@2Ti 2:1-26. EXHORTATIONS; TO FAITHFULNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF CHRIST; ERRORS TO BE SHUNNED; THE LORD'S SURE FOUNDATION; THE RIGHT SPIRIT FOR A SERVANT OF CHRIST.
1. Thou therefore--following my example (@2Ti 1:8,12), and that
of ONESIPHORUS
(@2Ti 1:16-18), and shunning that of those who
forsook me (@2Ti 1:15).
my son--Children ought to imitate their father.
be strong--literally, "be invested with power." Have power, and
show thyself to have it; implying an abiding state of power.
in the grace--the element IN
which the believer's strength has
place. Compare @2Ti 1:7, "God hath given us the spirit
of power."
2. among--Greek, "through," that is, with the attestation
(literally, "intervention") of many witnesses, namely, the presbyters
and others present at his ordination or consecration (@1Ti 4:14 6:12).
commit--in trust, as a deposit (@2Ti 1:14).
faithful--the quality most needed by those having a trust committed
to them.
who--Greek, "(persons) such as shall be competent to teach
(them to) others also." Thus the way is prepared for inculcating the
duty of faithful endurance (@2Ti 2:3-13). Thou shouldest consider as
a motive to endurance, that thou hast not only to keep the deposit for
thyself, but to transmit it unimpaired to others, who in their turn
shall fulfil the same office. This is so far from supporting oral
tradition now that it rather teaches how precarious a mode of
preserving revealed truth it was, depending, as it did, on the
trustworthiness of each individual in the chain of succession; and how
thankful we ought to be that God Himself has given
the written Word, which is exempt from such risk.
3. Thou therefore endure hardness--The oldest manuscripts have no "Thou therefore," and read, "Endure hardship with (me)." "Take thy share in suffering" [CONYBEARE and HOWSON].
4. "No one while serving as a soldier."
the affairs of (this) life--"the businesses of life"
[ALFORD]; mercantile, or other than military.
him who hath chosen him--the general who at the first enlisted him
as a soldier. Paul himself worked at tent-making (@Ac 18:3). Therefore
what is prohibited here is, not all other save religious occupation, but
the becoming entangled, or over-engrossed therewith.
5. And--"Moreover."
strive for masteries--"strive in the games"
[ALFORD]; namely, the
great national games of Greece.
yet is he not crowned, except--even though he gain the victory.
strive lawfully--observing all the conditions of both the contest
(keeping within the bounds of the course and stript of his clothes) and
the preparation for it, namely, as to self-denying diet, anointing,
exercise, self-restraint, chastity, decorum, &c. (@1Co 9:24-27).
6. must be first partaker--The right of first partaking of the fruits belongs to him who is laboring; do not thou, therefore, relax thy labors, as thou wouldest be foremost in partaking of the reward. CONYBEARE explains "first," before the idler.
7. Consider the force of the illustrations I have given from the
soldier, the contender in the games, and the husbandmen, as
applying to thyself in thy ministry.
and the Lord give, &c.--The oldest manuscripts read, "for the
Lord will give thee understanding." Thou canst understand my meaning
so as personally to apply it to thyself; for the Lord will give thee
understanding when thou seekest it from Him "in all things." Not
intellectual perception, but personal appropriation of the truths
metaphorically expressed, was what he needed to be given him by the
Lord.
8. Rather as Greek, "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the
dead." Remember Christ risen, so as to follow Him. As He was raised
after death, so if thou wouldest share His risen "life," thou must now
share His "death" (@2Ti 2:11). The Greek perfect passive
participle, implies a permanent character acquired by Jesus as
the risen Saviour, and our permanent interest in Him as such. Christ's resurrection is put prominently forward as being the truth now
assailed (@2Ti 2:18), and the one best calculated to stimulate
Timothy to steadfastness in sharing Paul's sufferings for the Gospel's
sake (see on 2Ti 2:3).
of the seed of David--The one and only genealogy (as contrasted with
the "endless genealogies," @1Ti 1:4) worth thinking of, for it
proves Jesus to be the Messiah. The absence of the article in the
Greek, and this formula, "of the seed of David" (compare
@Ro 1:3), imply that the words were probably part of a recognized
short oral creed. In His death He assured us of His humanity; by His
resurrection, of His divinity. That He was not crucified for His own sin appears from His resurrection; that He was crucified shows that He
bore sin, on Him, though not in Him.
my gospel--that which I always taught.
