The purpose of all this, this verse seems to say, is to enable Christians to do whatever God wants them to. It is, however, possible to interpret this as result, in which case that would be rendered “and as a result” (compare New Jerusalem Bible “This is how”), and in some languages it will be helpful to start a new sentence here; for example, “As a result, God’s servants….”

The man of God may be interpreted in a general sense to refer to any Christian (so New Revised Standard Version “everyone who belongs to God”), or in a more specific sense to refer to church leaders, of whom Timothy is one (compare Good News Translation “the person who serves God,” and Contemporary English Version “God’s servants”). The words translated complete and equipped are synonyms: the first means being qualified for some function (so New Revised Standard Version “proficient,” New American Bible, Revised “competent,” Revised English Bible “capable”), and the second refers to making someone fully adequate or sufficient for some task. The two terms can be combined in translation; for example, Good News Translation “fully qualified and equipped.” What the man of God is being equipped for is to perform every good work (Good News Translation “every kind of good deed”). For work see “deeds” in 1 Tim 5.10. The interpretation of good work here depends on how man of God is interpreted. If man of God is interpreted in a general sense, then good work is any task done for the benefit of others; thus “good deeds.” If, however, man of God is taken to specifically refer to church leaders, then good work refers to various ministerial tasks. The former is the more likely interpretation and is recommended by this Handbook.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:
• As a result, God’s servants will be fully qualified and trained to do every kind of good deed.

Or:
• The scriptures will make God’s servants ….

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 .