INTRODUCTION: In this second chapter of Apostle Paul’s epistle to his protégé and son in the faith, Timothy, pastor of the church at Ephesus.
In this portion of this chapter we’ll venture into Paul’s admonition to Timothy regarding the elders and church leadership, that he will “…remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”
He encourages Timothy to be diligent in the study of the Word, to shun babblings that are born of and encourages strife and contention among the church. The apostle addresses how the LORD will operate through those of His that are sanctified and usable and will refrain from using those not sanctified, that is those who don’t belong to GOD and further, pursue holiness.
He ends this section of his epistle with the manner and conduct of the servant of the LORD (vs. 24-25). So without any further delay, let’s get into these instructions and admonitions found in verses 11-18.
2 TIMOTHY 2:11
11 This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.
You can “take this to the bank”: if we died with Christ, we shall also without doubt, live with Him! Not just in heaven – but in the here and now!
All saints indeed must consider themselves to have died to self, died to sin, died to Satan’s wicked world. This is true if we have bowed before the LORD Jesus Christ and received Him as our LORD and Savior. That being the case, why then do we still feel temptation towards sin? Why is the attraction still alive in us?
It's a fact: Christ died and was buried. It’s also a fact: Christ has risen from dead. These statements are true.
Vs. 8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel (in full: 1 COR 15:3-4).
And just as we believe the truth in regards to Jesus, we believe by faith in what GOD’s Word of Truth tells us regarding ourselves: Spiritually speaking, we are crucified with Christ, our old life is buried and gone; we are risen with Christ to new life (GAL 2:20).
You and I are being trained to live a Christian life according to these truths by faith, and not to live according to what we see, what we hear, what we feel (2 COR 5:7).
Though we may feel the lure of temptation in our flesh, we disregard those compulsions and consider ourselves dead to them and then let the Spirit of GOD dominate us in sweet surrender. Through the grace of GOD we procure the help we need in such times of temptation. We pay attention to the truth of GOD’S Word, not focus on what this body feels, what this mind thinks.
ROMANS 6:11-12“reckon” (Greek: logizomai) – to conclude, to account the total sum of something, to impute: in other words “to placing something into the account of another.”
11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
We add up the total sum of truth and this is the bottom line:
Just as Jesus died on the Cross FOR my sin, I account that I died TO sin with Him on that Cross! I conclude that I live the spiritual life GOD gave me and I will not “LET” (this makes it a choice) sin dominate, overpower, rule over me. I will not become the slave of sin again as I once was before I knew Christ.
ROMANS 6:13-14“Present” means: don’t yield, don’t allow, don’t provide your members: all the parts of your body, of your mind, of your will to become “instruments” for unrighteousness, but for righteousness to GOD!
13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for [because] you are not under law but under grace.
Interestingly enough the Greek word for “instrument” (the Greek word is hoplon) can literally mean “weapons for war” and “armor”.
In other words, don’t let sin take over those things that GOD intends to use through you, which are weapons of war! He’s designed our members as His saints, empowered by His resurrection life, to be weapons to devastate the kingdom of darkness! GOD wants to use you as His mighty machine gun! Even His Holy H-Bomb – to waste Satan’s domain!
And it states here that “sin shall not dominate you” (why?) because you’re under the grace of GOD (not the Law which cannot empower a holy life, but only condemn our sin).
We often think of the grace of GOD in providing redemption, for the forgiveness of our sin, and so it is! But grace also empowers us to resist sin when we are being tempted and provides help to overcome sin:
HEBREWS 4:162 TIMOTHY 2:12-13
Let us therefore come confidently to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.
Can we count on our own will power, our own fortitude, our own ability to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps to “endure”? What or really, Who is the staying power for the saint? The Spirit of GOD, and as we yield to Him, He enables us to endure any suffering, any tribulation, any persecution, any discouragement and depression, any obstacle that stands in the way of our spiritual advancement.
In GALATIANS 5:22-23 we read about the fruit of the Spirit. Vs. 22 mentions “faith” (pistis in the Greek) which also can mean “faithfulness”!
Do you understand what this means?
GOD is always, always faithful to His children, without fail! And as we sow the seed of GOD’s Word into our hearts, and follow through with obedience, that seed will grow, and the fruit it bears will resemble the Spirit of GOD because it’s HIS FRUIT! So just as GOD is faithful to us, as His children we will grow in our faithfulness to Him!
All those who continue to the end have this fruit in their lives, the overcomers by their faith are assured to rule!
REVLATION 2:26-27Anyone foolish enough to deny Jesus as LORD and Savior will themselves be denied by the Author of Life, the eternal LORD of glory, and honor and power, and wisdom and strength!
26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. 27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' as I also have received from My Father;
MARK 8:38There are times when even we saints fall into sin. Or in a moment of weakness we can lack faith in GOD’s promises and are proven faithless in any particular situation. However, GOD remains faithful and just to forgive us as we confess our sins, cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 JOHN 1:9) and also to complete His work that He Himself began in us (PHIL 1:6)!
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.