9. Wherein--in proclaiming which Gospel.
suffer trouble--literally, "evil." I am a sufferer of evil as though
I were a doer of evil.
bonds--(@2Ti 1:16).
word . . . not bound--Though my person is bound, my tongue and my
pen are not (@2Ti 4:17 Ac 28:31). Or he alludes not merely to
his own proclamation of the Gospel, though in chains, but to the
freedom of its circulation by others, even though his power of
circulating it is now prescribed (@Php 1:18). He also hints to
Timothy that he being free ought to be the more earnest in the service
of it.
10. Therefore--Because of the anxiety I feel that the Gospel should
be extended; that anxiety being implied in @2Ti 2:9.
endure--not merely "I passively suffer," but "I actively and
perseveringly endure," and "am ready to endure patiently all
things."
the elect's sakes--for the sake of the Church: all the members of
Christ's spiritual body (@Col 1:24).
they . . . also--as well as myself: both God's elect not yet converted
and those already so.
salvation . . . glory--not only salvation from wrath, but glory in reigning with Him eternally (@2Ti 2:12). Glory is the full
expansion of salvation (@Ac 2:47 Ro 8:21-24,30 Heb 9:28). So
grace and glory (@Ps 84:12).
11. Greek, "Faithful is the saying."
For--"For" the fact is so that, "if we be dead with Him (the Greek aorist tense implies a state once for all entered into in past times
at the moment of regeneration, @Ro 6:3,4,8 Col 2:12), we shall also
live with Him." The symmetrical form of "the saying," @2Ti 2:11-13,
and the rhythmical balance of the parallel clauses, makes it likely,
they formed part of a Church hymn
(see on 1Ti 3:16), or accepted
formula, perhaps first uttered by some of the Christian "prophets" in
the public assembly (@1Co 14:26). The phrase "faithful is the
saying," which seems to have been the usual formula (compare
@1Ti 1:15 3:1 4:9 Tit 3:8) in such cases, favors this.
12. suffer--rather, as the Greek is the same as in @2Ti 2:10,
"If we endure (with Him)" (@Ro 8:17).
reign with him--The peculiar privilege of the elect Church now
suffering with Christ, then to reign with Him
(see on 1Co 6:2). Reigning is something more than mere
salvation (@Ro 5:17 Re 3:21 5:10 20:4,5).
deny--with the mouth. As "believe" with the heart follows, @2Ti 2:12. Compare the opposite, "confess with thy mouth" and
"believe in thine heart" (@Ro 10:9,10).
he also will deny us--(@Mt 10:33).
13. believe not--"If we are unbelievers (literally, 'unfaithful'), He remains faithful" (@De 7:9,10). The oldest manuscripts read, "For He cannot (it is an impossibility that He should) deny Himself." He cannot be unfaithful to His word that He will deny those who deny Him, though we be not faithful to our profession of faith in Him (@Ro 3:3). Three things are impossible to God, to die, to lie, and to be deceived [AUGUSTINE, The Creed, 1.1], (@Heb 6:18). This impossibility is not one of infirmity, but of infinite power and majesty. Also, indirectly, comfort is suggested to believers, that He is faithful to His promises to them; at the same time that apostates are shaken out of their self-deceiving fancy, that because they change, Christ similarly may change. A warning to Timothy to be steadfast in the faith.
