By Rony Kozman, Ph.D.
Assistant professor of Biblical Studies, Samford University
Study God’s Word
2 Timothy 2:14–19, 22–26
Be diligent in studying God’s word. (14–15)
In 2 Timothy, Paul instructs and exhorts Timothy about his ministry of the gospel. He exhorts Timothy to remain faithful to the gospel he received from Paul and to transmit and entrust that same message to faithful people who will then in turn teach others. Paul is concerned with the faithful preservation and transmission of the gospel of Jesus.
Paul tells Timothy, “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David — that is my gospel.” This is the message for which Paul suffered, and it is the message Paul wants Timothy to preserve and transmit.
In fact, the saying that Paul recounts in 2:11–13, emphasizes the need to endure with Christ. Timothy is to warn those to whom he entrusts the gospel that they should persevere in the message of Christ and avoid wrangling over words that are unprofitable and ruin the hearers. Timothy must show himself as an approved worker, one who is faithful to the gospel that Paul entrusted to him and one who rightly explains this word of truth.
Ministers of the gospel ought to be faithful to preserving, transmitting and teaching the gospel message, and they must avoid unprofitable matters that are unrelated to the gospel of Christ and the kingdom of God.
Faithful study of God’s word keeps us grounded in the truth. (16–19)
Timothy must remain faithful to teaching the gospel. If he swerves from it in his teaching, he will lead people into impiety. For Paul, those who have swerved from the truth are turning towards wickedness, but those who believe the gospel and call on the name of the Lord turn away from wickedness.
Fidelity to the gospel goes hand in hand with a life of piety and virtue. The good news that Jesus is the resurrected Son of David means those who are in His kingdom are characterized by a life of righteousness.
Obeying and sharing what we learn from God’s word benefits God’s kingdom. (22–26)
This union of gospel fidelity and virtue is why Paul instructs Timothy to “shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace.” Timothy must exhibit the behavior that befits the kingdom of God.
Again Paul warns Timothy against stupid and senseless controversies that breed quarrels. Timothy is to remain a faithful teacher of the gospel. Paul gives us a clear picture of how the minister must teach and correct. And this is how we should expect our ministers today to conduct themselves as they teach the gospel and as they engage those who oppose the gospel.
Ministers of the gospel must not be quarrelsome or harsh. Rather, they must be kind, gentle and patient as they teach and as they correct their opponents. Those entrusted to teach the gospel must be exemplary in gentleness.
As Timothy corrects those who are departing from the truth of the gospel, he does so in the hope that God may rescue them from the devil. It is not the harsh, rude or angry vitriol of the preacher (either in the pulpit or on Twitter) that Paul encourages; rather, it is the kind and gentle spirit God uses to bring opponents of the gospel into the Kingdom.
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