Read or listen Second Epistle to Timothy Chapter 2 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

Suffer for the sake of the gospel – 2:1-7

Before Paul begins the series of exhortations, he reminds Timothy that it is possible to fulfill them only by the grace of God (verse 1). Without God's help and grace, we cannot meet any of His requirements.

In verse 2, Paul describes a four-step chain of preaching the gospel: Paul received the gospel from God; he shared it with Timothy; Timothy had to entrust it to trustworthy people who then taught it to others. "...What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses" may refer to Paul's missionary journeys in which Timothy was involved.

A preacher of the gospel must make an effort and work diligently. (verse 3). We accept that many “worldly things” require hardship, but suffering for the sake of the kingdom of God often seems more difficult to accept.

Paul gives three examples of effort:
1. soldier (verse 4)
2. athlete (verse 5)
3. farmer (verse 6)

1. A soldier must focus on what is essential in battle. Everyday matters must be put aside (compare 1 Cor 9:7, see also Deut 20:5-7, 2 Cor 6:7, 10:3-5, Eph 6:11-17).

2. In his other letters, Paul also compares a Christian to an athlete (verse 5, 1 Cor 9:24-27, Phil 3:14). In the Olympic games, the winner was awarded a laurel wreath, Christians are crowned with a crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8).

3. Verse 6 is a picture of the large-scale agriculture of that time, where farms were largely rented. The hard-working farmer had to be the first to enjoy the fruits of his labor (compare 1 Cor. 9:7). In agriculture, the lazy person will not prosper: Prov. 10:5, 20:4, 24:30-34 (see also Prov. 27:18). The law also applies to spiritual sowing: what you sow, you will reap (Gal. 6:7).
   However, we must remember that in the spiritual sowing of the word, only God gives the growth (1 Cor 3:6-7; the same is true in the end in ordinary farming). Paul was eager to sow the word (1 Cor 15:20, 2 Cor 6:3-5, Phil 2:16), but he also saw clearly that the work was God's, not his.

With these three examples, Paul wanted to highlight three aspects of preaching the gospel:
- One must focus on the essentials
- One must act according to the rules, i.e. according to God's will
- One must be willing to make an effort

Finally, Paul reminded Timothy that spiritual work cannot be judged by mere worldly standards (verse 7). From a human perspective, the proclamation of the gospel is foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18-25, 2:6-10). Spiritual work must be viewed and judged from God’s perspective, not from a human perspective.

God's faithfulness – 2:8-13

The promised Messiah was a descendant of David (verse 8, Matt. 22:42, Rom. 1:3). The resurrection of Christ (verse 8) was for Paul a solid and central part of the Christian faith (1 Cor 15:12-19). The gospel that Paul preached (verse 8) was not his own invention, but he had received it from God (1 Tim 1:11, cf. Rom 2:16, 16.25).

Paul had suffered much for the sake of the gospel (verse 9, 2 Cor 11:22-29), and God had actually called Paul to do so (verse 10, compare Acts 9:16: "For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name."). But even as a prisoner he had been able to preach the gospel in Philippi (Acts 16:25-34), Jerusalem (Acts 23:1-6), Caesarea (Acts 24:10-23, 26:1-29), and Rome (Acts 28:30-31).

“The saying is trustworthy” is a typical expression in the pastoral letters (verse 11, 1 Tim 1:15, 3:1, 4:9, Titus 3:8). The quotation in verses 11-13 is from an unknown source, perhaps from the worship or baptismal liturgy of the early church.

Death (v. 11, cf. Rom. 6:8) refers to baptism (see Rom. 6:3). Baptism is a call to walk as a Christian (vv. 12 and 13).

Jesus promised the apostles the power to rule (verse 12) over the twelve tribes of Israel in the coming kingdom of God (Matthew 19:28, see also Revelation 20:6).

The fact that Christ will deny those who deny Him at the Last Judgment (verse 12, Matt. 10:33) has horrified many Christians. However, it is worth remembering that Peter, who publicly denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:69-75), was accepted back among the apostles (John 21:15-19, see also Mark 16:7). Denial of Christ as Savior, as atonement for sins, brings judgment, not a single failure as a witness to Him.

Verse 13 would have read, “If we are faithless, he is faithless also,” but instead it affirms the faithfulness of Christ. That is the basis of salvation, not our faithfulness or unfaithfulness. All salvation depends on what Christ has done.

