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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Ti_2:14-19
14Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless, and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth. 16But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness."
2Ti_2:14 "Remind them" This is a present active imperative. See note at 2Ti_1:3 on "remember."
▣ "these things" This could refer to 2Ti_2:11-13 or 14-19. The false teachers are characterized in 2Ti_2:14; 2Ti_2:16; 2Ti_2:23 as they are in 1Ti_1:4; 1Ti_1:6; 1Ti_6:4; 1Ti_6:20.
NASB "solemnly charge them in the presence of God"
NKJV "charging them before the Lord"
TEV "warn them before God"
NJB "tell them in the name of God"
There is a Greek manuscript variant between "God" (MSS à , C, F, G, I) and "Lord" (MSS A, D). A similar phrase using "God" appears in 2Ti_4:1 and 1Ti_5:4; 1Ti_5:21 (see Metzger, p. 647), therefore, Theos is probably original. The UBS4 gives it a "B" rating (almost certain). Like so many of these variants, this makes no significant theological difference.
This is the compound term dia + marturomai, which means "to declare earnestly and solemnly" (cf. Luk_16:28; Act_2:40; Act_8:25; Act_10:42; Act_18:5; Act_20:21; Act_20:24; Act_23:11; Act_28:23; 1Ti_5:21; 2Ti_2:14; 2Ti_4:1).
Timothy was to use his authority both as Paul's apostolic representative and God's spokesman to confront the false teachers in godliness, not theological speculation (cf. 2Ti_2:14-26).
▣ "not to wrangle about words" There was a factious element present (cf. 2Ti_2:16; 1Ti_1:3-4; 1Ti_4:7; 1Ti_6:4-5; 1Ti_6:20; Tit_3:9).
Timothy is warned not to enter into a theological dialogue with these false teachers for several reasons.
1. it was useless because their minds had been seared and blinded (cf. 2Ti_2:14; 1Ti_4:2; 1Ti_6:5; Tit_3:11)
2. it causes other believers who overhear the dialogue to falter (cf. 2Ti_2:14; 2Ti_2:18; 1Ti_6:20-21)
3. it leads to further ungodliness (cf. 2Ti_2:16; 2Ti_2:19; 1Ti_6:3)
4. it will spread like gangrene (cf. 2Ti_2:17)
▣ "leads to the ruin of hearers" "Ruin" is the Greek term from which we get the English word "catastrophe." It literally meant "to overthrow" (cf. 2Pe_2:6) or "to overturn" (cf. Mat_21:12).
2Ti_2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself" This is an aorist active imperative with an aorist active infinitive. This is a call for a decisive act of the will (cf. Rom_6:13; Eph_4:3).
▣ "approved"This is a metallurgical term which became an idiom for "a test with a view toward approval," a metaphor for confirming something as genuine (cf. 1Co_11:19; 2Co_10:18). See Special Topic: Greek Terms for "Testing" and Their Connotations at 1Ti_6:9.
▣ "to God" God is the one who must approve our teaching, preaching, and our lifestyle.
▣ "as a workman who does not need to be ashamed" Spiritless Bible teaching and un-Christlike daily living will cause believers shame when they stand before their Lord (cf. 2Co_5:10). Paul was concerned about being ashamed before the Lord, but not before humans (cf. 2Ti_1:8; 2Ti_1:12; 2Ti_1:16).
▣ "accurately handling" This is a present active participle meaning "to cut straight." It is found only here in the NT. This was often used of constructing a road, plowing a furrow, or a stone mason building a structure (cf. Pro_3:6; Pro_11:5 in the Septuagint).
This term is used metaphorically to cut a straight line. The Word of God is a straight (righteous) path to truth. The word "straight" is an OT construction term taken from the word for a "river reed" which was used to confirm the horizontal straightness of walls, streets, etc. YHWH used this term to describe His own character. It is translated "just" or "right" (and all the related forms, see Special Topic at Tit_2:12). God is the ruler or standard by which all else is evaluated. Apostolic truth reflects God's character; Apostolic living reflects God's character. The false teachers fail at both!
▣ "the word of truth" In Eph_1:13; Col_1:5 and Jas_1:18 this refers to the gospel. Here it refers to Apostolic truth preached by Paul and passed on by Timothy and accepted and lived out by mature believers. For a good book on the development of Apostolic preaching, teaching and letters in the New Testament see Birth of a New Testament by William L. Bevins (Union Baptist University, Carson City, TN). See Special Topic: Truth in Paul's Writings at 1Ti_2:4.
2Ti_2:16 "But avoid worldly and empty chatter" This is a present middle imperative. This is a major theme in the Pastoral Letters (cf. 1Ti_6:20; Tit_3:9).
▣ "it will lead" Believers are to cut a straight path to righteousness and truth (cf. 2Ti_2:15) but the false teachers and their followers are making a path to ungodliness and self-deception (cf. 2Ti_3:9; 2Ti_3:15).
2Ti_2:17
NASB, NRSV "their talk will spread like gangrene"
NKJV "their message will spread like cancer"
TEV "such teaching is like an open sore that eats away flesh"
NJB "talk of this kind spreads corruption like gangrene"
What a vivid idiom of the effects of false teaching! Heresy spreads like a fast growing cancer, even among believers, and the consequences are as horrible as the metaphor (cf. 1Ti_6:20-21).
