2 Timothy
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2 Timothy 2
2 Timothy 2
1Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
1Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Commentary · verse 3
A soldier of Jesus Christ was a servant of God.
4No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
Commentary · verse 4
Soldiers of war are focused on the tasks in front of them. They are focused on benefiting others.
5And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowned, except he have contended lawfully.
5And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
Commentary · verse 5
An athlete is only affirmed if he abides by the rules of the competition, if he is focused on the task that will facilitate him towards fulfilling the games.
6The husbandman that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.
6The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
Commentary · verse 6
The husbandmen (worker of the "land") that work do so for the benefit of others. However, they must first partake in the fruit of their labor to be sure that others will benefit from their fruit. Paul used three natural examples to support his point: focus on the tasks in front of you.
7Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.
7Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
Commentary · verse 7
We ought to consider everything, including that we could be wrong. This is humility. God will give us understanding in all things.
8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel: 9wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.
8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Commentary · verses 8-9
Paul was in prison because he preached the Gospel. Paul was bound but the Word of God is not bound.
10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
10Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Commentary · verse 10
Remember, "elect" referred to those who chose to believe in justification by faith unto Salvation.
Similar to the term "choice" or "chosen," the term "select" or "elect" referred to the quality of these people. They weren't excellent people because they were elect, they were elect because they were excellent people. It is easy to abuse the Principle of Causality here and it damages the correct interpretation of scripture:
- Cause: "excellent" people
- Effect: were the "elect."
11Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him: 12if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us: 13if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
11It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Commentary · verses 11-13
Paul made "if"/then statements that proved Christ's, and God's, Justness.
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.
14Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
Commentary · verse 14
Paul told Timothy to remind the people he was with to not strive about words without a profit. Some people try to interpret this verse to mean we should not debate words and definitions. That was not what Paul stated. Paul wanted Timothy to be profitable in his words and to help others be profitable in their words, to the point that even striving (arguing) with another person could be profitable.
15Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Commentary · verse 15
Let's look at the key words in this sentence:
- "present" (Strong's #3936) paristēmi - "to bring into one's fellowship or intimacy, exhibit whom you covenant with"
- "workman" (Strong's #2040) ergatēs - "to toil with works of words as a teacher"
- "needeth not to be ashamed" (Strong's #422) anepaischyntos - "unable to be of equal value by scriptural support"
- "handling aright" (Strong's #3718) orthotomeō - "make a straight cut, a precise singular surgical cut that is perpendicular to the horizon, to make a cut from above, which is God's view: straight down."
We ought to show whether we are in covenant with God or not by our ability to toil with works of words by our ability to have God's view on God's Word.
Doctrines on this passage
16But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
16But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Commentary · verse 16
Key words:
- "profane" (Strong's #952) bebēlos - "counterfeit the threshold (entry) in order to misdirect the dwellers"
- "babblings" (Strong's #2757) kenophōnia - "fruitless discussions, empty sounds [from artificial illumination and tones], fake fire [visual fire with no warmth], to think words that have a different meaning but same sound as true thought and words."
We ought to shun words that have the same sound but different meanings than the truth because it will lead to misdirecting us and to growing in ungodliness.
17and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: of whom is Hymenæus and Philetus;
17And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus;
Commentary · verse 17
Paul named two men who had put stumblingblocks in the paths of believers to the point that they had overthrown the faith of some.
18men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.
18Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
Commentary · verse 18
Key words:
- "erred" (Strong's #795) astocheō - "swerve, deviate [miss target by having crooked sights - eye is misdirected]"
- "overthrow" (Strong's #396) anatrepō - "change straight path into a figure eight, the wrong path leads to a wrong place."
False words can cause people to be misdirected into taking a wrong path leading to a wrong place.
19Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.
19Nevertheless 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.
Commentary · verse 19
Let everyone that calls (SAY) on Christ also depart from iniquity (DO). The SAY and the DO need to be consistent.
20Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.
21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.
20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
Commentary · verses 20-21
Removing yourself from the physical will facilitate you towards the spiritual.
22But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Commentary · verse 22
Follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace. This meant doing these things.
23But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.
23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.
Commentary · verse 23
Notice, questionings in and of themselves were not wrong. It was foolish and ignorant questions that we ought to refuse, because they were unprofitable.
24And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
Commentary · verse 24
The servant of God will not strive (quarrel) but is gentle, apt to teach, and forbearing (patient). In the previous epistle to Timothy, Paul gave a description for a deacon (a person who ministered to the members of the church) and bishop (overseer of the deacons). Paul's description of a servant of Christ had many of the same attributes as deacon and bishop.
25in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,
25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
Commentary · verse 25
In meekness (humility) the servant of God will teach those that oppose themselves (contradict themselves, have a different SAY and DO). We do this so hopefully they will receive repentance because they would learn through understanding. Remember, Jesus said we ought to confront believers: Matthew 18:15-17 and Luke 17:3. Why?
26and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.
26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Commentary · verse 26
...so that believers are able to break out of the snares of the devil through understanding. Notice, in the Greek, the "him" and "his" in this verse did not match:
- "Taken captive by him" referred to the devil.
- "Unto His will" referred to God!
This passage stated it was God's Will that people who did not learn through understanding and repent would be trapped in the snares of the devil, so they could learn through experience. Paul also stated this Doctrine in 1 Corinthians 5:5 when he said he turned the fornicator over to Satan.
Theme of Chapter 2: Paul focused Timothy on being profitable through words. We ought to be able to have God's view on God's Word. We should not be unprofitable/deceptive/destructive with our words. We should confront other believers who are contradictory so they are able to break out of the snares of the devil through understanding, otherwise it is God's Will they learn by experience.
Paul wanted Timothy to develop leaders so more people were able to teach.