2 TIMOTHY 2:14-15
14 Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent in study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We need to be constantly reminded of GOD’s truth; we can so easily let the things of GOD drift (HEB 2:1). The LORD’s apostles never considered it a tedious burden to remind the saints of these precious truths of the Scripture (Paul didn’t; he said so in PHIL 3:1).
It should be the same for the LORD’s teachers and pastors. As shepherds of GOD’s flock, pastors are called upon to exhibit the same patience and longsuffering for sheep, as GOD exhibits for His shepherds.
Vs. 14 “…charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.”
“How many angels can fit on the head of a pin?”
“Can GOD create a rock so big that He can’t lift it?”
“Who created GOD?”
“The Bible has been rewritten and changed over thousands of years.”
1 TIMOTHY 1:4 speaks on this as well “…which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” (also 1 TIM 6:4,13; TITUS 3:9,11).
There are all kinds of ‘church traditions’ just as the Jews had their own traditions, and there is room for traditions as such, as long as they don’t contradict or be equated with Scripture, let alone supersede them!
Traditions can potentially cause contentions, strife and unwarranted division to the body of Christ. In part, this is one reason (among others) why there are so many denominations.
Akin to this are the typical arguments regarding the appropriate method of water baptism, contentions between Calvinism vs. Arminianism, between Baptist (“Repent! And be Baptist!”) vs. Pentecostal (“Be Pentecostal or it’ll cost ya!”). Issues like the timing of the rapture, tithing and so many others. Most issues are not salvific – that is – they’re not crucial, fundamental doctrine that’s required for salvation.
As disciples of the Word we have to be careful to major on the majors and minor on the minors; that is, where there are non-negotiable, fundamental doctrines of the Scriptures, let us be 100% in agreement with what the Bible teaches with absolute clarity.
Where there are issues that are not non-negotiable, where there are viably different views that can be found in Scripture, may we be gracious, not argumentative about such things.
We can discuss these issues constructively, but not debate endlessly.
Vs. 15 “Be diligent in study to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
See here where the study of the Word and our work for the LORD are coupled together? And really – the work begins with the study of the Scriptures!
As we desire GOD’s approval in our careful study of the Word, we likewise seek GOD’s approval in our ministry (our service to GOD; and if you’re saved, GOD has a ministry for you! No one in the body of Christ doesn’t have a ministry).
From Albert Barne’s Notes (paraphrased):
2 PETER 1:10We want to be diligent in our reading and methodical studying of the Word of GOD; not a sporadic, occasional involvement “as the mood strikes us”, but a disciplined, regular, resolute determination to master (by the grace of GOD) the Holy Revelation of GOD, the Scriptures.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things [vs. 5-7] you will never stumble.
“…or make an effort to fulfill the duties of the ministry and have the LORD’s approval. The object of the ministry is not to please men but to have GOD’s approval.
Such doctrines should be [studied] preached, and practiced, and such a manner of life pursued, which God will approve. To do this demands study and careful conduct. There are many influences that will seek to pull you this way and that – in the opposite direction of GOD’s will. Many things will lead a minister to seek popular favor rather than the GOD’s approval. If any man pleases God, it will be as the result of deliberate intention and careful conduct.
“A workman that needs not to be ashamed.” A man faithfully performing his duty, so that when he looks over what he has done, he may not blush.
“Rightly dividing the word of truth”. The word here rendered "rightly dividing," occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, “something properly done, to cut straight, to divide correctly [to dissect]”; and the allusion here may be to a steward who makes a proper [division and] distribution to each one under his care of such things as his office and their necessities require. This idea is seen in MATT 13:52.
“Some have supposed that there is an allusion here to the Jewish priest cutting or dividing the sacrifice into proper parts; others, that this refers to scribes dividing the law into sections; others, to a carver distributing food to the guests at a feast. Robinson renders it, "… rightfully and skillfully teaching the word of truth.”
“The idea seems to be, that the minister of the gospel is to make a proper distribution of that word, adapting his instructions to the circumstances and needs of his hearers, and giving to each that which is required to nourish the soul for heaven.”
This kind of “study” should be a labor of love, working up a holy sweat as it were! We desire to mine the Scriptures with the same hard work and determination of a gold prospector mining for gold. We shall dig and dig and not quit until we have in hand (and mind, and heart) the nuggets of GOD’s truth!
Q: How many of you have heard that you need to “study the Scripture in context”?
This is absolutely true! Every verse must be read in context of the passage, but it doesn’t stop there! Every verse and passage must be studied in the context of the chapter. And the chapter in context of the book. And the book in context with all of the other 65 books of the Bible!
Let your Bible interpret every verse you read. Your interpretation, my interpretation doesn’t matter (2 PET 1:20)! GOD interprets His own Word by His Word. What each individual verse addresses, you can find content on those very same topics in the rest of the Bible.
This is a life time endeavor for which there are absolutely no short cuts!
However, having said that, there are extremely useful media by way of MP3’s and other digital platforms – as well as credible, educational websites, where we can get up to speed in understanding the overall perspective of the Bible as well as delving into the awesome details ourselves that’s contained in the pages of Scripture!
