2 Timothy Verse by Verse

2 Timothy 2:1-7 | Advice to Believers

• Verse 1 --

  • Though these words are directly to Timothy, they are fully Pauline (not based on prophecy) and can be safely applied directly to the believer.

  • Based on the fact that Phygellus and Hermogenes turned away (1:15) and Onesiphorus was faithful (1:16-17), Paul prays for Timothy to be strong.... It is easy to drift, and difficult to be strong.

  • It is nteresting to note that the imperative, be strong, is in the passive tense.

    • Grace is not something you can actively be strong in, because grace is a gift that you receive, through faith.

    • Therefore, Paul says, in effect, "take every advantage of the blessings of grace, resting in grace and strengthened by it, never abusing it but always standing in it."

      
      

  • Note that Paul instructs that it is grace in which our strength is sourced. Rather than saying, be strong in the law that is in Moses we are to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

    
    

• Verse 2-

  • As further indication that this instruction to Timothy is applicable to all the body of Christ, Paul instructs Timothy to take the Pauline teachings and pass them to faithful men who will, in turn, pass them to others. This makes the material non-exclusive to Timothy.

  • Note that of me is not about me, but from me.

    • The Greek phrase is used four other times in the New Testament, always with the meaning from me. (John 4:9, Rom 11:27, 2 Tim 1:13, Rev. 3:18).

    • In other words, Timothy is instructed to commit Pauline theology to faithful men who can teach others.

      
      

  • The Greek word translated commitπαρατίθημι [paratithemi]. It is from para (along side) and tithemi* *(to give).

    • Paratithemi is always used in the New Testament in giving something to someone who will have to take an active role in receiving it.

    • Tithemi by itself is an act of giving that requires no response from the recipient in order for it to do its work.

      • For example, Jesus says "I lay down my life for the sheep" (Jn 10:15, 17,18), using tithemi. The life is given (and the price of redemption paid) whether the sheep receive it.

      • Or Romans 9:33, "I lay in Zion a stumblingstone," such a stone is what it is regardless of response.

        
        

  • Paratithemi*, *however, is always given with the option of doing something with it and becomes of naught if the recipient does not receive it.

    • Therefore, Timothy could lay the teachings of Paul down before faithful men, but it would only be valuable if they took these up themselves.

    • When a believer commits Pauline teaching to others, he/she cannot force them to take it. "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."

      
      

  • Ideally, one Pauline believer committing the truth to another, and then that person being able to teach others also is the way to change the world!

    
    

• Verse 3 --

  • The command to endure hardness is to be fulfilled as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Paul will use three examples of Christian service, and good soldier is the first.

  • The word therefore lets us know that these three examples are illustrative of the faithful men who should carry the Pauline gospel.

    
    

• Verse 4 --

  • Paul gives further encouragement about being a good soldier (v. 3), namely being unentangled with the affairs of this life. The word affairs isπραγματεία [pragmateia], from which we get pragmatics.

  • This should not be used to build any kind of aesthetic lifestyle, free from worldly goods, for even a soldier takes care of the logistics of food, clothing, shelter, etc. But a soldier is always ready to enter warfare because he has managed affairs in such a way that there is not entanglement.

    
    

• Verse 5 --

  • Paul's second example of faithful men is as one who will strive for masteries.

    • The Greek verb is ἀθλέω [athleo], from which we get athlete.

    • The athlete must play by the rules (i.e.: strive lawfully) or he will not win the competition.

      
      

  • While the faithful one“make it up as they go along." There are theological rules, moral rules, social rules, etc., and these cannot be abandoned.

    
    

• Verse 6 --

  • Paul's third example of faithful men (v. 2) is that of the husbandman that laboureth.

    • The Greek word γεωργός [georgos] is translated husbandman. It is from ge (the earth) and ergon (to work).

    • Thus it speaks of one who works the earth, that is, a farmer.

      
      

  • While the previous two examples focus more on the diligence of the faithful men, this verse focuses on the reward. It is the farmer who gets the pick of the crop and who will be first partaker of the fruits.

  • “try, try again," until it succeeds, being faithful to the end.

    
    

• Verse 7 --

  • Paul gives the command to consider what I say. The word consider is an imperative (a command).

  • It is followed by the phrase and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

    • However, the word and is the English translation of the conjunction γάρ [gar], a word that is translated as for 1027 out of its 1067 usages.

    • The word is translated as and only in two other places (Acts 8:39 and 1 Thes“additional" type conjunction.

      
      

  • I believe that the way this verse should be interpreted is that when we consider what Paul says, then (and only then) do we have full understanding of all things.

    • This understanding comes from the Lord because the Lord gave the revelation of the mystery to Paul.

    • In fact, Colossians 1:25 shows that *“not filled" Bible*. The Pauline epistles are essential to having understanding in all things.