2 Timothy 2:14-26

14-19, 20-26

14-19

14

Remind them of these things, referring back to verses 11-13, 2 Timothy 2:11–13 “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” Tell his flock of the truths of the Gospel and of Christ, and not to quarrel, or mince words with the false teachers because it will do no good as they have changed the truth of the gospels to Satan’s lies. The word translated here as “ruins” appears only one other time in the New Testament in 2 Peter 2:6 “if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;” but in 2 Peter it is translated as turning, but the root of the word is overthrow or overturned and here means that the truth is overthrown or overturned by the false teachers and harms those who hear it.

15

Verse 15 is where we get the name of our Sunday night children’s ministry AWANA. Approved workmen are not ashamed. We as bought slaves of God are all workmen and must always be striving that everything we do, we do for the glory of God. Works of our own hands and our own minds are not and will never be approved of by God because they are man centered. But if our focus is always on God, correctly handling or proclaiming the word, and keeping God’s glory above all we will never have to be ashamed

16

Profane and idle babbling, referring to heresy or false gospels, in 1 Timothy Paul warned Timothy of this also, 1 Timothy 6:20–21 “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.” another warning on the dangers of false teachings.

17

What false teachers peddle will infect the flock like gangrene, which is when living tissue is starved of blood and dies while still on the body. False teachers starve the hearers of the truth, infecting them with Satan’s lies, which if left un-checked will kill them spiritually. Paul drops some names of the false teachers he is referring to, Hymenaeus and Philetus.

18

They were saying that the resurrection had already happened, probably saying that the only resurrection that would take place was Jesus’ and that the believers would not have a bodily resurrection, thus the only resurrection had already happened with Christ, and their teachings were upsetting the faith of some.

19

God’s foundation, his word and the truth are a strong and firm foundation, and the seal or the sign of ownership is upon this foundation saying that God knows who is his and will protect his word and his people. And those that are his will flee from iniquity and sin.

20-26

20

Paul starts an analogy, in a great house, the home of someone wealthy and mighty, in this great house there will be vessels; cups, bowls, serving spoons, and platters that are made from gold and silver and used for honorable things, eating, drinking and serving. But there will also be vessels made of wood and clay that are used for dishonorable things, like taking our garbage or holding waste. This analogy is referring to the works and deeds of man. There are some works and deeds of honor, works done for God, and the rest of the works of man that are not done for the glory of God alone are dishonorable.

21

So if you cleanse from yourself what is dishonorable, cleanse meaning to thoroughly clean out or to completely purge, if you completely purge man centered thinking and works, you will be a vessel fit for honorable works, fit for working for the glory of our God. Set apart as holy, ready and able for good works.

22

Paul then gives and example of something that needs to be purged, youthful lusts. This is not only referring to sexual desires but lusts for fame, wealth, power, being argumentative or contrary, being mean spirited and defiant. Replace all of these with righteousness, faith, love, and peace that comes with a regenerated, pure heart of salvation.

23

Paul again mentions avoiding arguments with false teachers, calling them ignorant. I don’t think Paul is saying not to rebuke them or call out their false teachings, but telling him not do go down to their level and endlessly argue with them.

24-25

As a servant of the Lord we are not to be quarrelsome and argumentative but kind to everyone, including our enemies and those who would seek to do us harm. We must be able to teach them and this must come from kindness and gentleness of spirit and not shouting and arguing. Killing them with kindness and the truth of God’s word, so that if they are one of the elect, God would use you as his instrument of their salvation.

26

Because that is what God has called us to do, spread His Gospel to all and be used by God, poured out to bring about salvation for all of those called by God before the foundations of the world were made. Giving them the good news so God can bring about the change in them, the desire to repent and escape the snare of the devil, no longer wanting to do Satan’s will but desiring to do the will of God, and in turn spreading further the Gospel until all nations, all tribes and all tongues have the good news preached to them and the fullness of God’s elect will be saved.