With both working together, the student of the Word can avail themselves of reputable, biblical teachers, while at the same time, getting to know how to study the Bible for themselves [TTUF Discipleship 102: How To Study The Bible (found on same page as Discipleship 101); Josh McDowell’s Guide To Understanding Your Bible.
Let’s say theoretically we were to obtain all the biblical knowledge that there is to be had, it’s all useless without the proper motivation and response to GOD’s Word of Truth!
Motivation: Why Learn The Bible?
1 CORINTHIANS 13:2b
And though I have … all knowledge …but have not love, I am nothing.
Love for GOD, love for His truth, love of souls – sinners and saints alike.
Response: What Should Be Our Reaction to Biblical Truth Discovered?
MATTHEW 7:24-25
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Vs.15 cont’d “…study to present yourself approved to God…”
In presenting ourselves before GOD, we whose efforts of study are noticed by Him, we stand apart from the casual reader of the Scriptures. We then are able to exhibit the sort of conduct that speaks of the commendable student of the Holy Bible.
This approval is granted with the testing of the LORD: the determination of the gold prospector is discovered when he refuses to become discouraged even when prospects seem unyielding.
Much in the same way, anyone in ministry is tested and approved of GOD when they are diligent and continue in their study in the Holy Scripture with a heart committed to Christ, and to their GOD given ministry (2 COR 9:9-14). Even if they see little or no fruit at the start. These are “approved to GOD” and have displayed the qualities of those who are hungry for the LORD, who seek after Him wholeheartedly, prayerfully (JER 29:13).
We see such approval by GOD elsewhere in the Scriptures (ROM 14:18; 16:10; 1 COR 11:19; 2 COR 10:18).
We had an all-day seminar at our church some years back on How to Study the Bible, and all three pastors contributed keen insights and practical helps in this wondrous work that all Christians (not just pastors!) are to engage in!
Check out these videos by pastors Albert Lopez, Sonny Islas and James Fire. You can find these in a TTUF article republishing The Berean Call article “How To Bible Study” with T.A. McMahon!
A rather somber observation: If only Christians followed this admonition, and were all able disciples of the Word, then the rank deception that we see in today’s world couldn’t possibly find a foothold in the church – in the world? Of course, but not the body of Christ. Yet we see overwhelming apostasy with the need to name names regarding false teachers in order to warn the saints against them and their false doctrines.
The late Dave Hunt (founder of The Berean Call) once made the observation that if Christians obeyed the LORD Jesus Christ’s command to “continue in [His] Word” as His disciples, there would be little use for discernment ministries because those who are “exercised” in the Word are strong in their discernment (HEB 4:12; 5:12-14).
2 TIMOTHY 2:16-18
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
The holy law of GOD will bring judgment on the wicked (1 TIM 1:9). As leaders of the church we are to reject profane (“wicked”) fables (1 TIM 4:7); and Timothy was admonished by Paul to avoid profane and vain babblings and issues of so-called knowledge (1 TIM 6:20) that contradict sound doctrine.
In this passage before us, the warning that those who engage in such babblings will find themselves increasing in ungodliness like: Hymenaeus and Philetus who abandoned Paul and the LORD by engaging in false teachings and practices.
Leaven (“yeast” which represents false teaching, sin in general and pride specifically) is like cancer in that it invades, grows, and overtakes silently, without notice – but once discovered, it can be beyond remedy.
The particular issue with these two men was that they declared that the resurrection of the church had occurred already. And yet from Scripture, we know that there are a great many things that must transpire before the coming of the LORD. We are keenly aware that the last days prior to the coming of Christ are full of tribulations and trials that will test those who are the “earth-dwellers” (REV 3:10).
There was the same issue in the Thessalonica church. Apparently there was a forgery of Paul going around, stating that the LORD had already come, and the saints gathered together with Him:
2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-3Before the Second Advent of Christ two things will occur: an apostasy – a falling away from “the faith”, that is the body of doctrinal truth that is the Holy Bible; and the revealing of “the son of perdition” who is the Beast. As neither of them had at that time occurred, there was no cause for concern regarding Christ’s appearing.
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
Of course false teachings were prevalent in New Testament times, and the epistles were written in part to correct them. These false teachings (leaven) will grow and grow as we proceed into these last days.
There were those who even expressed the (false) idea that there is no resurrection from the dead (those sort who were of the Gnostic beliefs; see 1 COR 15:12-17).
Pastors and teachers bear a tremendous responsibility because of the fact that they are to rightly divide the Word of Truth, feed, guard and guide the flock of GOD, warn the unruly and the rebellious, be in prayer for all and everyone, and do all of this in the Spirit of Christ: with grace, truth, and love.
Those who teach error, who conduct themselves inappropriately which results in damaging the LORD’s sheep, or even unredeemed souls, can cause such ruin! If that isn’t enough to give you gray hair, I don’t know what will! Indeed, teachers will receive a far stricter judgment at the Bema Seat of Christ (JAMES 3:1).
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