2 Timothy 3:17
New International Version
so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

New Living Translation
God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

English Standard Version
that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Berean Standard Bible
so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Berean Literal Bible
so that the man of God may be complete, having been fully equipped toward every good work.

King James Bible
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

New King James Version
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

New American Standard Bible
so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.

NASB 1995
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

NASB 1977
that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Legacy Standard Bible
so that the man of God may be equipped, having been thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Amplified Bible
so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Christian Standard Bible
so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

American Standard Version
that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

Contemporary English Version
The Scriptures train God's servants to do all kinds of good deeds.

English Revised Version
that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things.

Good News Translation
so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

International Standard Version
so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good action.

Majority Standard Bible
so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

NET Bible
that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

New Heart English Bible
that the person of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Webster's Bible Translation
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.

Weymouth New Testament
so that the man of God may himself be complete and may be perfectly equipped for every good work.

World English Bible
that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
that the man of God may be fitted—having been completed for every good work.

Berean Literal Bible
so that the man of God may be complete, having been fully equipped toward every good work.

Young's Literal Translation
that the man of God may be fitted -- for every good work having been completed.

Smith's Literal Translation
That the man of God might be perfect, finished for every good work.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.

Catholic Public Domain Version
so that the man of God may be perfect, having been trained for every good work.

New American Bible
so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

New Revised Standard Version
so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So that God’s people may become perfect, thoroughly perfected for every good work.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
That the man of God will be perfect and perfected for every good work.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished for every good work.

Godbey New Testament
in order that the man of God may be perfect, having been thoroughly perfected unto every good work.

Haweis New Testament
that the man of God may be properly furnished, fully qualified for every good work.

Mace New Testament
that the minister of God may be perfectly accomplished for every office of religion.

Weymouth New Testament
so that the man of God may himself be complete and may be perfectly equipped for every good work.

Worrell New Testament
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly furnished for every good work.

Worsley New Testament
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly fitted for every good work.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
All Scripture is God-Breathed
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.

Cross References
Ephesians 4:12-13
to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ, / until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. / Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Hebrews 13:21
equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Colossians 1:28
We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

1 Timothy 6:11
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

James 1:4
Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Philippians 2:15-16
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world / as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.

1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is also now at work in you who believe.

Romans 15:4
For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.

1 Corinthians 1:5-7
For in Him you have been enriched in every way, in all speech and all knowledge, / because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. / Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you.

Titus 2:14
He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Proverbs 2:6-9
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. / He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity, / to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints. ...

Isaiah 55:11
so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.


Treasury of Scripture

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.

the man.

Psalm 119:98-100
Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me…

1 Timothy 6:11
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

throughly furnished.

2 Timothy 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

Nehemiah 2:18
Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

Acts 9:36
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

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Adequate Complete Completed Completely Equipped Fitted Fully Furnished Good Perfect Perfectly Ready Thoroughly Throughly Trained Work Works
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2 Timothy 3
1. Paul advises Timothy of the difficult times to come;
6. describes the enemies of the truth;
10. explains unto him his own example;
16. and commends the holy Scriptures;














so that
This phrase indicates purpose or result. In the Greek, it is often translated from "hina," which serves to connect the preceding verses about the inspiration and usefulness of Scripture to the intended outcome. It emphasizes the divine intention behind the Scriptures, which is to transform and prepare believers for service.

the man of God
This term, "anthrōpos tou Theou" in Greek, traditionally refers to someone who is dedicated to God's service. Historically, it has been used to describe prophets and leaders in the Old Testament, such as Moses and Elijah. In the New Testament context, it extends to all believers, particularly those in leadership or teaching roles, emphasizing their calling and responsibility to live according to God's will.

may be complete
The Greek word "artios" is used here, meaning perfect, complete, or capable. It suggests a state of maturity and readiness. The idea is that through Scripture, believers are brought to spiritual maturity, fully developed in character and understanding, ready to fulfill their God-given roles.

fully equipped
This phrase comes from the Greek "exērtismenos," which means thoroughly furnished or equipped. It conveys the idea of being provided with all necessary tools and resources. In a historical context, it might evoke the image of a soldier fully armed for battle or a craftsman with all the tools needed for his trade, underscoring the sufficiency of Scripture in preparing believers for life's challenges.

for every good work
The Greek "pros pan ergon agathon" indicates the scope and purpose of the equipping. "Every good work" encompasses all actions and deeds that align with God's will and purpose. This phrase highlights the comprehensive nature of the believer's mission, which is to engage in acts of service, love, and righteousness in every aspect of life. Historically, this reflects the early Christian understanding of faith as active and demonstrative, not merely theoretical or internal.

(17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.--The "man of God" here is no official designation, but simply designates the Christian generally, who is striving, with his Master's help, to live a life pleasing to God; and the "good works" have no special reference to the labours of Timothy and his brother presbyters, but include all those generous and self-sacrificing acts to which, in these Epistles, so many references have been made.

It was in the Holy Scriptures that the true servant of the Lord, the man of God, would find defined with clearness and precision the nature of those works the Holy Spirit was pleased to call "good."

Verse 17. - Complete for perfect, A.V.; furnished completely for throughly furnished, A.V.; every good work for all good works, A.V. Complete (ἄρτιος); only here in the New Testament, but common in classical Greek. "Complete, perfect of its kind" (Liddell and Scott). Furnished completely (ἐξηρτισμένος, containing the same root as ἄρτιος); elsewhere in the New Testament only in Acts 21:5 in the sense of "completing" a term of days. It is nearly synonymous with καταρτίζω (Matthew 21:16; Luke 6:40; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Hebrews 13:21; 1 Peter 5:10). In late classical Greek ἐξαρτίζω means, as here, "to equip fully." As regards the question whether the man of God is restricted in its meaning to the minister of Christ, or comprehends all Christians, two things seem to decide in favour of the former: the one that "the man of God" is in the Old Testament invariably applied to prophets in the immediate service of God (see 1 Timothy 6:11, note); the other that in 1 Timothy 6:11 it undoubtedly refers to Timothy in his character of chief pastor of the Church, and that here too the whole force of the description of the uses and excellence of Holy Scripture is brought to bear upon the exhortations in ver. 14, "Continue thou in the things which thou hast heard," addressed to Timothy as the Bishop of the Ephesian Church (see, too, ch. 4:1-5, where it is abundantly clear that all that precedes was intended to bear directly upon Timothy's faithful and vigorous discharge of his office as an evangelist).



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
so that
ἵνα (hina)
Conjunction
Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

man
ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

of God
Θεοῦ (Theou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2316: A deity, especially the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very.

may be
(ē)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

complete,
ἄρτιος (artios)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 739: Perfect, complete, fitted, ready. From arti; fresh, i.e. complete.

fully equipped
ἐξηρτισμένος (exērtismenos)
Verb - Perfect Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1822: From ek and a derivative of artios; to finish out; figuratively, to equip fully.

for
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

every
πᾶν (pan)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

good
ἀγαθὸν (agathon)
Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 18: A primary word; 'good'.

work.
ἔργον (ergon)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2041: From a primary ergo; toil; by implication, an act.


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NT Letters: 2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be (2 Tim. 2Ti iiTi ii Tim)
2 Timothy 3:16
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