2 Timothy 2

Grace and Perseverance// Hebrews 12:1–3

¹You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ²And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well.

• 2TI 2:2[NOTABLE]Four generations in one verse: Paul, Timothy, faithful men, and others. This is how the faith reached you. Every believer is a link in the chain.

³Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, in order to please the one who enlisted him. ⁵Likewise, a competitor does not receive the crown unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶The hardworking farmer should be the first to partake of the crops. ⁷Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all things.

• 2TI 2:3[NOTABLE]Three pictures of the Christian life. The soldier stays focused on his commander. The athlete plays by the rules. The hardworking farmer eats first. Each one says the same thing: hard work now, reward later.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David, as proclaimed by my gospel, ⁹for which I suffer to the extent of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained! ¹⁰For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

• 2TI 2:8[FULFILLS]Messiah would be of David's lineage ← 2SA 7:12
• 2TI 2:9[FIELD NOTES]See The Mamertine Prison Field Notes page.

¹¹This is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with Him,

we will also live with Him;

• 2TI 2:11[NOTABLE]Likely an early Christian saying or song. It has a warning, if we deny Him, He will deny us, Matthew 10:33, and a comfort: even when our faith is weak, God keeps His word.

¹²if we endure,

we will also reign with Him;

if we deny Him,

He will also deny us;

¹³if we are faithless,

He remains faithful,

for He cannot deny Himself.

The Lord’s Approved Workman

¹⁴Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words, which succeeds only in leading the listeners to ruin.

¹⁵Be diligent to show yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

• 2TI 2:15[NOTE]BE DILIGENT. The KJV says Study. In 1611 study could mean work hard, and that is what the Greek word spoudazo means; the KJV itself says do thy diligence for the same word in 4:9. So this is not a command to read only the Bible. It is about working hard to handle God's word right. Paul read widely: he quoted Greek writers, Acts 17:28, Titus 1:12 and 1 Corinthians 15:33, and asked for his books, 4:13. Trained under Gamaliel, Acts 22:3, he was probably the most educated of the apostles, Acts 4:13 and 26:24. Many believe he never knew his letters would be called Scripture; others note he knew he wrote with the Lord's authority, 1 Corinthians 14:37.

¹⁶But avoid irreverent, empty chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness, ¹⁷and the talk of such men will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸who have deviated from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already occurred, and they undermine the faith of some.

• 2TI 2:18[NOTE]ALREADY RISEN? Hymenaeus, also in 1 Timothy 1:20, taught that the resurrection had already happened, maybe only in a spiritual way. Paul says no: the dead will rise in real bodies, 1 Corinthians 15:12 to 20.

¹⁹Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”

• 2TI 2:19[QUOTES]Direct ← NUM 16:5

²⁰A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use. ²¹So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.

²²Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

• 2TI 2:22[HEART]Run after righteousness with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

²³But reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for you know that it breeds quarreling. ²⁴And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. ²⁵He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. ²⁶Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.

• 2TI 2:26[DEMONIC]Held captive by the devil to do his will