Question regarding 2nd Timothy 2:8-13

[ACanthony]

Hello all Today’s 2nd reading at Mass I was a little confused by.

11Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

If we disown Christ, he will disown us. However, if we are faithless, he will remain faithful. Isn’t this contradictory? I was just confused and trying to figure out what the passage actually means. Can someone explain it for me? Thank you!

 

[thistle]

Hello all Today’s 2nd reading at Mass I was a little confused by.

11Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

If we disown Christ, he will disown us. However, if we are faithless, he will remain faithful. Isn’t this contradictory? I was just confused and trying to figure out what the passage actually means. Can someone explain it for me? Thank you!

Can you please give the book and chapter?

 

[asia53]

Can you please give the book and chapter?

2 Timothy 2:8-13

To the OP: You don’t have the entire reading in your post. I think, it makes more sense when the reading is all there. Here’s the reading from the USCCB website-

Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.

 

[Barbkw]

There is a mental difference between people with no faith (Agnostics) and people who are indignant toward God (disowning God).

 

[shanpime]

It explains in poetic form the salvation that is in Christ Jesus for his suffering and death are patterns for the suffering and death of his followers and the results of his endurance will be shared with those who also suffer in his name. The parallel saying in v.12b makes the same point but in the negative, while 2:13a emphasizes that Christ remains faithful to the purpose of God whatever human beings do. The ideas are based on Rom 6 but are developed further.

 

[thistle]

D-R Bible, Haydock Commentary:

Ver. 11, 12. If we be dead with him, to sin, or as others expound it, by martyrdom, we shall live also, and reign with him in heaven. But if we deny him, by renouncing our faith, or by a wicked life, he also will deny us, and disown us hereafter. See Matthew x. 33. He continues always faithful and true to his promises. He is truth, and cannot deny himself. (Witham)

Ver. 13. If we believe not; i.e. if we refuse to believe in God, or if after having believed, we depart from our faith, the Almighty still continues faithful; he is still what he was. Our believing in him cannot increase his glory, nor can our disbelief in him cause any diminution thereof, since it is already infinite. (Estius) — The sense may be: when we renounce God, and refuse to believe in him, will he be less powerful to punish us? or, will his menaces be less true or less efficacious? He will effect his work without us, for he will infallibly bring about the salvation of his elect. (Bible de Vence)

 

[jpusateri]

This whole passage is showing how we become one with Christ.

We die as he died, so we will arise as he arose, as he reigns so will we. If we deny him we BREAK with him and are not following that path to become one.

The Church is the Body of Christ. If we are one in Christ, he cannot deny us because he cannot deny himself. We are one.