Charles Ellicott Commentary 2 Timothy 3:11

"persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me." — 2 Timothy 3:11 (ASV)

Persecutions, afflictions.—St. Paul adds "afflictions" to "persecutions"—for not only were his plans thwarted, his hopes baffled, and his friends alienated through the persistent enmity of his opponents, but bodily suffering was also inflicted on him. Stoning, scourging, and long and weary periods of imprisonment were among the repeated sufferings he endured for his Master’s sake.

The question has been asked: why, from the closely written diary of his life’s experiences, does St. Paul select the events that took place at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra? Was there anything special in what he endured in these places? The most satisfactory answer seems to be that for the general reader or hearer of this Epistle, what happened in these places years before served as good examples of what had often occurred since.

These were among the first cities where St. Paul preached in the course of his missionary journeys. But a deeper reason existed for choosing these places, especially for him to whom the Epistle was originally addressed. What happened on that first journey would never be forgotten by Timothy: some of the incidents were among his first experiences of the work with St. Paul. Others had taken place just before St. Paul took him as his friend and associate and, no doubt, had often been discussed in Timothy’s hearing during those anxious, never-to-be-forgotten hours that preceded his choice of the missionary calling.

Hearing of these very deeds of endurance done for the crucified Master perhaps contributed significantly to Timothy’s resolve to emulate these acts and to join himself closely to the heroic missionary teacher. Certainly, St. Paul knew the memory of what happened then would possess a strong and weighty influence with his disciple, even though the events themselves were only such as had been repeated often since in his long life’s experience. (For details concerning what took place at Antioch and the other locations mentioned, see Acts 13:14).

What persecutions I endured.—Some commentators understand these words as an exclamation: “What persecutions I endured!” It is, however, better simply to translate the Greek as Such persecutions as I endured; in other words, you have been a witness of my sufferings, such [sufferings] as I endured at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra; such persecutions as I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Chrysostom remarks how both these clauses supply encouragement to the harassed servant of God: first, that St. Paul displayed a noble readiness to endure persecution; and second, that God never left him alone. It was as though he said to Timothy, “Surely no danger, no trouble, however great, need appall you. You know what I have gone through, yet in all God was with me and has kept me safe. Be sure He will be with you too.”