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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:20 - 2:26
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 2Ti_2:20-26
20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,25with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
2Ti_2:20 "a large house" The immediate context strongly implies that this is a metaphor for the church (cf. Joh_14:2).
▣ "some to honor and some to dishonor" Some see this as describing the different kinds of skills, personalities and gifts (cf. Rom_9:19-24; 1Co_12:12-31) of believers but others see it as relating to the troublemakers of 2Ti_2:22-23.
2Ti_2:21 "if anyone cleanses himself" This is a third class conditional sentence which implies potential action, but with some degree of contingency as to a person's volitional actions.
The term "purify" is an aorist active subjunctive possibly related to conversion or turning back from following false teachers. The compound term ek + kathairô is used only here and in 1Co_5:7. Believers have a choice in their involvement and usefulness in the Kingdom's work.
▣ "sanctified" This is a perfect passive participle which implies several things:
1. they were sanctified in the past and that state or condition continues (perfect tense)
2. they were sanctified by God (passive voice)
Notice the condition of one choosing to cleanse himself and then the statement of God's action. Sanctification is both a divine act and a human act. This pattern characterizes the covenant relationship in all of God's dealings with humans. He always takes the initiative and sets the agenda, but mankind must respond appropriately and continue to respond.
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▣ "useful to the Master" This is the Greek term from which we get the English "despot." It refers to a slave owner (cf. v.24) having complete authority over another (cf. 1Ti_6:1-2; Tit_2:9; 1Pe_2:18).
Believers who cleanse themselves are useful to God. The false teachers are not useful!
▣ "prepared for every good work" This is another perfect middle or passive participle. This verb is found only here and in the quote from Isaiah in 1Co_2:9 (i.e., Isa_64:4; Isa_65:17). Good works do not make us acceptable or bring us to God (i.e., Eph_2:8-9), but once we meet Him in Christ they are the expected result (cf. Eph_2:10; Jas_2:14-26)! We are a people created for Christlikeness, the restoration of the image of God which was lost in the fall of Genesis 3. Believer's godly lives confirm their salvation and attract others to Christ. See hyperlink in the NT at 1Ti_1:9.
2Ti_2:22
NASB, NKJV "Flee. . .pursue"
NRSV "Shun. . .pursue"
TEV "Avoid. . .strive for"
NJB "Turn away. . .concentrate on"
These are both present active imperatives. Believers are to continue to exhibit God's character (cf. 1Ti_6:11).
▣ "from youthful lusts" Every stage of life has its unique temptations (cf. Ecc_3:1-8; Ecc_11:10; Ecc_12:1-8).
▣ "righteousness, faith, love and peace" These are all characteristics of the triune God (see Special Topic at 2Ti_2:19) which need to be developed and exhibited in His people (cf. 1Ti_1:5; 1Ti_1:14). For "righteousness" see Special Topic at Tit_2:13.
▣ "who call on the Lord from a pure heart" This is a present active participle, which implies continuing action. In Joe_2:32, Act_2:21 and Rom_10:9-13 this phrase seems to imply an initial response, but in this context it refers to the maturing believers. Our purposeful and continuing association with mature believers is one secret of a faithful, joyful, and peaceful Christian life. See hyperlink at 1Ti_1:5.
2Ti_2:23 "refuse" Timothy is commanded to continue not to participate in the false teacher's silly arguments and speculations (present middle [deponent] imperative).
▣ "foolish" This term may reflect the Hebrew/Aramaic term for "senseless evil" (i.e., raca cf. Mat_5:22).
▣ "ignorant" This is the term used of instructing children with the alpha privative. Paul often used the un-negated term in its various forms in the Pastorals (cf. 1Ti_1:20; 2Ti_2:25; 2Ti_3:16; Tit_2:12). These false teachers are without sense and without training; this is purposeful and willful! All they want to do is debate and speculate about non-essentials (cf. 1Ti_1:4; 1Ti_4:7; 1Ti_6:4; 2Ti_2:14; 2Ti_4:4; Tit_1:14; Tit_3:9). This type of arrogant debating is repeatedly denounced in the Pastoral Letters.
2Ti_2:24-25 Here are a series of things that believers should do to help "the seduced ones" return to the Lord:
1. must not be quarrelsome (cf. 1Ti_3:3; Tit_3:9)
2. be kind to all (cf. Tit_3:2)
3. be able to teach (cf. 1Ti_3:2; Tit_1:7)
4. be patient when wronged (different terms but parallel in 1Ti_3:3; 1Ti_6:11; 2Ti_3:10; Tit_2:2)
5. be gentle in correcting (cf. 1Ti_3:3; Tit_3:2)
Obviously Paul is reflecting on the necessary qualities of leadership (cf. 1 Timothy 3) and also the godly characteristics of every believer (cf. Tit_3:1-3).
2Ti_2:25 "those who are in opposition" This is a present middle participle (i.e., those who continue willfully to oppose Apostolic truth and ethics). Notice, even these are to be treated as potential believers. How we treat those who oppose the gospel says something important about the gospel and about us!
▣ "if perhaps God may grant them repentance" The "if" is not in the Greek text but the aorist active subjunctive implies a third class conditional sentence.
The theological issue related to the phrase is the sovereignty of God related to salvation versus the free will of humans. Is faith and repentance (cf. Mar_1:15; Act_3:16; Act_3:19; Act_20:21) a human response or a gift from God? There are texts which strongly imply that they are a gift from God (cf. Act_5:31; Act_11:18; Rom_2:4). Since I believe that all Scripture is inspired (cf. 2Ti_3:16) then one must compare all texts related to any given theological issue and not succumb to a proof-text method. It is obvious that the one true God is in control of all things! But He has chosen to relate to His highest creation by means of covenant. God always takes the initiative and sets the agenda, but mankind must respond and continue to respond. It is never an either/or question. It is always a both/and relationship. See hyperlink at 2Ti_2:1
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▣ "leading to the knowledge of the truth" The path to truth (alçtheia) and full knowledge (epignôsis) is not found in (1) Jewish genealogies or (2) Gnostic speculations but in the gospel of Jesus Christ (cf. 2Ti_3:7; 1Ti_2:4; Tit_1:1). See Special Topic: Truth at 1Ti_2:4.
2Ti_2:26 "they may come to their senses" This is the aorist active subjunctive compound form (ana + nçphô) of the term nçphalios ("be sober") used metaphorically for "be alert" (cf. 1Ti_3:2; 1Ti_3:11; Tit_2:2).
▣ "having been held captive by him" This is a perfect passive participle of the compound term "to catch" + "alive" which was used of hunting animals. Here it is used of taking a prisoner of war captive. The passive voice and the immediate context identify Satan as the agent and the false teachers and their followers as the prisoners! As the gospel catches humans (cf. Luk_5:10), so too, the evil one (cf. 1Ti_3:7).
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