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2 Timothy 2

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Be Strong in Grace and Endure Hardness 1–7

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. ​

Remember Jesus Christ and the Faithful Saying 8–13

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. ​

A Workman Approved by God 14–19

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. ​

Vessels for Honor and Dishonor 20–21

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. ​

Fleeing Sin and Pursuing Righteousness 22–26

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. ​

Bible text: King James Version (1769 Blayney text) · Public domain

Study Notes for 2 Timothy 2

Verse 1

be strong in the grace — Endunamoo, to empower; the strength is received, not self-made, as in 'be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might' (Eph 6:10). The same grace answered Paul: 'My grace is sufficient for thee' (2 Cor 12:9). 'My son' (teknon) marks Timothy as Paul's child in the faith.

Verse 2

commit thou to faithful men — Paratithemi, to deposit as a trust; the same verb is used of the charge laid on Timothy (1 Tim 1:18), and he is to keep 'that good thing which was committed unto thee' (2 Tim 1:14). Four links appear: Paul, Timothy, 'faithful men', 'others also'.

Verse 3

endure hardness — Kakopatheo, to suffer evil; the verb recurs in v.9 of Paul's own suffering and in 2 Tim 4:5, 'endure afflictions'. Three pictures follow in vv.3–6: soldier, athlete, farmer. Timothy is told to share what Paul bears (2 Tim 1:8), as 'a good soldier of Jesus Christ'.

Verse 4

entangleth himself — Emplekō, to interweave, involve; Peter uses it of those 'again entangled' in the world's pollutions (2 Pet 2:20). 'Affairs of this life' (bios) are the means of livelihood. The soldier's aim is to please the one who enlisted him (stratologeo, to gather as a warrior).

Verse 5

strive for masteries — Athleo, to compete in the games, found only here in the New Testament. The crown goes only to one who competes 'lawfully' (nomimos), by the rules of the contest. Paul uses the same imagery in 1 Cor 9:24–25, and at the end claims 'a crown of righteousness' (2 Tim 4:7–8).

Verse 6

the husbandman that laboureth — Kopiao, to toil to weariness. The farmer who works shares the crop first; Paul argues the same right for ministers: 'who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof?' (1 Cor 9:7). Fruit follows labour, and God 'gave the increase' (1 Cor 3:6).

Verse 7

Consider what I say — Noieo, to perceive with the mind: the three pictures of vv.3–6 need thought to be understood. 'Understanding' is sunesis, a putting together of the mind. It is asked of the Lord, who 'giveth to all men liberally' to those lacking wisdom (Jas 1:5).

Verse 8

of the seed of David — The two facts of the gospel Paul preaches: Christ's descent, 'made of the seed of David according to the flesh' (Rom 1:3), and his rising, 'the firstfruits of them that slept' (1 Cor 15:20). 'Remember' (mnemoneuo) sets the risen Lord before Timothy as the pattern for the sufferings of vv.3–6.

Verse 9

the word of God is not bound — Kakourgos, 'evil doer', a criminal; Paul is chained as one, yet writes as 'an ambassador in bonds' (Eph 6:20). 'Bonds' (desmos) and 'bound' (deo) share a root: Paul is bound, the word is not. His suffering is kakopatheo, as in v.3.

Verse 10

the elect's sakes — Eklektos, chosen. Paul's endurance (hupomeno, to remain under) serves their obtaining salvation 'with eternal glory'. He says elsewhere that his afflictions are 'for your consolation and salvation' (2 Cor 1:6) and 'for his body's sake, which is the church' (Col 1:24).

Verse 11

It is a faithful saying — Pistos logos, a trustworthy word, the formula of 1 Tim 1:15. Four conditional lines follow in vv.11–13. The first is the pattern of baptism: 'if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him' (Rom 6:8). The verbs are compounds with 'with' (sunapothnesko, suzao).

Verse 12

we shall also reign with him — Sumbasileuo, to be co-regent. The condition is endurance (hupomeno, as in v.10); sufferers are 'joint-heirs with Christ', glorified together with him (Rom 8:17). The reverse is Christ's own word: 'whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny' (Matt 10:33).

