot deny himself" (arnēsasthai gar heauton ou dynatai, ἀρνήσασθαι γὰρ ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται). Christ's faithfulness stems from His unchanging character—He cannot act contrary to His nature. To abandon His elect people would contradict His covenant promises and divine character. God's faithfulness doesn't depend on human performance but on His immutable nature (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 6:18).