2 Timothy 4:1
 
2 Timothy 4:1
(KJV) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(1611 KJV) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Iesus Christ, who shall iudge the quicke and the dead at his appearing, and his kingdome:
(1587 Geneva Bible) I charge thee therefore before God, and before the Lorde Iesus Christ, which shall iudge the quicke and dead at that his appearing, and in his kingdome,
(1526 Tyndale) I testifie therfore before god and before the lorde Iesu Christ which shall iudge quicke and deed at his aperynge in his kyngdom
 
Counterfeit Versions
(1881 RV) I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
(1901 ASV) I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
(AMP) I CHARGE [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom:
(CEB) I’m giving you this commission in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is coming to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearance and his kingdom.
(CEV) When Christ Jesus comes as king, he will be the judge of everyone, whether they are living or dead. So with God and Christ as witnesses, I command you
(CSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:
(Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition) I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming, and his kingdom:
(ERV) Before God and Jesus Christ, I give you a command. Christ Jesus is the one who will judge all people—those who are living and those who have died. He is coming again to rule in his kingdom. So I give you this command:
(ESV) I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
(GNB) In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and because he is coming to rule as King, I solemnly urge you
(HCSB) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom:
(THE MESSAGE) I can't impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead.
(NASV) I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
(NCV) I give you a command in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, the One who will judge the living and the dead, and by his coming and his kingdom:
(NIRV) I give you a command in the sight of God and Christ Jesus. Christ will judge the living and the dead. Because he and his kingdom are coming, here is the command I give you.
(NIV) In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
(NLV) These words are from my heart to you. I say this before God and Jesus Christ. Some day He will judge those who are living and those who are dead. It will be when Christ comes to bring His holy nation.
(NLT) I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:
(RSV) I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
(NAB-Roman Catholic) I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power:
(NWT-Jehovah’s Witnesses) I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is destined to judge the living and the dead, and by his manifestation and his kingdom,
 
Textus Receptus - Traditional Text
διαμαρτυρομαι ουν εγω ενωπιον του θεου και του κυριου ιησου χριστου του μελλοντος κρινειν ζωντας και νεκρους κατα την επιφανειαν αυτου και την βασιλειαν αυτου
 
Hort-Westcott - Critical Text
διαμαρτυρομαι ενωπιον του θεου και χριστου ιησου του μελλοντος κρινειν ζωντας και νεκρους και την επιφανειαν αυτου και την βασιλειαν αυτου
 
Corrupted Manuscripts
This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:
Omits “therefore”
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (original)
P 025 - Ninth century
33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century
 
Omits “the Lord”
Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century
C 04 - Ephraemi Rescriptus - Fifth century
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (original)
P 025 - Ninth century
 
Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse
Contains “therefore”
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (corrected)
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
 
Contains “the Lord”
Byzantine Text (450-1450 A.D.)
D 06 - Paris: Claromontanus - Sixth century (corrected)
K 018 - Ninth century
L 020 - Ninth century
 
Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions
Omits “therefore”
Greisbach, Johann - 1805
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
 
Omits “the Lord”
Lachmann, Karl - 1842
Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869
Tregelles, Samuel - 1857
Alford, Henry - 1849 revised in 1871
Wordsworth, Christopher - 1856 revised in 1870
Westcott and Hort - 1881
Weiss, Bernhard - 1894
Nestle - 1927 as revised in seventeenth edition in 1941
Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition
Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition
United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition
Von Soden, Freiherr - 1902
 
Affected Teaching
The word “therefore” makes a connection between what was just previously taught and the next actions. Paul is stating that the Scriptures, being given by inspiration of God, have the ability to make the believer perfect and throughly furnished for the ministry. This is what Paul is building on when he states that he “therefore” charges Timothy to preach the word. It is because the Scriptures are sufficient for the task of Gospel proclamation owing to the personal effect it also has on the teacher or preacher bringing the Gospel. The modern versions omit “therefore” and by doing that, they omit the link between the believer’s source of strength and their ministry of teaching both in and out of season. We preach confidently and boldly because the Scriptures are our foundation of truth and strength. The modern versions also omit the divine title of the Lord Jesus Christ, “the Lord.” It is linked to the fact that He is going to be the one to judge both the living and dead unbelievers when He returns on the last day. Once again the King James Version keeps the continuity of Scripture where the modern versions do not.

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