Bible Strands
1 Timothy 4:10
To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to Timothy in Ephesus, urging him to keep teaching sound doctrine against false teachers (4:1–5). The "we" is Paul and Timothy, laboring together in ministry.
The words — Κοπιῶμεν (kopiōmen, "we toil") carries the sense of physical weariness, not casual effort; ἀγωνιζόμεθα (agōnizometha, "we strive") is the contest word, from the athletic agōn. Both are present tense, marking ongoing, unrelenting work.
The thread — The universal scope echoes 1 Timothy 2:4 (God "wants everyone to be saved"), 1 John 2:2 (atonement "for the sins of the whole world"), and John 1:29 ("the sin of the world"). The particular emphasis on believers distinguishes this from a blanket statement of universal salvation.
Why it lands — It holds two claims in tension: God's saving work extends to all, yet believers receive it in a special, fuller way. The reader is asked to labor without despair and without presumption, grounding effort in a hope that is both wide and personal.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Cross-references
- 1 Timothy 2:4 who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
- 1 John 2:2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
- John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- 1 Timothy 2:6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.
- 1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
- John 3:15 that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
- John 4:42 They said to the woman, “We now believe not only because of your words; we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man truly is the Savior of the world.”
- Romans 15:12 And once more, Isaiah says: “The Root of Jesse will appear, One who will arise to rule over the Gentiles; in Him the Gentiles will put their hope.”
- Psalms 84:12 O LORD of Hosts, how blessed is the man who trusts in You!
- 1 John 5:10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him; whoever does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given about His Son.