2 Timothy 2:1-26 Lesson 408

2 Timothy 2:1-26
Lesson 408

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Commandments (2:1-7).

Don't be afraid to suffer (2:9-12).
Be strong, endure, and stay pure.

Flee youthful lusts (2:22).

Be kind, gentle, and patient (2:24-26).

Israel's King David.
(Shepherd, warrior, poet).
By Italian sculptor Adamo Tadolini (1788-1863).
On display at the base of colonna dell'immacolata in Rome, Italy.

Who was -

David -
David was a Jewish prophet, a poet, the author of about eighty Psalms in "The Book of Psalms," the second and greatest king of Israel, and a direct ancestor of Jesus. He is mentioned 1,118 times in the Bible. The son of Jesse, David was born in Bethlehem and spent his early years as a poet and a simple shepherd until he was invited to play the harp for King Saul (1 Samuel 16:14-23). Meeting King Saul and becoming his armor-bearer changed his life forever. At about the age of twenty, David killed Goliath of Gath in battle (1 Samuel 17:1-58), became a leader of Israel's army, and married King Saul's daughter, Michal. In time, David's popularity forced him to flee from a jealous Saul (1 Samuel 18:6-16) to the land of the Philistines. David lived as a fugitive for years. After Saul and: his son Ishbosheth (heir to the throne) passed away, David returned to become king of Judah and eventually all of Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5). David had the ability to lead others (1 Samuel 22:2), and ushered in a golden era for Israel. He led Israel to victory over the Philistines (2 Samuel 8:1), Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2), Syrians (2 Samuel 8:5-6), Edomites (2 Samuel 8:14), Ammonites, Amalekites, and others. His forty-year reign (2 Samuel 5:4) was known for fairness as he established a sound civil government. God called David "a man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), and although David sinned many times, he always repented and was forgiven. When David died at seventy (2 Samuel 5:4), his son Solomon became Israel's third king. God promised that "all nations" would be blessed through David's family. That blessing came in the form of Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David (Acts 2:29-30). Thus, it was important for "The Gospel According to Matthew" to give Jesus' genealogy and show He was descended from King David (Matthew 1:1-1:16) and thus fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies. David's story can be read in 1 Samuel 16:1-31:13; 2 Samuel 1:1-18:33; 2 Samuel 19:1-1 Kings 2:46.

Study Tip:

When the Bible repeats themes, it is a clue that God considers them important.
Hover over these passages a little longer to fully grasp their meaning.

The Second Epistle of Paul The Apostle To Timothy

The King James Bible

2 Timothy 2:1-26
Soldiers

1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 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.

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:

12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

14 Of 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.

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless 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.

20 But 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 unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Margin notes:

"The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses." (2:2) - "The lessons you've heard me teach in front of many witnesses."

"The same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2:2) - "Teach those same truths to others so they can pass it on." Jesus asked us to spread the Gospel (Matthew 28:19). The Gospel is spread by reading it and passing your knowledge along to others. See also Ephesians 4:11-14.

"Endure hardness." (2:3) - Believers can endure hardships with God's help. Something for all to remember when facing a crisis.

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life." (2:4) - "No soldier gets tangled up with civilian life." Paul is comparing soldiers who serve their country to Christians who serve Christ.  If a soldier gets tangled up in non-military affairs, it's difficult for him to satisfy his superiors. Likewise, it's more challenging for a believer to serve Christ if to involved in worldly affairs.  This is the first of three metaphors found in this passage. In the others, Paul compares Christians to athletes following rules to succeed (2:5) and farmers (2:6) who work hard.

"If a man." (2:5) - "If an athlete."

"The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits." (2:6) - "The farmer that works hard must be the first to enjoy the harvest."

"The Lord give thee understanding." (2:7) - "The Lord will give you wisdom." See Proverbs 2:6.

"The seed of David." (2:8) - "Descended from David." Being a descendant of King David proves Jesus was human and the rightful heir to the King's throne (Luke 1:32). See also Romans 1:3.