14. them--those over whom thou dost preside (@Tit 3:1).
charging--Greek, "testifying continually": "adjuring them."
before the Lord--(@1Ti 5:21).
that they strive not about words--rather, "strive with words": "not
to have a (mere) war of words" (@2Ti 2:23,24 1Ti 6:4) where the
most vital matters are at stake (@2Ti 2:17,18 Ac 18:15). The oldest
manuscripts put a stop at "charging them before the Lord" (which clause
is thus connected with "put them in remembrance") and read the
imperative, "Strive not thou in words," &c.
to no profit--not qualifying "words"; but Greek neuter, in
apposition with "strive in words," "(a thing tending) to no profit,"
literally, "profitable for nothing"; the opposite of "meet for the
master's use" (@2Ti 2:21).
to the subverting--sure to subvert (overturn) the hearers: the
opposite of "edifying" (building up) (@2Co 13:10).
15. Study--Greek, "Be earnest," or "diligent."
to show--Greek, "present," as in @Ro 12:1.
thyself--as distinguished from those whom Timothy was to charge
(@2Ti 2:14).
approved--tested by trial: opposed to "reprobate" (@Tit 1:16).
workman--alluding to @Mt 20:1, &c.
not to be ashamed--by his work not being "approved" (@Php 1:20).
Contrast "deceitful workers" (@2Co 11:13).
rightly dividing--"rightly handling" [Vulgate]; "rightly
administering" [ALFORD]; literally, cutting "straight" or "right": the
metaphor being from a father or a steward (@1Co 4:1) cutting and
distributing bread among his children [VITRINGA and
CALVIN],
(@Lu 12:42). The Septuagint, @Pr 3:6 11:5, use it of "making
one's way": so BENGEL here takes Paul to mean that Timothy may
make ready a straight way for "the word of truth," and may himself
walk straight forward according to this line, turning neither to the
right nor to the left, "teaching no other doctrine" (@1Ti 1:3). The
same image of a way appears in the Greek for "increase"
(see on 2Ti 2:16). The opposite to "rightly handling," or
"dispensing," is, @2Co 2:17, "corrupt the word of God."
truth--Greek, "the truth" (compare
@2Ti 2:18).
16. shun--literally, "stand above," separate from, and superior to.
vain--opposed to "the truth" (@2Ti 2:15).
babblings--with loud voice: opposed to the temperate "word"
(@Tit 3:9).
increase--Greek, advance"; literally, "strike forward": an image
from pioneers cutting away all obstacles before an advancing
army. They pretend progress; the only kind of progress they make
is to a greater pitch of impiety.
more ungodliness--Greek, "a greater degree of impiety."
17. will eat--literally, "will have pasture." The consuming progress
of mortification is the image. They pretend to give rich spiritual
pasture to their disciples: the only pasture is that of a
spiritual cancer feeding on their vitals.
canker--a "cancer" or "gangrene."
Hymenaeus--(See on 1Ti 1:20). After his excommunication he
seems to have been readmitted into the Church and again to have troubled
it.
18. erred--Greek, "missed the aim" (see @1Ti 6:21).
is past already--has already taken place. The beginnings of the
subsequent Gnostic heresy already existed. They "wrested" (@2Pe 3:16)
Paul's own words (@Ro 6:4 Eph 2:6 Col 2:12) "to their own destruction,"
as though the resurrection was merely the spiritual raising of souls
from the death of sin. Compare @1Co 15:12, where he shows all our
hopes of future glory rest on the literal reality of the resurrection.
To believe it past (as the Seleucians or Hermians did, according to
AUGUSTINE [Epistles, 119.55, To Januarius, 4]), is to deny it in
its true sense.
overthrow--trying to subvert "the foundation" on which alone faith
can rest secure (@2Ti 2:19; compare @Tit 1:11).
