2 Timothy 2:5
New International Version
Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

New Living Translation
And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

English Standard Version
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Berean Standard Bible
Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.

Berean Literal Bible
Now also, if anyone competes, he is not crowned unless he shall have competed lawfully.

King James Bible
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

New King James Version
And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

New American Standard Bible
And if someone likewise competes as an athlete, he is not crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules.

NASB 1995
Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

NASB 1977
And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Legacy Standard Bible
And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Amplified Bible
And if anyone competes as an athlete [in competitive games], he is not crowned [with the wreath of victory] unless he competes according to the rules.

Christian Standard Bible
Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

American Standard Version
And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And if a man competes, he is not crowned if he does not compete by the rules.

Contemporary English Version
No one wins an athletic contest without obeying the rules.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For he also that striveth for the mastery, is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

English Revised Version
And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever enters an athletic competition wins the prize only when playing by the rules.

Good News Translation
An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules.

International Standard Version
Moreover, no one who is an athlete wins a prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Literal Standard Version
and if anyone also may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully;

Majority Standard Bible
Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.

New American Bible
Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner’s crown except by competing according to the rules.

NET Bible
Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.

New Revised Standard Version
And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules.

New Heart English Bible
Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he has competed by the rules.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if a man also striveth for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he striveth lawfully.

Weymouth New Testament
And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules.

World English Bible
Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules.

Young's Literal Translation
and if also any one may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Grace and Perseverance
4A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him. 5Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules. 6The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 9:25
Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.

2 Timothy 4:8
From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.


Treasury of Scripture

And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

strive.

Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain…

Philippians 1:15
Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

is he.

2 Timothy 4:7,8
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: …

Hebrews 2:7,9
Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: …

James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

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Athlete Athletic Competition Contend Contest Crown Crowned Except Games Gets Obeys Part Prize Receive Rules Similarly Strive Striveth Unless Victor's Win
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Athlete Athletic Competition Contend Contest Crown Crowned Except Games Gets Obeys Part Prize Receive Rules Similarly Strive Striveth Unless Victor's Win
2 Timothy 2
1. Timothy is exhorted again to constancy and perseverance.
17. Of Hymenaeus and Philetus.
19. The foundation of the Lord is sure.
22. He is taught whereof to beware, and what to follow after.














(5) And if a man also strive for masteries.--More accurately translated, again, if a man strive in the games. Another picture is drawn, and the picture is, as before, a well-known one to all the dwellers in the great cities of the empire. An athlete is chosen to represent the professed servant of Christ, one of those who, after long and careful training, contends in the public games, then so popular, so entirely a part of the life of every city--in the games of wrestling or running, or in the chariot-racing, or in the hand-to-hand contests. Again, this one--as in the case of the soldier--if he aspired to victory and success, must "endure hardness."

Except he strive lawfully.--"Lawfully"--i.e. according to the prescribed conditions of the contest. He must, of course, submit himself to the strict rules of the theatre where the games are held, and (for this is also included in the "lawfully") must besides--if he hopes for a prize--go through all the long and severe training and discipline necessary before engaging in such a contest. Galen uses the same phrase, in the sense of complying with the recognised rules of training as regarding diet.

Verse 5. - Also a man for a man also, A.V.; contend in the games for strive for masteries, A.V.; he is not for yet is he not, A.V.; have contended for strive, A.V. Contend in the games (ἀθλῇ); only here in the New Testament, and not found in the LXX., but common in classical Greek. It means "to contend for ἄθλον the prize, to be an "athlete." This is also the meaning of the A.V. "strive for masteries." "To strive," means properly to contend with an antagonist, and "mastery" is an old English word for "superiority," "victory," or the like. Dryden has "mastership" in the same sense -

"When noble youths for mastership should strive,
To quoit, to run, and steeds and chariots drive."


(Ovid., 'Met,' bk. 1.) Lawfully (νομίμως, as 1 Timothy 1:8); according to the laws and usages of the games. So Timothy must conform to the laws of the Christian warfare, and not shrink from afflictions, if he would gain the great Christian prize.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Likewise,
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

a
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

contender
ἀθλῇ (athlē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 118: To engage, compete, in an (athletic) contest. From athlos; to contend in the competitive games.

does not receive the crown
στεφανοῦται (stephanoutai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 4737: To crown, adorn, decorate. From stephanos; to adorn with an honorary wreath.

unless
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

he competes
ἀθλήσῃ (athlēsē)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 118: To engage, compete, in an (athletic) contest. From athlos; to contend in the competitive games.

according to the rules.
νομίμως (nomimōs)
Adverb
Strong's 3545: Lawfully, rightfully. Adverb from a derivative of nomos; legitimately.


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NT Letters: 2 Timothy 2:5 Also if anyone competes in athletics he (2 Tim. 2Ti iiTi ii Tim)
2 Timothy 2:4
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