Discipline for perpetuation: models for faithful ministry_2 Timothy 2
1/2/26
Questions
Exhortation to be strong in grace
1 You, therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these things to faithful people who will be competent to teach others also. 3 Suffer together with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one who serves as a soldier is entangled in the activities of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him. 5 And also if anyone competes, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The farmer who works hard must be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Consider what I am saying, for the Lord will grant you understanding in all these things.
Where is Timothy commanded to find the strength necessary for his difficult ministry [v1]?1
What is the four-stage process of "apostolic succession" described by Paul, and what are the necessary qualifications for those involved [v2]?2
What lessons would Paul have us learn from the metaphors of the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer [vv3-6]?3
A trustworthy saying
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David according to my gospel, 9 in connection with which I suffer misfortune to the point of imprisonment [lit. “bonds”] as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound. 10 Because of this, I endure all things for the sake of the chosen, in order that they also may obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy:
For if we died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are unfaithful, he remains faithful—he cannot deny himself.
How does remembering Jesus as "risen from the dead" and "descended from David" motivate endurance [v8]?4
In the trustworthy saying regarding faithfulness, how does Paul distinguish between "denying" Christ and being "faithless" [vv12-13]?5
A worker approved to God and not ashamed
14 Remind people of these things, solemnly urging them before the Lord not to dispute about words. This is in no way beneficial and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, a worker having no need to be ashamed, guiding along a straight path [ὀρθοτομοῦντα] the word of truth. 16 But avoid pointless chatter, for it will progress to greater ungodliness, 17 and their message will spread like gangrene, among whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have deviated concerning the truth by saying the resurrection has already taken place, and they are upsetting the faith of some.
Ὁρθοτομέω is a hapax meaning “to make a straight cut, i.e. (fig.) to dissect (expound) correctly…rightly divide”6. Paul has already said, “Hold fast to the pattern [ὑποτύπωσιν] of sound words which you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” [2 Timothy 1:13].
Where are Paul’s metaphors coming from? Hint: what was his trade [Acts 18:3]?7
Why does Paul describe the teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus as “gangrene” [vv17-18]?8
19 However, the solid foundation of God stands firm, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his [Numbers 16:5],” and “Everyone who names the name of the Lord must abstain from unrighteousness.”
The first quotation [Numbers 16:5] is from the story of the rebellion of Korah [Numbers 16]. Korah led a group of 250 to challenge the authenticity of Moses’ teaching, i.e. they were “false teachers” in NT terms.
The second quotation combines the “names the name of the Lord” from Isaiah 26:13 [LXX] [and possible echoes in Leviticus 24:16, Amos 6:10, etc.] with “abstain from unrighteousness” which is loosely derived from Isaiah 52:11 and texts such as Psalm 34:14, Proverbs 3:7, and Sirach 17:26.
The point is that false teachers always had to be removed from the assembly/εκκλεισία of YHWH/Jesus. As in the days of Moses so also in first century Ephesus.
What are some of the false teachings that have infiltrated the modern church?9
20 Now in a great house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthenware ones, some of which are for honorable use, and some of which are for ordinary use. 21 Therefore, if someone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful to the Master [δεσπότῃ], prepared for every good work.
According to the analogy of household vessels, how can a believer become "a vessel for honorable use" [vv20-21]?10
22 But flee from youthful desires, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, in company with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and uninformed controversies, because you know that they produce quarrels. 24 And the slave of the Lord must not quarrel, but be kind toward everyone, skillful in teaching, tolerant, 25 correcting those who are opposed with gentleness, seeing whether perhaps God may grant them repentance to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they will come to their senses again and escape from the trap of the devil, being held captive by him to do his will.
What specific posture and behaviour must the “slave of the Lord adopt” when dealing with those who are in error or have not embraced the truth [vv24-26]?11
Timothy is told to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. This indicates that his power for ministry does not come from his own willpower or natural abilities—which may have been hampered by his timidity and frailty.
The process involves four generations of transmission: 1) the faith was entrusted to Paul by Christ; 2) Paul entrusted it to Timothy; 3) Timothy must entrust it to reliable men; 4) these men must be qualified to teach others.
• The Soldier: Teaches the necessity of enduring hardship and maintaining single-minded devotion by avoiding “civilian affairs” to please the commanding officer.
• The Athlete: Teaches the importance of self-discipline and competing “according to the rules” of God’s Word to receive the victor’s crown.
• The Farmer: Teaches the need for arduous, patient labour before one can expect to share in the spiritual harvest.
Remembering Jesus’ resurrection reminds us of Jesus’, already accomplished, victory over death in the resurrection and, hence, certainty of eschatological victory over death. Remembering his Davidic descent confirms that he is the legitimate, promised Messiah who fulfills God’s ancient, faithful plan [see Chronicles] that is utterly faithful to, hence “my gospel”.
“Denying” Christ refers to a permanent rejection or apostasy, resulting in Christ disowning the person at the final judgment [Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffin, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, vol. 34, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 63. Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2339.]. However, being “faithless” refers to the temporary lapses in trust or moments of weakness that all believers experience and God remains faithful to his promises and his own nature, as he cannot deny himself [Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2339. Thomas D. Lea and Hayne P. Griffin, 1, 2 Timothy, Titus, vol. 34, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992), 212.].
James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 52.
Paul was a tent maker by trade [Acts 18:3]. The metaphors of patterns as guides rather than strict templates but still requiring a straight cut both come from that trade.
False doctrine, like gangrene, is rotten and infectious, and usually fatal except if removed by extreme measures such as amputation. Likewise, if false teachers are not removed from the church the faith will die.
Hymenaeus and Philetus, denied that there was a future resurrection. Paul also regularly flags up the circumcision group within the churches. False teachers are those who deny the fundamentals of the gospel, destroying our Christian hope, and must be removed.
From the immediate context, a believer must cleanse himself from false teachings. and immoral behaviour [v19]. He then becomes not just ceremonially pure but truly holy and set apart to sever the despot!
The slave must not be quarrelsome, but rather kind, patient, and gentle. The goal is that through this gentle instruction, God may grant the opponents repentance, leading them to the knowledge of the truth and allowing them to escape the “trap of the devil”.