The Exemplars of a Man of God[a]
Chapter 2
Accept Your Share of Sufferings.[b] 1 As for you, my child, take strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you learned from me in the presence of many witnesses you must pass on to trustworthy people who will be capable of teaching others.
3 Together with me, bear your share of sufferings like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 A soldier does not become involved in everyday affairs, for his task is to obey his commanding officer. 5 In a similar vein, no athlete can receive the winner’s crown unless he has competed according to the rules. 6 Again, the farmer who does the hard work should have the first claim on the crops. 7 Think about what I am saying, for the Lord will help you to understand it perfectly.
Remember That Jesus Christ Is Risen.[c] 8 Remember the gospel that I preach: Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, was raised from the dead. 9 It is because of this that I have endured great suffering, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. 10 Therefore, I endure everything for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 This saying can be trusted:
If we have died with him,
we shall also live with him.
12 If we endure,
we shall also reign with him.
If we deny him,
he will also deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
14 A True Servant of the Lord.[d] Remind people of these things, and warn them before God[e] that they must stop arguing over words. This does no good and only causes harm to those who are listening. 15 Make every effort to present yourself before God as one who is worthy of his approval, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, but who imparts the word of truth without any alteration.
16 Avoid idle and worldly chatter, for those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will spread like a plague. Included among these are Hymenaeus[f] and Philetus, 18 who have gone astray from the truth. They claim that the resurrection has already taken place, and they damage the faith of some. 19 However, the foundation that God has sealed[g] remains firm, and it bears this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his own,” and “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
20 In every large house, there are utensils not only of gold and silver but also of wood and clay—some for noble purposes and some for ordinary purposes. 21 If someone avoids these things I have mentioned, he will be regarded as a vessel of special value, dedicated and useful for the master of the house, and ready to perform any good work.
22 Turn away from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord[h] with a pure heart. 23 Avoid foolish and stupid speculations, for you are well aware that they only result in quarrels.
24 A servant of the Lord should not engage in quarrels but should be kind to everyone. He should be a good teacher and patient, 25 correcting with gentleness those who oppose him. For God may grant them repentance so that they may come to recognize the truth 26 and regain their senses, enabling them to escape the snare of the devil who had held them captive and subjected them to his will.
Footnotes
- 2 Timothy 2:1 The author then goes on to enumerate eight exemplars that a man of God can follow in some way: Paul (vv. 1-2), a soldier (vv. 3-4), an athlete (v. 5), a farmer (vv. 6-7), Jesus (vv. 8-13), a worker (vv. 14-19), a vessel (vv. 20-23), and a servant (vv. 24-26).
- 2 Timothy 2:1 The apostolate requires a person’s complete commitment. He bears and transmits the message entrusted by God to the Christian community.
- 2 Timothy 2:8 Another heading for this section would read “Be a memorial of Jesus Christ,” i.e., be a person whose whole being and action recalls the Resurrection of Christ and renders it present to those he meets, while announcing to them that its fullness will take place at the time of the Lord’s return. This is the finest picture one could give of the life of Paul.
Verses 11b-13 are probably from a baptismal hymn; to be baptized meant that one should live out, throughout one’s days, the mystery of Christ’s Death and Resurrection (see Rom 6:8; 1 Cor 15:31; Gal 6:14; Phil 3:10; Col 3:3-5). - 2 Timothy 2:14 In the portrait of a true missionary, a certain number of virtues must be present: honesty, respect for and acceptance of everyone, courage in persecution, truthfulness without alteration, and rejection of faddish witticisms. The author once more condemns the errors being propagated in the region of Ephesus; they have the look not of a new religion but of a feverish and babbling emotionalism. The Greek mind had difficulty in accepting the resurrection of the body (see Acts 17:32; 1 Cor 15:22), and some avoid the problem by saying that the resurrection has already taken place at Baptism but that it is solely a case of a spiritual resurrection.
They forget above all that the faith is founded on the word of God, which provides the initiative and that believers have merely to respond. It is the quality of their faith that classifies believers in the Church, not the abundance of their opinions. Yet leaders must be very kind and not condemn any of the members of the community. - 2 Timothy 2:14 Before God: many manuscripts read: “before the Lord.”
- 2 Timothy 2:17 Hymenaeus: see 1 Tim 1:20. His punishment has not helped him.
- 2 Timothy 2:19 Foundation . . . sealed: the foundations of buildings in antiquity were sealed and adorned with inscriptions. As inscriptions Paul uses Scripture texts that complement one another: Num 16:5 (God cares for those he loves) and Num 16:26; Isa 26:13; 52:11 (these must lead upright lives).
- 2 Timothy 2:22 Those who call on the Lord: i.e., Christians (see Acts 19:14ff; Rom 10:12f).