For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Parallel translations
- WEB For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
- BSB To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
- NKJV For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
- NASB For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers.
- NLT This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Believers labor and endure because their hope is set on the living God, Savior of all, especially believers. It anchors perseverance in God's saving character.
Overview
Paul explains that hope in the living God sustains the toil and reproach of ministry. God is 'the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe,' a phrase faithful Christians understand variously, yet all affirm God as the only Savior and believers as those who actually receive salvation. The verse fuels endurance by fixing hope on God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 36
- 1 Tim 2:4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- 1 Jn 2:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
- John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
- 1 Tim 2:6Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
- 1 Jn 4:14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
- John 3:15–17That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- John 4:42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
- Rom 15:12–13And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
- Ps 84:12O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
- 1 Jn 5:10–13He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
- Isa 45:21–22Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
- 1 Pet 4:14–15If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
- Ps 107:6–43Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
- Ps 52:8But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
- Heb 13:13Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
- Isa 12:2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
- Ps 118:8It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
- 2 Cor 11:23–27Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
- 2 Cor 4:8–10We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
- 2 Tim 2:9–10Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
- John 5:24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
- 1 Cor 4:9–13For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
- Matt 27:43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
- 1 Pet 1:21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
- Ps 37:40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
- 2 Cor 6:3–10Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
- Dan 3:28Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
- Isa 50:10Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.
- Ps 107:2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
- Nah 1:7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
- Ps 36:6Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.
- Jer 17:7Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
- Heb 11:26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
- 1 Tim 6:17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- 1 Tim 3:15But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
- 2 Tim 3:10–12But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
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Christ at the center
There is 'one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all' — the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh.
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Original language
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