▣ "Hymenaeus" See note at 1Ti_1:20.
▣ Philetus" This is the only mention of this person in the NT.
2Ti_2:18 "who have gone astray from the truth" This is literally "to miss the mark," which is a metaphor from archery (cf. 1Ti_1:19; 1Ti_4:1; 1Ti_5:8; 1Ti_6:10; 1Ti_6:21). The general word for sin (hamartia) means to fall short of the mark. This relates to the emphasis in this chapter on cutting a straight path (cf. 2Ti_2:15-16). God is "straight" (i.e., from a Hebrew commercial metaphor using a river reed, see Special Topic at Tit_2:12), which equals "right or "just." His people should reflect His character, but these false teachers and their followers had clearly demonstrated by their deviation from Apostolic truth that they had left the straight path (i.e., "The Way" which was an early title for the church). See hyperlink at 1Ti_4:1.
▣ "saying that the resurrection has already taken place" This is a perfect active infinitive (cf. 1Co_15:12). The possible interpretations are
1. Greek dualism, which rejected a physical aspect to eternity
2. Greek philosophy's emphasis on the divine spark in every person united with God at death
3. a Sadducean-like denial of any physical afterlife
4. resurrection was for Christ only
5. resurrection had already occurred (cf. 2Th_2:1-2)
6. believer's resurrection to new life occurs at salvation (cf. Joh_5:25; Rom_6:1-11; Col_2:12-13)
The UBS4 has "the" in brackets to show the possibility that the original text, following MSS à , F, G, and the Georgian version (5th century), as well as the Greek text used by Cyril of Alexandria (a.d. 444), may have excluded it.
Even though there are variants like this one, the true text is not lost but is one of the options. The inspired text of the Apostles is still available to modern readers. There is no loss of truth, meaning, or doctrine.
Gnosticism apparently made this theological assertion. This is noted and refuted by
1. Polycarp (a.d. 69-155) to the Php_3:5
2. Justin Martyr (killed in a.d. 162-168) – Dialogue with Trypho 80
3. Irenaeus (wrote Adv. Haer in a.d. 180) – Against Heresies I.23.5; II.31.2
4. Tertullian (a.d. 160-220)
a. Prescriptions Against Heretics 33:7
b. Of the Resurrection of the Flesh 19
NASB "thus upset the faith of some"
NKJV "they overthrow the faith of some"
NRSV, TEV "they are upsetting the faith of some"
NJB "they are upsetting some people's faith"
This is a present active indicative from "to overturn" (cf. Joh_2:15) or "to overthrow" which came to be used metaphorically for "to subvert" or "to corrupt" (cf. Tit_1:11 and the results in 1Ti_1:19; 1Ti_6:21). Exactly what this means or implies in relation to apostasy (see Special Topic at 1Ti_4:1) is uncertain, but it is certainly a spiritual disaster! The words of Matthew 7, "by their fruits you shall know them" (cf. 2Ti_2:19), are true!
The term "faith" can be understood in three ways
1. a person to welcome
2. truths about that person to believe
3. a life like that person to live
2Ti_2:19 "firm foundation of God" God's people as a building built on Christ as the foundation is one of Paul's favorite metaphors (cf. 1Co_3:10 ff; Eph_2:20 ff; 1Ti_3:15). In this context it refers to God's truth remaining sure and solid in contrast to the false teachers. The believer's hope is in the character of God and His trustworthiness to His promises.
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▣ "stands" This is a perfect active indicative. The United Bible Societies A Handbook on Paul's Letters to Timothy and Titus, p. 210, lists four options as to the identification of this "foundation."
1. Christ Himself, the cornerstone (cf. Isa_28:16; Rom_9:33; 1Co_3:10-12)
2. the message about Christ (cf. Eph_2:20)
3. the Church, the body of Christ
4. the Truth (sound teaching)
hyperlink
▣ "having this seal" This is possibly an allusion to
1. the ancient custom of inscribing the purpose of the building on the cornerstone
2. a reference to an official wax seal of ownership (cf. Joh_3:33; Joh_6:27; Rom_4:11; Rom_15:28; 1Co_9:2; 2Co_1:22; Eph_1:13; Eph_4:30; Rev_7:3-8)
hyperlink
▣ "The Lord knows those who are His" This may be an allusion to Num_16:5 in the Septuagint, a historical setting of factions and division, as well as Joh_10:14; Joh_10:27.
▣ "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord" This may be a purposeful ambiguity. Does the term "Lord" refer to YHWH or Jesus? In the OT, calling on YHWH's name was a metaphor of worship. The NT author adopts this use of "the name" as a way of
1. asserting Jesus' deity
2. acknowledging Him as Savior and Master
3. implying that to call on Him is to emulate His actions and character in daily life (as well as worship events)
This is a present active imperative which refers to those who continue to claim a relationship with Jesus. The name in Hebrew was a way of affirming the character of a person. If believers call on Jesus' name to be saved and reflect His name as followers, then they must believe and live as He did!
hyperlink
▣ "abstain from wickedness" This is an aorist active imperative. This may be an allusion to Num_16:26-27 in the Septuagint. In context this obviously refers to associations with the godless false teachers and their followers (i.e, "earthernware. . .of dishonor," 2Ti_2:20; 2Ti_3:5).