By Jay T. Robertson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Christian Studies, University of Mobile
DILIGENT
2 Timothy 2:14–26
Two Groups (14–19)
In these verses a sharp contrast is drawn between two types of teachers or workmen. The good workmen were devoted to the Word of truth and were approved by God. In contrast the bad workmen were not devoted to the truth (vv. 16–18). They were not approved because they denied biblical revelation and engaged in human speculation. Consequently the good workmen stood unashamed whereas the bad workmen should have been deeply ashamed.
Paul exhorted Timothy to challenge these faithful men to be approved workmen. They must work hard. Spiritual sweat is required. “Word” work is hard work. It is hard work to understand the teaching of Scripture rightly and then present it clearly and understandable to the hearers.
The good workmen worked diligently and lived God-centered lives. They lived for the approval of God and not of people. God-centered workmen wanted to be faithful, not flashy or famous. The good workmen were careful and accurate in their teaching. Good workmen worked diligently to “cut it straight.” They aimed to teach the Word correctly to help the hearers stay on the path of life.
The bad workmen led people down a dead-end path. They swerved from the truth. They missed the mark by denying a future bodily resurrection. This false teaching spreads like gangrene, which is the decay of tissue in part of the body where the blood supply is blocked due to an injury or disease. Just as gangrene spreads throughout the body bringing death so does false teaching.
Two Vessels (20–22)
The large house refers to the visible church and the vessels refer to two types of teachers present in the church. The honorable teacher must be pure. The cleansing in view here is of both life and doctrine. “If anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable” seems to refer to the corrupt teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus and the ungodliness it produced. Honorable vessels are set apart as holy and useful to Jesus.
The way to cleanse oneself is to become detached from that which is evil and attached to that which is good. Honorable vessels must flee from youthful passions. These youthful desires include the inordinate craving for the satisfaction of the physical appetites, the ungoverned passion for power and control and the uncontrolled yearning for material possessions and the glory that goes with them.
Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with other faithful brothers. Honorable vessels are to run after the state of heart and mind which is in harmony with God’s law (righteousness), humble and dynamic confidence in God (faith), deep personal affection for the brothers (love) and undisturbed awareness of God’s presence with them (peace). Honorable vessels will flee from all that is not Christlike. Pursue a practical holiness.
Two Approaches (23–26)
Faithful teachers must be devoted to preaching revelation, not debating human speculations. In these verses Paul contrasted the character of the Lord’s servant (slave) with false teachers who loved to quarrel about speculations. The faithful teacher must be gentle to everyone. This word means approachable, not intolerant, sarcastic or scornful. He must be kind even with people who disagree with him.
Faithful teachers are to teach the truth patiently to those who oppose them.
The goal of such an attitude and such an approach is the opponent’s salvation. God grants repentance as the truth of the gospel is proclaimed. Faithful teachers are not looking to win arguments but to win people to faith in Christ. They want to watch people turn from sin and to Christ and lay down their false doctrines for the truth of the gospel.
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