Verse Lens · Concise explanation
2 Timothy 1:13 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 13. 13Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse commands Timothy to hold a pattern of sound words in faith and love.
Read It With
- 2 Timothy 1:8–14
Read 2 Timothy 1:13 with 1:8–14. This verse commands Timothy to hold a pattern of sound words in faith and love. The complete unit establishes this movement: Timothy is called not to be ashamed but to share gospel suffering by God's power, hold the pattern of sound words in faith and love, and guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The unit makes courage concrete as public allegiance, costly solidarity, careful transmission, and Spirit-enabled guardianship. Within that movement, this verse commands Timothy to hold a pattern of sound words in faith and love.
Read 2 Timothy 1:12–14 together
Why these verses belong together: The debated deposit in verse 12 is clarified by the sound pattern and good deposit in verses 13–14.
Verse 12. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Verse 13. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Verse 14. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“form of sound words”
In plain language: A reliable pattern of healthy teaching held with faith and love.
commands Timothy to hold a pattern of sound words in faith and love. Truthful teaching has both faithful content and a loving manner.
Why it matters: The wording helps identify this verse's distinct contribution to the complete unit.
How certain? strongWhat Remains True
Truthful teaching has both faithful content and a loving manner.
How It Can Shape Life
- Preserve core teaching while showing sources, context, and compassion.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 2 Timothy 1:8–14 — Share Suffering and Guard the Entrusted GoodSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 2 Timothy 1:8–14, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, morphology targets, and base text for original-language discussion.
Exact location: Faithlife SBLGNT repository, data/sblgnt/text/2Tim.txt, 1:8–14
Open the 2 Timothy Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible — 2 Timothy with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005–2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual alternatives, and interpretive notes.
Exact location: NET Bible official 2 Timothy PDF, 1:8–14 translation and attached translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 2 Timothy PDF ↗