INSTRUCTIONS FOR TIMOTHY

Passage: 2 Timothy 2:14-26

Key verse: 15a

NIV

Dealing With False Teachers

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words;(A) 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.(B) 16 Avoid godless chatter,(C) because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus(D) and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place,(E) and they destroy the faith of some.(F) 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm,(G) sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,”(H) and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord(I) must turn away from wickedness.”

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.(J) 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.(K)

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love(L) and peace, along with those who call on the Lord(M) out of a pure heart.(N) 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.(O) 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.(P) 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,(Q) 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil,(R) who has taken them captive to do his will.

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Source: BibleGateway

ESV

A Worker Approved by God

14 Remind them of these things, and (A)charge them before God[a] (B)not to quarrel about words, (C)which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,[b] a worker (D)who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But (E)avoid (F)irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are (G)Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, (H)saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: (I)“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone (J)who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

20 Now in (K)a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, (L)some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, (M)if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[c] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, (N)ready for every good work.

22 So (O)flee (P)youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with (Q)those who call on the Lord (R)from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant (S)controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And (T)the Lord's servant[d] must not be quarrelsome but (U)kind to everyone, (V)able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents (W)with gentleness. God (X)may perhaps grant them repentance (Y)leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (Z)the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Timothy 2:14 Some manuscripts the Lord
  2. 2 Timothy 2:15 That is, one approved after being tested
  3. 2 Timothy 2:21 Greek from these things
  4. 2 Timothy 2:24 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Present yourself to God as one approved (14-19) Paul had much advice to give to young Timothy. God's servants should avoid quarreling, godless chatter. They must turn away from wickedness and hold on to the truth of the gospel of the resurrection. Most of all God's servants should know that they are approved by God. Although we are all sinners (even God's servants!), God cleanses us through the blood of Jesus Christ. We can stand as one approved by Him. Then we have no reason to be ashamed of anything. We should not seek to be approved by others. We should seek to be approved by God. 2. Gold and silver; wood and clay (2 -26) Gold and silver represent what is godly. Wood and clay represent what is ungodly. When God's servants are cleansed of what is ungodly, fleeing our evil desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, we are useful to God. God made us for noble purposes. We are made to be holy! God made us to be useful to Him!

Prayer: Lord, cleanse us of all unrighteousness and help us to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace.

One Word: Present yourself as one approved by God