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2 Timothy 2:14-26
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A Worker Approved by God 14 Remind them of these things, and y charge them before God 1 z not to quarrel about words, a which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, 1 a worker b who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But c avoid d irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are e Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, f saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: g “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone h who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 20 Now in i a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, j some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, k if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, 1 he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, l ready for every good work. 22 So m flee n youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with o those who call on the Lord p from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant q controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And r the Lord’s servant 1 must not be quarrelsome but s kind to everyone, t able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents u with gentleness. God v may perhaps grant them repentance w leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from x the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:14-26
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14 Ταῦτα ὑπομίμνῃσκε, διαμαρτυρόμενος ἐνώπιον τοῦ ^ κυρίου, μὴ λογομαχεῖν, ^ ἐπ’ οὐδὲν χρήσιμον, ἐπὶ καταστροφῇ τῶν ἀκουόντων. 15 σπούδασον σεαυτὸν δόκιμον παραστῆσαι τῷ θεῷ, ἐργάτην ἀνεπαίσχυντον, ὀρθοτομοῦντα τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας. 16 τὰς δὲ βεβήλους κενοφωνίας περιΐστασο· ἐπὶ πλεῖον γὰρ προκόψουσιν ἀσεβείας, 17 καὶ ὁ λόγος αὐτῶν ὡς γάγγραινα νομὴν ἕξει· ὧν ἐστιν Ὑμέναιος καὶ Φίλητος, 18 οἵτινες περὶ τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἠστόχησαν, ^ λέγοντες ἀνάστασιν ἤδη γεγονέναι, καὶ ἀνατρέπουσιν τήν τινων πίστιν. 19 ὁ μέντοι στερεὸς θεμέλιος τοῦ θεοῦ ἕστηκεν, ἔχων τὴν σφραγῖδα ταύτην· Ἔγνω κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ, καί· Ἀποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας πᾶς ὁ ὀνομάζων τὸ ὄνομα κυρίου. 20 Ἐν μεγάλῃ δὲ οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔστιν μόνον σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ ἀλλὰ καὶ ξύλινα καὶ ὀστράκινα, καὶ ἃ μὲν εἰς τιμὴν ἃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν· 21 ἐὰν οὖν τις ἐκκαθάρῃ ἑαυτὸν ἀπὸ τούτων, ἔσται σκεῦος εἰς τιμήν, ἡγιασμένον, ^ εὔχρηστον τῷ δεσπότῃ, εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἡτοιμασμένον. 22 τὰς δὲ νεωτερικὰς ἐπιθυμίας φεῦγε, δίωκε δὲ δικαιοσύνην, πίστιν, ἀγάπην, εἰρήνην μετὰ τῶν ἐπικαλουμένων τὸν κύριον ἐκ καθαρᾶς καρδίας. 23 τὰς δὲ μωρὰς καὶ ἀπαιδεύτους ζητήσεις παραιτοῦ, εἰδὼς ὅτι γεννῶσι μάχας· 24 δοῦλον δὲ κυρίου οὐ δεῖ μάχεσθαι, ἀλλὰ ἤπιον εἶναι πρὸς πάντας, διδακτικόν, ἀνεξίκακον, 25 ἐν πραΰτητι παιδεύοντα τοὺς ἀντιδιατιθεμένους, μήποτε ^ δώῃ αὐτοῖς ὁ θεὸς μετάνοιαν εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν ἀληθείας, 26 καὶ ἀνανήψωσιν ἐκ τῆς τοῦ διαβόλου παγίδος, ἐζωγρημένοι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ἐκείνου θέλημα.
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Notes
Jesus' people must leave quarrelling behind Intro : Context: Follow Jesus through suffering and into glory. Now, immediately Paul wants to focus on how this following of Jesus is shown in our words and manner. 1) Quarrelling leads to ruin (v14-19) Quarrelling. Is the route to apostasy, false teaching. Not so much because of the ideas or content themselves, but because quarrelling in itself makes us wiser in our own eyes; we become more hardened in self-righteousness. cf Proverbs, the journey from being 'simple' to 'a fool' to 'wise in your own eyes'. Ultimately, f anatics - won't change mind, won't change subject. See the contrast between 'swerving' and 'going straight' (translated as rightly handling). Hymenaeus cf 1 Timothy 1.20. Rightly handling, lit cutting straight. In contrast, Hymenaeus et al have swerved from the truth. Not ashamed - ie has trusted the Lord fully. Is all in. FCF. 'Quarrel'; 'irreverent babble'; 'swerving from the truth'; 'flee youthful passions'; 'foolish controversies'; 'quarrelsome'. Talk which 'spreads like gangrene'. H1. Quarrelling is like a tennis game; not looking to learn but simply to talk, trade statements. Project and protect ego. Culturally we are all about the expressing of our own opinions. H2. This absolutely happens under the guise of theology. Appalling quarrels - all about tribe and ego - while talking about 'good things'. Creation and end times today; temple and sabbath in Jesus' day; various quarrels through church history, etc. 2) Follow Jesus in your speech and manner (v20-26) v20 Usefulness requires separation. v22 in context, the youthful passions are the proud motivations that lead to constant need for self-justification with others, and thus quarrels. v26 how to understand human responsibility & God's sovereignty here. 'Yes but what about Jesus pronouncing woe on the Pharisees? And saying he hadn't come to bring peace but a sword?' Doesn't Jesus get into lots of debates about the Scriptures? Once again, our obsessive need for vindication and to be right is what keeps us from the grace of God! God's glory. He is merciful and grants repentance. He knows those who are his and will surely save them. Person of Jesus. He corrected his opponents with gentleness. He shows us righteousness, faith, love and peace and purity of heart. He is not quarrelsome. He shows in his person his 'way' of speaking, which is wise and pure. Work of Jesus . He appeared to defeat the works of the evil one and to free us from slavery to sin. Through his death the ruler of this world was cast out. Our quarrelling egos are forgiven and redeemed. Union with Jesus . Our quarrelling ego was put to death, and we have been raised to new life - of wisdom in speech - in our Lord. Unashamed workman; 'cutting straight' the word of truth; righteousness, faith, love, peace, pure heart. Kind to everyone, gentle. Depart from iniquity/flee youthful passions. Invitation . Let everyone who follows Jesus leave iniquity - which includes a way of speaking. Confrontation . Have nothing to do with foolish controversies, they breed quarrels. Consolation . The Lord's foundation stands; he knows those who are his. Present yourself to God as one who is not ashamed, but approved. Wrap up: Jesus' people must leave quarrelling behind. Follow Jesus in speech and manner.
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