2nd Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of
this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5And if a man also strive for masteries,
yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer,
even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with
him, we shall also live with
him:
12If we suffer, we shall also reign with
him: if we deny
him, he also will deny us:
13If we believe not,
yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
*
Excellent choice, in full context. Let's look at verse 13 and 12, reversed:
13 If we believe not,
yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with
him: if we deny
him, he also will deny us:
In 13, The NIV, the ESV, the NASB, and ASV (among others) use the word faithless in place of believe not. Do we have an expert of the original language on this word? I've studied but am admittedly rusty on those. But yeah, in this verse we even believe not and He keeps His Word. We are still in His hands.
But then 12 says that if we deny Him He denies us.
Could this use of belief apply more to a weak faith than an outright denial? Is it one thing to wonder momentarily if God really exists, versus actually coming out and saying He doesn't?