But marks the contrast between this verse and what verses 16-18 say, and indicates that, in spite of everything that has happened (the false teachers spreading heretical doctrines and the undermining of the faith of some Christians), God’s foundation remains firm and cannot be destroyed or undermined. The Greek term for But is a rare word and can also be rendered “However” or “Nevertheless.”
For foundation see 1 Tim 6.19. Firm is a term to describe something that has a quality opposite that of liquid or any other soft matter, hence “solid,” firm. Stands on the other hand translates a word that means “has been established,” hence Good News Translation “cannot be shaken.” In the present verse firm can modify either foundation (so Revised Standard Version firm foundation, Good News Translation “solid foundation that … cannot be shaken,” Phillips “solid foundation”) or the verb stands (so Translator’s New Testament “stands firm”; also Revised English Bible). But what is this solid foundation that God has laid? There are several possibilities: (1) Christ. This is on the basis of Isa 28.16, which was used by the early church as applying to Christ (see Rom 9.33; 1 Cor 3.10-12; 1 Peter 2.6). (2) Christ, with the apostles and prophets. This is based on Eph 2.20. (3) The church, that is, the community of believers, which is founded upon true teaching. (4) The truth, or true teaching (see, for example, Heb 6.1). It is very difficult to be sure which of these possibilities is what is intended by the text. Most translations avoid the problem by translating the text literally, and if this can be done, then it is a good solution in this case. However, in languages where the metaphor of foundation cannot be used, translators may employ a simile, and in many cases it will be necessary to make explicit what the foundation is, picking from the four options given above. In such cases one may say, for example, “But God has established Christ just as someone lays strong and unshakable stones (or, posts) under a house to support it. On these are written…,” “God has established Christ along with the apostles and teachers, just as…,” “God has established the church (or, the believers) just as…,” or “God has laid down the true doctrines just as….” The choice will depend on the requirements of the receptor language and the preference of the translators.
The word for seal is more accurately an “inscription” (New Revised Standard Version), since the Greek word used here refers more properly to the mark or impression made by a seal rather than the seal itself. The inscription serves a dual purpose: to identify what is sealed, together with its owner, and to specify its purpose or function. A translation such as “on it are written these words” (Good News Translation) is a good model for translators to follow.
The inscription consists of two quotations. The first of these comes from Num 16.5, quoted from the Greek translation of the Old Testament (the Septuagint). These are actually the words of Moses on the occasion of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against his authority. It is quite obvious that the false teachers are being identified with the rebels in the story, and their being swallowed up by the earth makes a good comparison with the expected fate of the false teachers.
The quotation itself affirms that God knows who among the Christians in Ephesus really belong to him, and this will give confidence to those who have remained faithful in their faith. In addition to this the quotation clearly implies that the Lord knows that the false teachers are not included among those who belong to him.
Lord appears ambiguous, but since both of these quotations are presented as from the Old Testament, Lord obviously refers to God.
The source (or sources) of the second quotation is more difficult to identify. Part of it (who names the name of the Lord) comes from Lev 24.16; but the whole quotation from Leviticus is a warning against naming the name of the Lord, which seems to be the opposite of the intention of the quotation in the inscription. The last part (depart from iniquity) seems to echo parts of Psa 34.14; Pro 3.7; or Isa 52.11. The whole language of this quotation seems to refer to the liturgy of baptism.
In the present context the expression names the name of the Lord may mean any one or all of the following: (1) This has reference to uttering the name of the Lord (so Revised English Bible “takes the Lord’s name upon his lips,” Translator’s New Testament “speaks God’s name”). (2) This refers to calling on the name of the Lord, that is, in the act of prayer (so New Revised Standard Version “calls on the name of the Lord”). (3) The expression “names the name of the Lord” is an idiom that is used of any believer, that is, a Christian (so Phillips “every true Christian”). It may be possible to translate this expression in the receptor language in such a way as to include all these meanings.
For depart see 1 Tim 4.1. Here it occurs with Let as a third person imperative, as “must depart” or “should stop doing.” Iniquity is literally “unrighteousness,” used here in a moral or ethical sense, referring to any wrongdoing or evil act (so Revised English Bible “wickedness,” New American Bible, Revised “evil”).
Alternative translation models for this verse are:
• On this foundation these following words are written: “The Lord (or, God) knows who his people are” and also “Whoever worships the Lord must stop doing evil.”
Or:
• … and “Whoever says that he follows the Lord must stop doing evil.”
Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .