2 Timothy 2 - Don't quarrel about words. It ruins those who listen.

2 Timothy 2 New International Version (NIV)

The Appeal Renewed

2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself.

Dealing With False Teachers

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,who has taken them captive to do his will.

Observation Questions

The Appeal Renewed

How does Paul refer to Timothy? (verse 1)

What grace does Pal say Timothy is to be strong in? (verse 1)

Who is Timothy to entrust the words that Paul was heard saying in the presence of many witnesses? (verse 2)

What does a good soldier of Christ Jesus do? (verse 3-4)

What does a good soldier trie to do? (verse 4)

What is the only way someone receives the victor's crown in athletic events? (verse 5)

Who should be the first to receive a share of the crops? (verse 6)

Who gives insights into all these things? (verse 7)

What is Paul's gospel for which he is suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal? (verse 8-9)

Is God's word chained? (verse 9)

For who's sake does Paul suffer? (verse 10)

What is a trustworthy saying? (verse 11-13)

Dealing With False Teachers

What does Paul tell Timothy to warn God's people about? (verse 14)

Does quarreling about words have any value? (verse 14)

Does quarreling about words ruin those who listen? (verse 14)

How are we to present ourselves to God? (verse 15)

Why are we to avoid godless chatter? (verse 16)

What teaching spreads like gangrene? (verse 17-18)

Is the faith of some destroyed? (verse 18)

What stands firm? (verse 19)

What must everyone who confesses the name of the Lord turn away from? (verse 19)

Who will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work? (verse 20-21)

What are we to flee? (verse 22)

What are we to pursue? (verse 22)

Why are we to have nothing to do with foolish and stupid arguments? (verse 23)

What must the Lord's servant not be? (verse 24)

What must the Lord's servant be? (verse 24)

How are opponents to be instructed? (verse 25)

Who grants repentance? (verse 25)

How do people escape from the trap of the devil? (verse 25-26)

Interpretation

What does verse 14 imply? 

Where in scripture are other people also forgetting important things and need to be reminded?

What are the roles God fills in 2 Timothy 2?

What does verse 19-21 mean?

Thoughts

Praying through this one.

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - verse 1

Father, I pray that I may be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. - verse 2

I pray that I will entrust the things you have given me to the right people.

Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. - verse 3

I pray that I may be a good soldier.

 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. - verse 4

I pray that I may please you and not get entangled in things I shouldn't.

Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. - verse 5

I pray that I will be able to receive the victor's crown.

The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. - verse 6

I pray that I will be a diligent worker in the fields I have been given.

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. - verse 7

Lord Jesus, open my eyes to understand and my mind to know what all this means.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, - Verse 8

Help me remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. 

for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. - verse 9

Your word is never chained.

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. - verse 10

I pray that I may endure for the sake of the elect- that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself. - verse 11-13

Father, we wish die to sin and live with Jesus

We wish to endure and reign with Him

We wish to never disown Jesus

We seek to be faithful

We know you are faithful

Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. - verse 14

We wish to be reminded of the important things and avoid quarreling about words.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. - verse 15

Lord, we seek to be approved of by you as workers who do not need to be ashamed and correctly handle the word of truth.

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. - verse 16

Deliver us from godless chatter

Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, - verse 17

Deliver us from false teaching

who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. - verse 18

Lord deliver us from false teaching and from destroying the faith of anyone

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” - verse 19

Your foundation stands firm. 

You know those who are yours. 

We seek to turn away from all wickedness.

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. - verse 20

Lord, make us clean

Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. - verse 21

We seek to be clean

If you are willing, you can make us clean

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. - verse 22

Lord, let us run from evil desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace

We call our to you and seek you

Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. - verse 23

We want nothing to do with foolish and stupid arguments

We want nothing to do with quarrels

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. - verse 24

We seek to be kind to everyone, to be able to teach, and not to be resentful

Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, - verse 25

Lord grant repentance and lead to a knowledge of the truth

and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. - verse 26

Deliver us from evil!