2 Timothy 2:5

Amplified Bible

And if anyone competes as an athlete [in competitive games], he is not crowned [with the wreath of victory] unless he competes according to the rules.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

King James Version (1611)
And if a man also striue for masteries, yet is hee not crowned except hee striue lawfully.

King James Version
And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

English Standard Version
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

New American Standard Bible
And if someone likewise competes as an athlete, he is not crowned as victor unless he competes according to the rules.

New Century Version
Also an athlete who takes part in a contest must obey all the rules in order to win.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Legacy Standard Bible
And also if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Berean Standard Bible
Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules.

Contemporary English Version
No one wins an athletic contest without obeying the rules.

Complete Jewish Bible
Also an athlete can't win a contest unless he competes according to the rules.

Darby Translation
And if also any one contend [in the games], he is not crowned unless he contend lawfully.

Easy-to-Read Version
Athletes in a race must obey all the rules to win.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And if any man also striue for a Masterie, he is not crowned, except he striue as he ought to doe.

George Lamsa Translation
And if a man also strive for mastery in contest, he is not crowned except he compete lawfully.

Good News Translation
An athlete who runs in a race cannot win the prize unless he obeys the rules.

Lexham English Bible
And also if anyone competes he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Literal Translation
And also if anyone competes, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully.

American Standard Version
And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.

Bible in Basic English
And if a man takes part in a competition he does not get the crown if he has not kept the rules.

Hebrew Names Version
If also a man competes in the games, he is not crowned, unless he has competed by the rules.

International Standard Version
Moreover, no one who is an athlete wins a prize unless he competes according to the rules.1 Corinthians 9:25-26;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
And if one contendeth, he is not crowned, unless according to his law he contend.

Murdock Translation
5 And if one contend [fn] , he is not crowned, unless he contendeth according to the rules.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And if a man also wrestle, yet is he not crowned except he wrestle lawfullie.

English Revised Version
And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.

World English Bible
If also a man competes in the games, he is not crowned, unless he has competed by the rules.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And if a man strive, he is not crowned, unless he strive lawfully.

Weymouth's New Testament
And if any one takes part in an athletic contest, he gets no prize unless he obeys the rules.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For he that fiytith in a batel, schal not be corowned, but he fiyte lawfuli.

Update Bible Version
And if also a man contends in the games, he is not crowned, except he has contended lawfully.

Webster's Bible Translation
And if a man also striveth for masteries, [yet] is he not crowned, except he striveth lawfully.

New English Translation
Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he will not be crowned as the winner unless he competes according to the rules.

New King James Version
And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

New Living Translation
And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

New Life Bible
Anyone who runs in a race must follow the rules to get the crown.

New Revised Standard
And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
If, moreover, any man, contend even in the games, he is not crowned, unless, lawfully, he contend;

Douay-Rheims Bible
For he also that striveth for the mastery is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Revised Standard Version
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And though a man strive for a mastery yet ys he not crouned except he strive laufully.

Young's Literal Translation
and if also any one may strive, he is not crowned, except he may strive lawfully;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And though a man stryue for a mastrye, yet is he not crowned, excepte he stryue laufully.

Mace New Testament (1729)
a combatant does not receive the crown, unless he has observ'd the laws of the games.

Simplified Cowboy Version
Bronc riders won't take home a buckle if they don't get their mark out. They have to follow the rules to win.

Contextual Overview

¹So you, my son, be strong [constantly strengthened] and empowered in the grace that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus. ²The things [the doctrine, the precepts, the admonitions, the sum of my ministry] which you have heard me teach in the presence of many witnesses, entrust [as a treasure] to reliable and faithful men who will also be capable and qualified to teach others. ³Take with me your share of hardship [passing through the difficulties which you are called to endure], like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No soldier in active service gets entangled in the [ordinary business] affairs of civilian life; [he avoids them] so that he may please the one who enlisted him to serve. ⁵And if anyone competes as an athlete [in competitive games], he is not crowned [with the wreath of victory] unless he competes according to the rules.⁶The hard-working farmer [who labors to produce crops] ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops. ⁷Think over the things I am saying [grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you insight and understanding in everything.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

strive: Luke 13:24, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 1:15, Colossians 1:29, Hebrews 12:4

is he: 2 Timothy 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:8, Hebrews 2:7, Hebrews 2:9, James 1:12, 1 Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 3:11, Revelation 4:4, Revelation 4:10

Reciprocal: 1 Corinthians 9:25 - striveth 1 Corinthians 9:26 - not Ephesians 6:12 - wrestle 1 Timothy 1:8 - lawfully

Cross-References

Genesis 2:9
And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil.

Genesis 2:11
The first [river] is named Pishon; it flows around the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.

Genesis 2:12
The gold of that land is good; bdellium (a fragrant, valuable resin) and the onyx stone are found there.

Genesis 3:23
therefore the LORD God sent Adam away from the Garden of Eden, to till and cultivate the ground from which he was taken.

Genesis 4:2
And [later] she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept the flocks [of sheep and goats], but Cain cultivated the ground.

Genesis 4:12
"When you cultivate the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength [it will resist producing good crops] for you; you shall be a fugitive and a vagabond [roaming aimlessly] on the earth [in perpetual exile without a home, a degraded outcast]."

Job 5:10
"He gives rain upon the earth And sends waters upon the fields,

Psalms 104:14
He causes grass to grow for the cattle, And all that the earth produces for cultivation by man, So that he may bring food from the earth—

Psalms 135:7
Who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; Who makes lightning for the rain, Who brings the wind from His storehouses;

Jeremiah 14:22
Are there any among the idols of the nations who can send rain? Or can the heavens [of their own will] give showers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we will wait and hope [confidently] in You, For You are the one who has made all these things [the heavens and the rain].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And if a man also strive for masteries,.... In the Olympic games, by running, wrestling, leaping, c.

yet is he not crowned with a corruptible, fading crown, a crown made of herbs and leaves of trees, as parsley, laurel, c.

except he strive lawfully according to the laws and rules fixed for those exercises; so no man that calls himself a Christian, minister, or any other, can expect the crown of life, the prize of the high calling of God, except he runs the race set before him, in the right way; looking to Christ, the mark, pressing through all difficulties, towards the prize, and holds on and out unto the end.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And if a man also strive for masteries - As in the Grecian games. See this favorite illustration of Paul explained in the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:24 ff.

Yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully - In conformity with the rules of the games. See Grotius, in loc. No one could obtain the prize unless he had complied with all the laws of the games, and had thus given to those with whom he contended, a fair opportunity to succeed. “In those contests, he who transgressed the rules in the least matter, not only failed of the prize, even though the apparent victor, but was sometimes disgraced and punished.” Pictorial Bible. So the apostle here represents the Christian minister as engaged in a struggle or conflict for the crown. He says that he could not hope to win it unless he should comply with all the laws by which it is conferred; unless he should subdue every improper propensity, and make an effort like that evinced by the combatants at the Olympic games; compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 9:26-27.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 5. If a man also strive for masteries — εαν δε και αθλη τις. If a man contend in the public games-the Olympic or Isthmian games among the Greeks, so often alluded to and particularly explained in the notes on 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, to which the reader is referred for a full illustration of this verse.

Is he not crowned — Though he may have conquered, except he strive lawfully-unless he enter according to the rules of the athletae, and act as these direct. No man, however zealous he may have been, is to expect the Well done, good and faithful servant, from Jesus Christ, unless he have laboured in the word and doctrine, preached the truth as it is in Jesus, and built up the Church upon Him who is its only FOUNDATION.