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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Second Epistle to Timothy

Chiastic Structure and Concentric Structure and Parallel of each pericope

[1]Thanksgiving and encouragement  (2 Tim 1:1-18)
 
  A(1:1-2)  1:2 grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (1:2)"   (ἔλεος)
    B(1:3-5)    1:5 your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice (1:5)
      C(1:6-7)      1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. (1:7)   (πνεῦμα)
        D(1:8)        1:8 So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake (1:8)"   (ἐπαισξυνθῇς)
          E(1:9a)          1:9 He saved us and called us to a holy life (1:9)
            F(1:9b-10)            1:10 Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (1:10)
          E'(1:11)          1:11 for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher.(1:11)
        D'(1:12)        1:12 On this account I am suffering these things; but I am not ashamed (1:12)   (ἐπαισξύνομαι)
      C'(1:13-14)      1:14 the holy Spirit that dwells within us. (1:14)   (πνεύματος)
    B'(1:15-17)    1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus(1:16)
  A'(1:18)  1:18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day (1:18)   (ἔλεος)
 
   A: Mercy of God. B: Family. C: Spirit. D: Not being ashamed of sufferings. E: Calling of God. F: Destruction of death.

[2]A good soldier of Christ Jesus  (2 Tim 2:1-7)
 
  A(2:1-2)  2:2 And what you heard from me through many witnesses (2:2)
    B(2:3)    2:3 Bear your share of hardship(2:3)   (συγκακοπάθησον)
      C(2:4-5)      2:5 an athlete cannot receive the winner's crown except by competing according to the rules (2:5)
    B'(2:6)    2:6 The hardworking farmer(2:6)   (κοπιῶντα)
  A'(2:7)  2:7 Reflect on what I am saying (2:7)
 
   A: Words of Paul. B: Bearing hardship. C: The winner's crown.

[3]Living with Christ  (2 Tim 2:8-14)
 
  A'(2:8-9)  2:8 Remember Jesus Christ (2:8)   (μνημόνευε)
    B(2:10)    2:10 so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. (2:10)
    B'(2:11-13)    2:11 If we have died with him we shall also live with him (2:11)
  A'(2:14)  2:14 Remind people of these things (2:14)   (ὑπομίμνῃσκε)
 
   A: To remember. B: Together with Christ.

[4]Holy ones  (2 Tim 2:15-26)
 
  A(2:15-19)  2:18 who have deviated from the truth by saying that (the) resurrection has already taken place and are upsetting the faith of some. (2:18)   (ἀλήθειαν)
    B(2:20-21)    2:21 If anyone cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for lofty use (2:21)
  A'(2:22-26)  2:25 It may be that God will grant them repentance that leads to knowledge of the truth, (2:25)"   (ἀληθείας)
 
   A: The truth. B: Someone cleanses himself from evils.

[5]Godlessness in the last days  (2 Tim 3:1-11)
 
  A(3:1)  3:1 there will be terrifying times in the last days.(3:1)
    B(3:2-5)    3:5 as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power (3:5)
      C(3:6-7)      3:7 never able to reach a knowledge of the truth. (3:7)
    B'(3:8-9)    3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so they also oppose the truth (3:8)
  A'(3:10-11)  3:11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, persecutions that I endured (3:11)
 
   A: Sufferings. B: Opponents. C: Never able to reach a knowledge of the truth.

[6]Paul's charge to Timothy  (2 Tim 3:12-4:8)
 
  A(3:12-13)  3:12 all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (3:12)
    B(3:14-15)    3:14 But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed (3:14)
      C(3:16-17)      3:16 All scripture is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness (3:16)"   (διδασκαλίαν)
      C'(4:1-2)      4:2 convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching (4:2)"   (διδαξῇ)
    B'(4:3-5)    4:4 will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. (4:4)
  A'(4:6-8)  4:6 For I am already being poured out like a libation (4:6)
 
   A: Persecution. B: Being away from the truth. C: Teachings.

[7]Personal instructions  (2 Tim 4:9-22)
 
  A(4:9-13)  4:11 Luke is the only one with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in the ministry. (4:11)
    B(4:14-16)    4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me a great deal of harm (4:14)
    B'(4:17-18)    4:18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat (4:18)
  A'(4:19-22)  4:19 Greet Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.(4:19)
 
   A: Messages. B: Persecution and salvation.


Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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