2 Timothy Chapter 2

2 Timothy 2:1-7 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.”

Paul told Timothy to be strong in grace, the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  Timothy and the church at Ephesus were suffering persecution for preaching the gospel.  Persecution comes from people who are self-righteous, who are not trusting in the free gift of righteousness through Christ Jesus. 

The way the church is multiplied is by sharing the gospel with faithful people who will be able to teach others also.  As this process of multiplication grows, the church is strengthened and increased in the earth.  

Paul gave three examples or analogies; a soldier, an athlete and a farmer.  They are all in connection with enduring in the message of the gospel through hardship.  Paul used the word endure in verse 3.  We will see the word endure later in this chapter.  As we endure in the gospel or word of righteousness, it cleanses our conscience from guilt and shame.  We must hold on to the gospel and not fall away from grace back to law or to our own attempts to achieve righteousness with God through our own works.  When we do this, we will always end up in condemnation, for we will never walk perfectly.  

2 Timothy 2:8-10 “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.”

Paul said that because of the gospel, he was suffering trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains.  Paul had been arrested and put in chains because of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Paul was considered a threat in some ways by the Roman government because He was preaching that Jesus was the Son of God and the only One to be worshiped.  This would have been contrary to the Romans, who said that Caesar was a god and to be worshiped.  Paul was also accused of being an evildoer because of the gospel of grace.  People said that Paul was telling everyone that they could sin so that grace would abound.  Notice again the word endure in verse 10 in reference to the gospel.  It will help explain part of the following saying.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 “This is a faithful 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 deny Him,
He also will deny us.
¹³ If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.”

“If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.”  This means we are born again when we believe in Him.  “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.”  This means if we endure in the gospel or the word of righteousness, we shall reign with Him in this life.  Romans 5:17 “..much more, those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign if life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  “If we deny Him, He will also deny us.”  This will be explained in the verses of 2 Timothy chapters 2 and 3.  We deny Him through our actions, even though He lives in us.  He will deny us.  This is not losing our salvation, as some have taught.  This means we will not inherit or experience the kingdom of God within us.  We won’t experience the love, joy and peace we are meant to enjoy.  “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”  Even if we are faithless in our actions and don’t walk out our faith, He remains faithful.  He cannot deny that He lives in us when we are born again.      

 2 Timothy 2:14-19 “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

Paul told Timothy to hold to these truths of the gospel presented in verses 11-13.  We must be diligent to present ourselves approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  We rightly divide the word of truth, that we are justified before God by grace apart from our works.  We are justified before men by our good works.  If we do this, we will be a worker with God who does not need to be ashamed.  If we try to be justified before God by our own works, we will be ashamed.  If we say that holiness before men is not important because we are under grace, we will end up ashamed also.  Two Christians strayed from this truth by saying that the resurrection was already past.  This overthrew the faith of some in the church.  Paul assures them of the truth.  The Lord knows those who are His; in other words, He won’t leave us behind when He comes.  Also, everyone who is a Christian should depart from iniquity and walk in holiness.

2 Timothy 2:20-26 “But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. ²¹ Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. ²⁴ And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”  

Paul said that in a great house, the church, there are those who are walking in holiness and those who are not walking in holiness.  If we walk in holiness, we are a vessel of honor and useful to our Master, prepared for every good work.  If we spend our lives walking in sin and fulfilling the lusts of the flesh, men will reject us and our testimony of grace.  We will not be useful to our Lord in ministering to other people.  We will bring pain and shame upon ourselves.  Paul told Timothy that he must be patient in teaching believers, in humility correcting those who were rejecting holiness, so that they might know the truth.  The truth is that God lives in us when we are born again.  This truth helps us to come to our senses and to escape the captivity that sin brings into our lives.

Keith Oliver