2 Timothy 2:19
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Despite false teaching, God's foundation stands firm, sealed with two truths: the Lord knows His own, and His people must turn from sin.
What Does 2 Timothy 2:19 Mean?
Against the erosion of error, Paul declares that God's foundation stands firm and unshaken. It bears a double inscription, like a seal: the Lord knows those who are His, and everyone who names Christ must turn away from iniquity.
Two assurances meet here. First, God knows His own, an intimate, secure knowing that no false teaching can disturb. Second, those who belong to Him are called to leave sin behind. Divine assurance and human responsibility stand side by side, neither cancelling the other. For the reader, this is bedrock comfort and clear summons together. We rest in being known by God, and we respond by departing from wrongdoing. The foundation does not shift with every wind of false doctrine; it holds firm, marked by God's faithful knowing and the call to a holy life.
In the Original Language
sphragis (σφραγίς), 'seal' -- a stamped inscription marking ownership and authenticity, like a seal pressed into a foundation stone.