2 Timothy 2:15-26

Rachel Workman: 15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. 17 This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. 18 They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way, they have turned some people away from the faith.

19 But God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.”

I love this verse. The Lord knows those who are his. He knows us. He doesn't know of us but he knows us. He knows how we think and how we act. He knows our heart. There is complete acceptance because God knows us completely. We don't need to be someone we are not. We are known inside and outside by our Father. But we must choose to turn away from evil. This world is consumed by it.

20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

Interesting how verse 26 states that those who oppose the truth are being held captive by Satan to do whatever he wants. Those who oppose the truth think they are escaping with their freedom intact. But in fact they are being held captive and they are not even aware of it.

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John Burnett:  ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  The sad part about this verse is there are so many Pastors and denominations that are not accurately handling the word of truth. ¹⁶ But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for ^[a]it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their ^[b]talk will spread like ^[c]gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, and Joel Osteen, Jesse Duplantis, and Kenneth Copeland.  Even Beth Moore, who used to be biblically sound, has gone astray¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal (the Seal of the Holy Spirit), “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”

²⁰ Now 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. ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. ²² Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  This is only possible when we the Holy Spirit living in us.  Without him we would be doing full gainers into our youthful lusts.  ²³ But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce ^[d]quarrels. ²⁴ The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, ²⁵ with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive ^[e]by him to do his will.  Verses 24-26 are special to me because it is by God’s grace that I am a bond-servant to him.  It is also God’s grace that allows me to not be quarrelsome, kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, and gentle when correcting those who are in opposition.  25 also shows the importance of repentance to the knowledge of the truth of the gospel.  Without repentance you can’t know the truth and cannot escape the snare of the devil.  Repentance of sins and faith in Jesus Christ death and resurrection as the atonement for all of your sins is the only escape.

What a beautiful passage to start the day with.

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Allen Michaels:  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. False teaching can be very dangerous, especially in our churches. To handle the word of truth correctly, we must study what the Word of God says so we can understand what it means. Obey the Word of God, not some TV Evangelist. 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. Paul had enough of Hymenaeus’ false teaching concerning the resurrection. It was destroying some people’s faith, so Paul handed him over to Satan.

Paul is clearly teaching that believers will be resurrected after they die, and their bodies as well as their souls will live eternally with Christ. Our beliefs should always be consistent with God’s Word.

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.” We cannot serve two masters at the same time. To take a verse from Greg X Volz’s song “No Room in the Middle”

I was stuck in the middle,
It was tearing me apart,
Serving Jesus and the devil was breaking God's heart,
I was living in two kingdoms between two different kings,
I was hearing two singers,
Which song would I sing?

We can’t remain on the fence. It’s one or the other. It’s God or Satan. Time’s running out. Which song are we singing? I must be gifted because I can sing both. L Accept God’s ways and don’t complain. If the book of Exodus has taught me anything it “God hates murmuring.”

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. I think here Paul is urging Timothy to be the kind of person that Christ wants to use for His noblest purposes.

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. Running away does not necessarily make us a coward. When we are living in Christ’s ways we will realize that removing ourselves physically from temptation often can be the most courageous action to take. There have been many times when I have refused to back down to somebody, only later to wish I had walked away and not said the things that I did. 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. If we are going to teach God’s truth we must be kind and gentle, patiently and courteously explaining the truth. Good teaching will never promote quarrels or stupid arguments. We must listen to people’s questions and treat the respectfully, while avoiding foolish debates. If there are debates than both parties need to see what the Bible says.