19. Nevertheless--Notwithstanding the subversion of their faith,
"the firm foundation of God standeth" fast (so the Greek ought
to be translated). The "foundation" here is "the Church"
[ALFORD], "the
ground" or basement support "of the truth" (@1Ti 3:15), Christ
Himself being the ultimate "foundation" (@1Co 3:11). In the
steadfast standing of the Church there is involved the steadfast
certainty of the doctrine in question (@2Ti 2:18). Thus the
"house" (@2Ti 2:20) answers to the "foundation"; it is made up of
the elect whom "the Lord knoweth" (acknowledgeth, recognizes,
@Ps 1:6 Mt 7:23 Joh 10:14 1Co 8:3) as "His," and who persevere to
the end, though others "err concerning the faith"
(@Mt 24:24 Joh 10:28 Ro 8:38,39 1Jo 2:19).
BENGEL takes "the
foundation" to be the immovable faithfulness of God (to His promises
to His elect [CALVIN]). This contrasts well with the
erring from the faith on the part of the reprobate, @2Ti 2:18.
Though they deny the faith, God abates not His faithfulness (compare @2Ti 2:13).
having--seeing that it has [ELLICOTT].
seal--"inscription": indicating ownership and destination: inscriptions were often engraven on a "foundation" stone (@Re 21:14)
[ALFORD]. This will agree with the view that "the foundation" is
the Church (@Eph 2:20). If it be taken God's
immovable faithfulness, the "seal" will be regarded as attached to
His covenant promise, with the inscription or legend, on one side of its
round surface, "The Lord knoweth (it is 'knew' in the Septuagint, @Nu 16:5, to which Paul here alludes, altering it for his purpose by
the Spirit) them that are His"; on the observe side, "Let every one that
nameth (as his Lord, @Ps 20:7, or preacheth in His name,
@Jer 20:9) Christ."
depart--Greek, "stand aloof."
from iniquity--(@Isa 52:11). In both clauses there may be an
allusion to @Nu 16:5,26, Septuagint. God's part and man's part
are marked out. God chooseth and knoweth His elect; our part is to
believe, and by the Spirit depart from all iniquity, an unequivocal
proof of our being the Lord's (compare @De 29:29 Lu 13:23-27). St.
Lucian when asked by his persecutors, "Of what country art thou?"
replied, "I am a Christian." "What is your occupation? . . . I am a
Christian." "Of what family? . . . I am a Christian."
[CHRYSOSTOM,
Orations, 75]. He cannot be honored with the name Christian, who
dishonors by iniquity, Christ, the Author of the name. Blandina's
refreshment amidst her tortures was to say, "I am a Christian, and
with us Christians no evil is done" [EUSEBIUS,
Ecclesiastical History, 5.1]. Apostasy from the faith is sure soon
to be followed by indulgence in iniquity. It was so with the false
teachers (@2Ti 3:2-8,13).
20. in a great house--that is, the visible professing Christian
Church (@1Ti 3:15). Paul is speaking, not of those without, but of
the [visible] family of God
[CALVIN]. So the parable of the sweep-net
(@Mt 13:47-49) gathering together of every kind, good and bad: as
the good and bad cannot be distinguished while under the waves, but only
when brought to shore, so believers and unbelievers continue in the same
Church, until the judgment makes the everlasting distinction. "The ark
of Noah is a type of the Church; as in the former there were together
the leopard and the kid, the wolf and the lamb; so in the latter, the
righteous and sinners, vessels of gold and silver, with vessels of wood
and earth" [JEROME, Dialogue against the Luciferians, 302] (compare
@Mt 20:16).
vessels of gold . . . silver--precious and able to endure fire.
of wood and earth--worthless, fragile, and soon burnt
(@1Co 3:12-15 15:47).
some . . . some--the former . . . the latter.
to dishonour--(@Pr 16:4 Ro 9:17-23).
21. If a man . . . purge himself from these--The Greek expresses
"If one (for example, thou, Timothy) purify himself (so as to separate)
from among these" (vessels unto dishonor).
sanctified--set apart as wholly consecrated to the Lord.
and meet--Some oldest manuscripts omit "and."
the master's--the Lord's. Paul himself was such a vessel: once one
among those of earth, but afterwards he became by grace one of gold.
prepared unto every good work--(@2Ti 3:17 Tit 3:1).
