Untitled Sermon

2 Timothy 2:2 KJV 1900

And 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.

And indicates an additional command Timothy is responsible to obey

In the past, Timothy heard and understood that which Paul had taught

Inasmuch as the message from the Apostle Paul, the message was an authoritative message

That which Timothy had heard was widely attested

That which Timothy heard was a pattern of sound words for which Timothy was responsible to safely guard - ;

That which Timothy heard from Paul was done in the presence of many witnesses; as such, they had the ability to testify and report that which they had witnessed

“It indicates that Paul and Timothy were not alone when Paul instructed him. Rather than referring to one lengthy lesson which may have occurred at Timothy’s ordination, Paul’s instructions to Timothy are best understood as occurring throughout their long association as they served the Lord together” - Dr. Qurollo

The word among is διὰ and indicates through. The implication may be that Timothy heard the teaching of Paul through many others such as his mother, grandmother, and Barnabas

The implication may also be that Timothy was to pass on that which many witnesses could testify the content Paul passed to Timothy

This same teaching Timothy heard from Paul was to be committed to faithful men

The word commit is a command whose tense indicates action that is to begin immediately

Commit means to entrust for safekeeping, give over, entrust for safekeeping () or transmission ()

This mindset is not optional if one wishes to be obedient

This mindset multi-generational and ensures the accurate transmission of sound doctrine

To be successful, one must exercise great diligence to maintain total accuracy

Just as truth is to be spread from generation to the next, carelessness will transmit error from one generation to the next

The content of what Timothy was to commit is sound doctrine

The recipients to whom sound doctrine is to be committed are faithful men.

In order to ensure this teaching is correctly passed to subsequent generations, it must be passed to those whose character is proper

Faithful necessitates that these individuals be trustworthy, reliable, or dependable

For truth to be properly upheld, it must be committed to those of proper character

Their character should be such that their lives are consistent with what they teach.

Men is a broad term that describes individuals of both male and female sex

These trustworthy individuals are to pass the truth to other faithful individuals

The word able indicates they are competent, qualified, or worthy to fulfill this expectation

Their competence is not measured solely by ability but must also include willingness

These reliable individuals are expected (perhaps commanded) to teach others also

Those qualified individuals are to then instruct others, whether that be in a formal or informal setting

Others is in an emphatic location and means others of a different kind. The implication is that these are distinct from those already mentioned