Notice in verse 13 God’s “voluntary” limitation of His omnipotence. Because of His nature, God cannot do evil. As omnipotent, He could do anything, but because of His nature, He only does good. One of God’s characteristics is His faithfulness (Numbers 23:19, Romans 3:3, 9:6), not even human unfaithfulness causes Him to change His promises.

Teacher of the Word of Truth – 2:14-19

Arguing is not helpful in clarifying matters of faith (verse 14). Usually, in an argument, both parties only get stronger in their own opinions. As one pastor who has studied many heresies said: “When meeting Mormons and others, one should not engage in argument, but should see it as an opportunity to witness to them about Christ.” This is a very important perspective. The Christian faith is about proclaiming Christ, not arguing about religious questions (compare Titus 3:10: "But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless").

In verse 14 the word "ruins" is the Greek word from which the word "disaster" is derived. Deviation from the true, saving faith is a true disaster. Some thirty years later, when John wrote the Book of Revelation, the church at Ephesus received recognition from the Risen Christ for their endurance and effort (Rev. 2:2), so Timothy was successful in his teaching.

Heresies are like cancer (verse 17). Heresy spreads and destroys, eventually killing, if not stopped. Hymenaeus was already mentioned in 1 Tim 1:20, otherwise he - like Philetus - is unknown to us.

Heresy is going astray (verse 18) - missing the mark (1 Tim 6:21). Those who embrace heresy lead others in the same wrong direction; those who follow them. For example, the Gnostic Valentinus was close to becoming bishop of Rome. In the 140s, Marcion led much of the church astray. In the 400s, Arianism threatened to destroy true doctrine altogether. Church history is full of examples of those who went astray.

The heretics denied the resurrection (verse 18). Apparently they did not deny the resurrection of Christ, but taught that the Christian’s resurrection had already occurred in baptism, and that there would be no other resurrection. This may have been based on a misunderstanding of Paul’s teaching on baptism (see, for example, Rom. 6:3-4, Col. 2:12: "...having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.").

Despite heresies, the foundation laid by God remains firm (verse 19). Although a large number of the Christians in Ephesus had abandoned the true faith (2 Tim 1:15), the situation was not hopeless: God is the Lord of the church, its true owner and builder. Men cannot make his work in vain.

"...therefore thus says the Lord God,
“Behold, I am the one who has
laid as a foundation in Zion,
a stone, a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation:
‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
(Isa 28:16).

The Lord knows his own (verse 19, compare Numbers 16:5, Matthew 7:23, 1 Corinthians 8:3, 14:38). The Lord's people must turn away from iniquity (compare Isa 52:11). The Lord's people want to commit themselves to what is of God; not to what is of his adversary.

Various tasks – 2:20-21

When God stopped Paul on the road to Damascus, He called him to be "a chosen instrument" among the Gentiles:

"...he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel."
(Acts 9:15)

“Weapon” is the same Greek word as “vessel” (skeuos) in verses 20 and 21.

Elsewhere, Paul used the word vessel in another sense: God has the right and power to make different vessels from the same clay (Romans 9:21). Notice that a cheap vessel can become precious (v. 21). But deep down, the clay remains clay (compare 2 Cor. 4:7): the power and glory come from God. Paul had changed from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle to the Gentiles, but it was all by the grace of God (1 Cor. 15:10).

Spiritual warfare – 2:22-26

Young leaders are in danger of being too eager and too absolute (verse 22). The church is such a big ship that it turns slowly.

Verses 23 and 24 repeat the warning against useless arguments (compare verse 16, see also 1 Tim 1:4, 6:4, Titus 3:9). Real change comes from teaching (verse 24). You can win an argument, but at the same time lose the main point. If you get the other person to listen to the teaching, lasting change is possible.

The opposite of "youthful passions" (verse 22) is gentleness (verse 25). Compare with
- 2 Cor 10:1: "I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ";
- Gal 6:1: "...if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should Restore him in a spirit of gentleness";
- Eph 4:1-2: "...walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love...";
- Col 3:12-13: "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, Holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another...").

Gentleness is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
(Gal 5:22-23).

Verse 26 describes a spiritual battle. It is important to remember who our real adversary is: not heretical man but the Devil (see Ephesians 6:10-20). We cannot fight him in our own strength, but only through the power of Christ.