2 Timothy 2

This is the second of the four chapters of 2 Timothy. In chapter 1, Paul urged Timothy not to be ashamed of the suffering that comes because of the gospel. Chapter 2 continues that exhortation with "therefore" and describes in concrete terms the attitude a minister should have.

Outline

• Verses 1–7: Paul tells Timothy to be strong in grace. He urges him to entrust what he has heard from Paul to faithful men, who will in turn teach others. Paul then offers three illustrations: the soldier, the athlete who competes according to the rules, and the hardworking farmer.
• Verses 8–13: Paul tells Timothy to remember Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, raised from the dead. Paul says that although he is bound like a criminal, the word of God is not bound. He states that he endures all things for the sake of the elect and quotes a saying introduced with the words "It is a faithful saying."
• Verses 14–19: Paul forbids quarreling over words and urges Timothy to be a workman who rightly divides the word of truth. He points out that Hymenaeus and Philetus are overthrowing the faith of some by saying that "the resurrection is past already." Nevertheless, he declares, the foundation of God stands sure.
• Verses 20–26: Using the illustration of vessels of honor and dishonor in a great house, Paul tells Timothy to cleanse himself. He urges him to flee youthful lusts and to avoid foolish disputes. The servant of the Lord, he says, must not strive but must gently instruct those who oppose him.

Key Verses

• 2 Timothy 2:2: "The things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men." The verse is often cited as a principle for passing teaching on from one generation to the next.
• 2 Timothy 2:13: "If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful." The verse contrasts human faithfulness with the faithfulness of God.
• 2 Timothy 2:15: "Rightly dividing the word of truth." The verse serves as a classic text on the proper attitude of preachers and teachers.

People and Places

• Paul: The apostle who wrote this letter. He writes while in confinement.
• Timothy: Paul's coworker, whom he calls "my son."
• David: Mentioned in connection with Jesus Christ being his descendant.
• Hymenaeus: A man who taught that the resurrection had already taken place. His name also appears in 1 Timothy 1.
• Philetus: A man mentioned together with Hymenaeus.

Points for Reflection

• Interpretation of verses 12–13: Those in the Calvinist tradition read verse 13 as a basis for the perseverance of the saints, the doctrine that God's faithfulness preserves believers to the end. Arminian and Wesleyan traditions place greater weight on the warning in the latter part of verse 12: "if we deny him, he also will deny us."
• Nature of verses 11–13: Some scholars regard this passage as part of a confession of faith or hymn used in the early church.
• Interpretation of verse 15: Some within dispensationalism have cited the phrase "rightly dividing" as grounds for reading Scripture according to distinct dispensations. Other interpreters take the phrase to mean handling and teaching the word correctly.
• Quotation in verse 19: It has been noted that the first part of verse 19 closely resembles the wording of Numbers 16:5, which deals with the rebellion of Korah.
• Verse 18 and the resurrection controversy: The denial of the resurrection in verse 18 is read alongside the resurrection controversy in 1 Corinthians 15.
• Question of authorship: Traditionally, this letter has been regarded as written by Paul near the end of his life. Some scholars, however, question Pauline authorship.

In the Korean Church

Verse 2 is frequently cited to explain the principle of "reproduction" in discipleship training and small-group nurture. Verse 15 and the "vessel unto honour" of verses 20–21 are often used in sermons on dedication to pastoral and teaching ministry and on ordination.