Lexical Summary ekdélos: Clearly evident, manifest, obvious Original Word: ἐκδήλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance manifest. From ek and delos; wholly evident -- manifest. see GREEK ek see GREEK delos HELPS Word-studies 1552 ékdēlos (from 1537 /ek, "out from and to" and 1212 /dḗlos, "make clear") – properly, out from (the one in error) and made plain to others, i.e. with the outcome of becoming fully evident (completely known); obvious, seen for what it truly is – or is not! NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ek and délos Definition wholly evident NASB Translation obvious (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1552: ἔκδηλοςἔκδηλος, ἔκδηλον (δῆλος), evident, clear, conspicuous: 2 Timothy 3:9. (Homer, Iliad 5, 2; Demosthenes, p. 24, 10; Polybius) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Context The adjective rendered “will be clear” in 2 Timothy 3:9 captures a heightened form of visibility: the undeniable public exposure of something once hidden. In Paul’s warning to Timothy about end-time impostors, it describes how their “folly” will inevitably break the surface and stand open for all to see. Biblical Usage The term appears once in the New Testament—2 Timothy 3:9—yet it sits in a crucial paragraph that sketches the career of deceivers who “oppose the truth” (2 Timothy 3:8) and prey upon the vulnerable. Paul’s assurance is that, despite their apparent success, “they will not advance much further. For their folly will be clear to all, just as was that of Jannes and Jambres” (Berean Standard Bible). The single use gives the word a concentrated force: it acts as the divine guarantee that evil will eventually betray itself under the light of God’s providence. Theological Significance 1. Divine Oversight of Truth. The Spirit, who inspired Scripture, also governs history so that deception cannot remain permanently effective. God’s sovereignty ensures that the church’s foundation of truth is preserved (2 Timothy 2:19). Implications for Discipleship and Church Leadership • Discernment Training. Leaders are to educate congregations in sound doctrine so that, when error surfaces, the saints can recognize its folly. Historical Applications Early church fathers cited 2 Timothy 3 to confront heresies such as Gnosticism, reminding believers that theological novelty eventually collapses under scrutiny. During the Reformation, the passage emboldened pastors who faced persecution for preaching Scripture alone; they trusted that the unbiblical nature of their opponents’ claims would be unmasked in God’s timing. Throughout revivals and mission movements, the verse has served as both warning and comfort: error may appear influential, but God ensures its implosion. Contemporary Ministry Relevance In an age of digital misinformation and viral teachings, 2 Timothy 3:9 reassures Christians that moral and doctrinal chaos is neither new nor unmanageable. Churches are called to: 1. Anchor in Scripture, the fixed standard by which folly becomes obvious. Related Biblical Themes and Passages • Truth vs. Falsehood: John 8:44; 2 Peter 2:1-3 Forms and Transliterations εκδηλος έκδηλος ἔκδηλος ekdelos ekdēlos ékdelos ékdēlosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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