2 Timotius 2:5

2:5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner ¹  unless he competes according to the rules. ² 

2 Timotius 2:9

2:9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment ³  as a criminal, but God’s message ⁴  is not imprisoned! ⁵ 

2 Timotius 2:26

2:26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive ⁶  to do his will. ⁷ 

[2:5]  ¹ tn Grk “will not be crowned,” speaking of the wreath awarded to the victor.

[2:5]  ² sn According to the rules (Grk “lawfully, by law”) referring to the rules of competition. In the ancient world these included requirements for training as well as rules for the competition itself.

[2:9]  ³ tn Or “chains,” “bonds.”

[2:9]  ⁴ tn Or “word.”

[2:9]  ⁵ tn Or “chained,” “bound.”

[2:26]  ⁶ tn Grk “having been captured by him.”

[2:26]  ⁷ tn Grk “for that one’s will,” referring to the devil, but with a different pronoun than in the previous phrase “by him.” Some have construed “for his will” with the earlier verb and referred the pronoun to God: “come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap (though they have been captured by him) in order to do His will.” In Classical Greek the shift in pronouns would suggest this, but in Koine Greek this change is not significant. The more natural sense is a reference to the devil’s will.