2 Timothy 2:15

 2 Timothy 2:15 says, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  Paul said Timothy was to study to show himself approved.   I believe he meant to study God’s word as the most important thing that he could study.  We today need to study God’s word as well, but that doesn’t mean that is the only thing we should study.  Paul said Timothy was to do this so that he might not be ashamed of his lack of knowing God’s word I believe.  As followers of Christ, we need to know God’s word so that we will not be ashamed by our lack of understanding it.  Paul also said that Timothy would know how to rightly divide the word of truth if he studied God’s word.  This would apply to being able to know what other things Timothy might study that he would know how God’s truth applied to it I believe.  Everything we may study today should be consistent with God’s word.  

Verse sixteen adds, But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.  Paul said that Timothy was to avoid profane and vain babblings since they could only cause more ungodliness.  I believe this refers to things that are added to God’s word in relationship to salvation and what it means to be a Christian.  I don’t believe that it means that we shouldn’t talk about other things in the world, but if they are profane and foolish then we should avoid them.  

Verse seventeen continues, And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;   Paul said these profane and vain babblings were like a canker sore and would eat away at a person's faith.  He then gave the names of two people that proclaimed such things.  If we begin to hear someone who professes to be a Christian proclaim something about God that is not the truth according to His word, we need to avoid them.  

Verse eighteen states, Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.  These two men were saying that the resurrection of believers had already happened, and this caused some people to renounce their faith.  I believe this means they were not truly saved, because if they were they wouldn’t believe this.  Still, some followers of Christ today will believe things that are not consistent with God’s word, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t saved.  They just become ineffective witnesses and lose their spiritual power that the Holy Spirit provides.   

Verse nineteen adds, Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.   Paul said that the foundation of God stood, and that was forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ alone and those who put their faith in Him were sealed by God as His.   He then added that those who had put their faith in Jesus Christ were to depart from iniquity.  If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we are forever sealed by God as a part of His kingdom.  When do accept Him, we are to depart from iniquity.  We will not always be successful in this, but this should be our goal.  

2 Timothy 2:11

2 Timothy 2:11 says, It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:  Paul said this was a faithful statement, which I believe could mean two things.  One is that faithful means true and the other is that faithful means it was made by faith in what Paul was about to say.  Paul said that if we were dead with Christ, we would also live with Him.  This means spiritually dying to self and spiritually living for God.  Just as Jesus died to self-will every day before He physically died on the cross, we should die to self-will every day after we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord.  Still, we will at times come up short of this.  

Verse twelve adds, If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:  Paul said that if we suffered with Jesus Christ because of our faith in Him that we would one day reign with Him.  I don’t believe that reign means that we will be in power but that we will be a part of His kingdom where He will reign.  The opposite was also true.  If we deny Jesus Christ in our life, He will deny us when He returns to reign over His kingdom.  

Verse thirteen continues, If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.  Paul said our lack of belief does not change Who Jesus Christ is.  He is the faithful Savior of all, but we must accept His gift of salvation by faith for it to save us.  If we refuse to, it doesn’t change what He did for us.  

Verse fourteen concludes, Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.  Paul said that Timothy was to remind believers of the truth of the gospel before the Lord so that they wouldn't strive or argue about words that were vain or meaningless as for as salvation is concerned.   As Christians, we may have different ideas about certain things the Bible says, but we should never allow these to become our focus.  If they are about anything other than being saved by faith in Jesus Christ and living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, they are of no value to our salvation.  

2 Timothy 2:5

 2 Timothy 2:5 says, And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.  This would seem to refer to winning a competition.  If a person strives to be the best at something, he is not crowned unless he achieves his success lawfully.  We may strive for salvation by some method other than faith in Jesus Christ, but it will not be lawful, so we will not be crowned with everlasting life.  

Verse six adds, The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Paul said that the husbandman that labors must be the first partaker of his labor.  If we would be victorious, we must do the labor or run the race.  I don’t believe this means that we can attain salvation by works, but that once we are saved, we should do whatever God calls us to do to the best of our ability.  

Verse seven continues, Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.  Paul told Timothy to consider what he said and to ask God for the ability to understand it. We as Christians are to consider what the Bible says, but we are also to ask God for the ability to understand it.  

Verse eight states, Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:  Paul asked Timothy to first remember that Jesus Christ, the descendant of David as the Messiah was to be, Who was also the only begotten Son of God though Paul doesn’t state that here, was raised from the dead after dying for the sins of mankind.  Though Paul said according to his gospel, I believe that he meant according to the gospel he preached, which was the gospel of Christ.  We as Christians must always keep our salvation as the most important thing that we remember as we proclaim the gospel of Christ.  

Verse nine adds, Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.  Paul said that because he proclaimed the gospel, he suffered trouble as an evildoer to the point of being bound.  Then, he said that even when he was bound, that the word of God was not bound.  Even if we end up imprisoned for our faith, we need to continue to proclaim God’s word to those around us, and we also need to remember that even if we are bound, God’s word never will be.    

Verse ten continues, Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  Paul said that he was willing to endure all things so that others might come to God through salvation by Jesus Christ.  Even if Paul was imprisoned, he still put his faith in Jesus Christ so that by his example of faithfulness he might help others to put their faith in Jesus Christ as well.  We too often want to call people to Christ for the opposite reason.  We proclaim that faith will lead to happiness and success, and when people put their faith in this type of gospel and don’t gain success, they turn away.  We need to proclaim the gospel with the truth that it will often lead us to suffering under the authorities of the world, but like Paul, we must endure whatever the world throws at us as we continue to live by faith.