2 Timothy 2
CHAPTER 2
Suffering hardship for Christ
You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, you are to commit the same to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in service entangles himself in the affairs of this life, so that he may please whoever enrolled him as a soldier. 5 And if also a man competes in the games, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The husbandman that labours must be the first to partake of the fruits. 7 Consider what I say. And may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to the gospel I preached. 9 Because of this I suffer hardship, even to bonds, as a criminal; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, so that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him; 12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we shall deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he abides faithful. For he cannot deny himself.
Don’t argue about words
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, instructing them in the sight of the Lord, that they do not fight about words, to no profit, to the catastrophic destruction of those that hear them. 15 Exert yourself, to prove you are pleasing to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, handling correctly the word of truth. 16 But shun profane babblings of false teachers; for they will result in progressive ungodliness, 17 and their word will eat away like a cancer. An example would be Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who concerning the truth have erred, in saying that the resurrection is past already; and they ruin the faith of some. 19 However the firm foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: The Lord knows those that are his. And: Let every one that names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.
20 Now 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. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, fulfilling the use intended by the master, prepared to do every good work.
22 Enthuse about righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But foolish and ignorant questions refuse, knowing that they only cause strife. 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel but be gentle towards all, eager to teach, patient of ills and wrongs, 25 in meekness correcting those that contradict themselves, so that God may give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth, 26 and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Commentary
2:4,5 The images of a soldier at war and a training athlete show the intensity expected of us in the Lord’s service. It can never be a mere hobby, culture or inherited tradition.
2:7 If we “consider” God’s word, He will confirm our efforts by giving us the understanding we seek. But we must reflect upon the Bible and life, rather than being unthinking and superficial.
2:8 Jesus was the “seed of David”, a literal descendant of David through His mother Mary. This shows Jesus didn’t personally pre-exist before His birth; and that Mary was an ordinary woman, also a direct descendant of David.
2:10 If Paul hadn’t kept doing the work of the Gospel, at great personal pain and cost, others wouldn’t have been saved. The salvation of others is to some extent dependent upon the efforts of third parties such as ourselves. Whatever the cost, we can’t quit the Gospel’s work.
2:11 This is the principle of baptism- death with Jesus beneath the water, and then resurrection with Him (Rom. 6:3-5).
2:12 If we shall deny him- Paul wrote this knowing that Peter had denied Jesus- but had repented. We too can repent.
2:14 Arguments between brethren about small matters can lead to the destruction of others.
2:18 The resurrection is past already- The error of extreme Preterism today.
