2 Timothy 2:20-26
20: Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21: Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22: Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
23: But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.
24: The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged,
25: with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,
26: and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
Paul used a “large house” with a variety of vessels as an example to show Timothy the difference between vessels of honor—gold and silver—and vessels of dishonor—wood and earthenware. Gold and silver are able to endure fire. It does not destroy them. In fact, they are purified by it. Yet the other materials are consumed by fire and destroyed. Paul said if anyone cleansed himself from “these things,” meaning what he had been talking about in verses 14-18, then he would be a vessel for honor. He will be sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
We are sanctified by the blood of Jesus, yet we are to cleanse ourselves from the things which oppose the gospel of truth. Paul told Timothy to flee youthful lusts and instead to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who also call on the Lord from a pure heart. When we pursue God and His ways with others who also have a pure heart, we help each other stay on track. We encourage and inspire one another.
Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:5 that the goal of their instruction was love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Proper teaching will give the hearers what they need to make this happen. But foolish and ignorant speculations produce quarrels. These are to be “refused.” They breed doubt, corrupt pure faith, and get people off track in their desires, pursuits, and motivations. The Lord’s bond-servant—one committed to Him willingly for life—must not be this way. He must not be quarrelsome, but kind, able to teach, patient when wronged, and gently correct the opposition.
The proper way to deal with those who are in error and oppose the truth is not to argue with them to the point where no door is left open for their repentance. We want them to know, once they see their error, that they can come to us and receive truth—proper teaching and instruction in the ways of the Lord. We want God to grant repentance to them, so they come to their senses and escape the devil’s snare. We don’t want to argue them into a corner to beat them down and claim a win, but be willing and able to gently and kindly lead them to the truth once they are ready.
26: and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
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Paul used a “large house” with a variety of vessels as an example to show Timothy the difference between vessels of honor—gold and silver—and vessels of dishonor—wood and earthenware. Gold and silver are able to endure fire. It does not destroy them. In fact, they are purified by it. Yet the other materials are consumed by fire and destroyed. Paul said if anyone cleansed himself from “these things,” meaning what he had been talking about in verses 14-18, then he would be a vessel for honor. He will be sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
We are sanctified by the blood of Jesus, yet we are to cleanse ourselves from the things which oppose the gospel of truth. Paul told Timothy to flee youthful lusts and instead to pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who also call on the Lord from a pure heart. When we pursue God and His ways with others who also have a pure heart, we help each other stay on track. We encourage and inspire one another.
Paul said in 1 Timothy 1:5 that the goal of their instruction was love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Proper teaching will give the hearers what they need to make this happen. But foolish and ignorant speculations produce quarrels. These are to be “refused.” They breed doubt, corrupt pure faith, and get people off track in their desires, pursuits, and motivations. The Lord’s bond-servant—one committed to Him willingly for life—must not be this way. He must not be quarrelsome, but kind, able to teach, patient when wronged, and gently correct the opposition.
The proper way to deal with those who are in error and oppose the truth is not to argue with them to the point where no door is left open for their repentance. We want them to know, once they see their error, that they can come to us and receive truth—proper teaching and instruction in the ways of the Lord. We want God to grant repentance to them, so they come to their senses and escape the devil’s snare. We don’t want to argue them into a corner to beat them down and claim a win, but be willing and able to gently and kindly lead them to the truth once they are ready.
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