Verse 13

he abideth faithful — Unbelief does not cancel God's word: 'shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?' (Rom 3:3). Arneomai, 'deny', is the verb of v.12; Christ cannot deny himself, for God 'cannot lie' (Titus 1:2) and is not 'a man, that he should lie' (Num 23:19).

Verse 14

strive not about words — Logomacheo, to fight over words; the verb occurs only here. The charge is given 'before the Lord' (diamarturomai, to testify solemnly), as in 2 Tim 4:1. Such quarrels profit nothing and overthrow hearers (katastrophe), the same warning as Titus 3:9.

Verse 15

rightly dividing the word of truth — Orthotomeo, to cut straight; found only here in the New Testament. Spoudazo, 'study', is to make every effort. The 'workman' (ergates) 'needeth not to be ashamed' because his work is approved (dokimos) by God, not by men.

Verse 16

profane and vain babblings — Bebelos is what is open to the common tread, unholy; kenophonia is empty sound. The identical warning stands at 1 Tim 6:20. Such talk 'will increase' (prokopto, to advance) 'unto more ungodliness': the progress is in the wrong direction.

Verse 18

concerning the truth have erred — Astocheo, to miss the mark, used also of 1 Tim 1:6 and 6:21. Hymenaeus is named at 1 Tim 1:20 as one delivered to Satan. Their claim that 'the resurrection is past already' removes the hope Paul preaches in v.8; compare 1 Cor 15:12.

Verse 19

The Lord knoweth them that are his — The 'seal' (sphragis) carries two inscriptions. The first echoes Moses at Korah's rebellion: 'the LORD will shew who are his' (Num 16:5). The second, 'depart from iniquity', joins God's choice to the believer's holiness. The 'foundation' (themelios) stands whatever others overthrow (v.18).

Verse 20

a great house — The church is the 'house of God' (1 Tim 3:15). Its vessels (skeuos) differ in material and in use, 'some to honour, and some to dishonour', as the potter has 'power over the clay' (Rom 9:21). Gold and silver, wood and earth: the verse names four materials and two destinies.

Verse 21

purge himself — Ekkathairo, to cleanse out; elsewhere only 1 Cor 5:7, 'Purge out therefore the old leaven'. 'These' are the dishonourable vessels of v.20. The result is a vessel 'sanctified, and meet for the master's use', 'prepared unto every good work', as the man of God is 'throughly furnished' (2 Tim 3:17).

Verse 22

Flee also youthful lusts — Neoterikos, belonging to the young; the 'lusts' (epithumia) are desires of any kind. The remedy is positive: 'follow' (dioko, pursue) the four virtues, as in 1 Tim 6:11, 'flee these things; and follow after righteousness'. 'A pure heart' recalls Ps 119:9 on cleansing one's way.

Verse 23

foolish and unlearned questions — Moros is dull, senseless; apaideutos, 'unlearned', is uninstructed, and occurs only here. Zetesis is a dispute. They 'gender' (gennao, beget) strifes (mache, battles), the same warning as Titus 3:9 and 1 Tim 1:4.

Verse 24

the servant of the Lord — Doulos, bondservant. He 'must not strive' (machomai), the verb related to mache, 'strifes', in v.23. 'Apt to teach' (didaktikos) is found elsewhere only in the bishop's qualifications (1 Tim 3:2). 'Gentle' (epios) is the mildness of a nurse (1 Thess 2:7).

Verse 25

In meekness instructing — Paideuo, to train as a child. 'Meekness' (praotes) is the spirit of Gal 6:1, restoring one overtaken in a fault. Repentance (metanoia) is 'given' by God, as in Acts 11:18, 'God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life', leading to 'acknowledging' (epignosis) of the truth.

Verse 26

recover themselves — Ananepho, to return to sobriety; the verb occurs only here. 'Taken captive' is zogreo, to catch alive, elsewhere only Luke 5:10. The 'snare' (pagis) of the devil is the one from which the overseer must also guard (1 Tim 3:7); the captives are held 'at his will'.