"Raised from the dead." (2:8) - Being raised from the dead proves Jesus is God.

"Even unto bonds." (2:9) - "Even in chains." Remember, Paul is in prison for preaching as he writes these words (Ephesians 3:1).

"But the word of God is not bound." (2:9) - "But the word of God is not in chains."

"The elect's sakes." (2:10) - "For the sake of the saved."

"It is a faithful saying." (2:11) - "It is a true statement.

"If we be dead with him." (2:11) - "If we die believing in Him."

"He also will deny us." (2:12) - See Matthew 10:33.

"Yet he abideth faithful." (2:13) - "Yet he (Jesus) stays faithful." See Matthew 28:20 and Romans 8:39.

"Charging them." (2:14) - "Alerting them."

"Strive not about words to no profit." (2:14) - "Don't argue over the meaning of words to no good end." Paul is advising Timothy not to waste time in endless arguments over minor religious details that are not essential to salvation.  This is Paul's third warning to Timothy not to waste time (1 Timothy 1:4; 6:3-5). Paul also warned Titus (Titus 3:9).

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God." (2:15) - "Work to receive God's approval."

"Rightly dividing the word of truth." (2:15) - "Correctly understanding and applying the word of truth."

"Shun profane and vain babblings." (2:16) - "Reject wicked and silly talk."

"Their word will eat as doth a canker." (2:17) - "Their word will spread like cancer."

"Hymenaeus and Philetus." (2:17) - Two Christians who left the faith and taught the Gnostic view that the resurrection of the dead had already taken place. Gnostics did not believe in a bodily resurrection. They taught that when a person accepted Christ, they were spiritually reborn, and that was the only resurrection Jesus taught. This heresy "shipwrecked" Hymenaeus' faith, and Paul excommunicated him (1 Timothy 1:19-20). No information is available about Philetus' fate. The names Hymenaeus and Philetus appear on two cremation urns found in the columbaria in Rome. If these are the same two men, they were part of Caesar's household. But this cannot be proven.

"The foundation of God standeth sure." (2:19) - "The foundation of God stands firm."

"The Lord knoweth them that are his." (2:19) - Paraphrased from Numbers 16:5. How does the Lord know who believes? Because He knows everything.

"Sanctified." (2:21) - To be blessed, consecrated, cleansed of guilt, connected to the spiritual, chosen, made holy, purified through faith (Acts 15:9), and set apart for special use by God. Christians are sanctified, not because they are perfect but because they have a relationship with Jesus.

"Meet for the master's use." (2:21) - "Useful to God."

"Charity." (2:22) - Love, especially love of God and your fellow man. This verse is repeated from 1 Timothy 6:11.

"Foolish and unlearned questions avoid." (2:23) - This is Paul's third warning to stay clear of useless religious arguments.

"They gender strifes." (2:23) - "They cause fights."

"Must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach." (2:24) - "Must not fight, but be patient with all and able to teach." Do not engage in religious hairsplitting.

"In meekness instructing those that oppose." (2:25) - "Gently teach those that oppose."

"If God peradventure will give them repentance." (2:25) - "Maybe God will change them and they will repent."

"They may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil." (2:26) - "They may save themselves from the devils trap."

New Living Translation

2 Timothy 2:1-26
A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

1Timothy, my dear son, be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.

2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.

3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

4 Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.

5 And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules.

6 And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

7 Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things.

8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.

9 And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained.

10 So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

11 This is a trustworthy saying:

  If we die with him,
      we will also live with him.

12 If we endure hardship,
      we will reign with him.
If we deny him,
      he will deny us.

13 If we are unfaithful,
      he remains faithful,
      for he cannot deny who he is.

14 Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God's presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.

An Approved Worker

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.

17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.

18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

19 But God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and "All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil."

20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.

21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

23 Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.

24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people.

25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth.

26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil's trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What is the purpose of chapter two?

Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. Chapter two is filled with Paul's advice to Timothy (and us).

Application thought for the day:

Re-read verses 2:4-7 and decide what applications can be taken from this segment.

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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