Texts in Conversation
In Numbers, Moses tells Korah’s followers that God knows who truly belongs to him, settling the challenge to his leadership. 2 Timothy uses this language when affirming that God knows those who are his, based on who confess his name.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Numbers 16:5
Septuagint
3 They rose up against Moses and Aaron, and said, Let it be enough for you that all the congregation are holy, and the Lord is among them; and why do you set up yourselves against the congregation of the Lord? 4 And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face. 5 And he spoke to Korah and all his assembly, saying, God has visited and known those that are his and who are holy, and has brought them to himself; and whom he has chosen for himself, he has brought to himself. 6 Do this: take to yourselves censers, Korah and all his company; 7 and put fire on them, and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow; and it will happen that the man whom the Lord has chosen, he shall be holy: let it be enough for you, you sons of Levi.
Date: 300–201 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
2 Timothy 2:19
New Testament
17 and their message will spread its infection like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are in this group. 18 They have strayed from the truth by saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and they are undermining some people’s faith. 19 However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.” 20 Now in a wealthy home there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use. 21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
Date: 70–80 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Regarding the κύριος title: The use of 'Lord' with reference to God is especially visible in those places where an Old Testament text is cited, including when this is done indirectly (2 Timothy 1:19 / Numbers 16:5; also 2 Timothy 2:7; Proverbs 2:6) or stands in the background (2 Timothy 4:14; compare Psalm 62:13; Proverbs 24:12 - sometimes without an explicit mention of the κύριος). While here the world of Old Testament thought is adopted, where God is designated as creator or judge by the title 'Lord,' in the authentic Pauline letters there is a fluid transition to Christology, since Paul can often use predicates of God with reference to Jesus ..."
Georg Strecker, Theology of the New Testament, ed. Friedrich Wilhelm Horn, trans. M. Eugene Boring (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2000), 585.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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