Contrast @Tit 1:16.
22. Flee--There are many lusts from which our greatest safety is in
flight (@Ge 39:12). Avoid occasions of sin. From the abstemious
character of Timothy (@1Ti 5:23) it is likely that not animal
indulgences, but the impetuosity, rash self-confidence, hastiness,
strife, and vainglory of young men (@1Jo 2:14-16), are what he is here warned against: though the Spirit probably intended the warning
to include both in its application to the Church in general.
also--Greek, "But"; in contrast to "every good work,"
@2Ti 2:21.
youthful--Timothy was a youth (@1Ti 4:12).
righteousness--the opposite of "iniquity," that is, unrighteousness
(@2Ti 2:19; compare @1Ti 6:11).
peace, with, &c.--rather, put no comma, "peace with them that
call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (@1Ti 1:5 Eph 6:5 Col 3:22).
We are to love all men, but it is not possible to be at peace with all men, for this needs community of purpose and opinion; they
alone who call on the Lord sincerely (as contrasted with the false
teachers who had only the form of godliness, @2Ti 3:5,8 Tit 1:15,16)
have this community [THEODORET]. (@Ro 12:18).
23. (@Tit 3:9.)
unlearned--Greek, "undisciplined"; not tending to promote the
discipline of faith and morals (@Pr 5:23). "Uninstructive"; in
contrast with "instructing" (@2Ti 2:25), and "wise unto salvation"
(@2Ti 3:15).
avoid--"decline."
24. not strive--"The servant of the Lord" must imitate his master in
not striving contentiously, though uncompromising in earnestly
contending for the faith (@Jude 1:3 Mt 12:19).
gentle unto all men--"patient" (Greek, "patient in bearing
wrongs") in respect to adversaries. He is to be gentle so that he
may occasion no evils; patient so that he may endure evils.
apt to teach--implying not only solid teaching and ease in teaching,
but patience and assiduity in it [BENGEL].
25. instructing--Greek, "disciplining,"
instructing with correction, which those who deal in
"uninstructive" or "undisciplined questions" need
(see on 2Ti 2:23;
1Ti 1:20).
those that oppose themselves--Greek, "oppositely affected";
those of a different opinion.
if . . . peradventure--Greek, "if at any time."
repentance--which they need as antecedent to the full knowledge (so the Greek for 'acknowledgment') of the truth"
(@1Ti 2:4), their minds being corrupted (@2Ti 3:8), and their
lives immoral. The cause of the spiritual ignorance which prompts such
"questions" is moral, having its seat in the will, not in the
intellect (@Joh 7:17). Therefore repentance is their first need.
That, not man, but God alone can "give" (@Ac 5:31).
26. recover themselves--Greek, "awake to soberness," namely from
the spiritual intoxication whereby they have fallen into the snare of
the devil.
the snare--(@Eph 6:11, "the wiles of the devil":
@1Ti 3:7 6:9).
taken captive by him at his will--so as to follow the will of
"THAT" (the Greek emphatically marks Satan thus) foe. However,
different Greek pronouns stand for "him" and "his"; and the
Greek for "taken captive" means not "captured for destruction,"
but "for being saved alive," as in @Lu 5:10, "Thou shalt catch
men to save them unto life"; also there is no article before the
Greek participle, which the English Version "who are taken
captive," would require. Therefore, translate, "That they may
awake . . . taken as saved (and willing) captives by him
(the servant of the Lord, @2Ti 2:24), so as to follow the will of
HIM (the Lord,
@2Ti 2:24, or "God," @2Ti 2:25)." There are here two evils, the
"snare" and sleep, from which they are delivered: and two goods to
which they are translated, awaking and deliverance. Instead of
Satan's thrall comes the free and willing captivity of obedience to Christ (@2Co 10:5). It is God who goes before,
giving repentance (@2Ti 2:25); then the work of His servant
following is sure to be crowned with success, leading the convert
henceforth to "live to the will of God" (@Ac 22:14 1Pe 4:2).