2 Timothy 2:20

 2 Timothy 2:20 says, But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  Paul said in the same house that there were vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and earth.  We might say we have dishes for preparing food, our everyday dishes, and our fine China which would be used on special occasions.  I believe that we might use the fine China to honor people, but I don’t believe that we use the everyday dishes to dishonor people though some people might view it this way.  Of course, Paul wasn't referring to dishes, but to human characteristics or desires. We have both desire to follow God and at times to disobey Him.

Verse twenty-one adds, If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.  Paul said that if a man purged himself of sin in his life by putting His faith in Jesus Christ that he would be vessel to honor God.  We should always be the best that we can be everyday as we live for God’s glory by the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Sill, we are but a vessel to be used by God. 

Verse twenty-two continues, Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Paul said that we as Christians should flee youthful lusts, and I believe this means no matter what age we might be.  Instead, we are to follow righteousness, faith, and peace with those who call on God with a pure heart.  I believe that this applies to how we treat all people and not just Christians.  

Verse twenty-three states, But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.  Paul said we are to avoid foolish and unlearned questions.  I don’t believe that this means that we shouldn’t address what we view to be wrong beliefs proclaimed by lost people, but that we should not engage in arguments about them.  We should present God’s truth, and if they don’t accept it, we should not allow it to lead to strife in our life.  This is especially true about our understanding of God’s salvation plan and His authority.   

Verse twenty-four adds, And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,   Paul expands on what he said in the last verse. As followers of Christ, we are not to strive, or ague with others out of anger, but we are to be gentle in our dealings with them, so that we might teach them God’s word, and we are to do this with patience.  There really does seem to be a need for more of this from Christians today.  

Verse twenty-five continues, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;  Paul said that we are to interact with the lost in meekness and to instruct them in God’s truth so that they might acknowledge the truth of God and be saved.  Our discussions with lost people should never be done in anger and just to justify ourselves but must be done to lead the lost to faith in Jesus Christ.   

Verse twenty-six concludes, And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.  Paul said that we should do this so that lost people might come to know the truth of God and be saved from being captive to the Devil.  Our conversations should always point people to God and not just be arguments to prove ourselves correct. 

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.