2 Timothy 2:24

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, NOT STRIVE. "The servant of the Lord" must imitate his master in not striving contentiously, though uncompromisingly contending for the faith (Jude 1:3; Matthew 12:19). GENTLE UNTO ALL MEN ... PATIENT, [ anexikakon (G420)] - 'patient of wrongs,' in respect to adversaries: gentle in words and demeanour, so as to occasion no evils; patient, so as to endure evils. APT (READY AND SKILLED) TO TEACH - patiently and assiduously, instead of noisily contending....

24_But the servant of the Lord must not fight _Paul’s argument is to this effect: “The servant of God must stand aloof from contentions; but foolish questions are contentions; therefore whoever desires to be a ‘servant of God,’ and to be accounted such, ought to shun them.” And if superfluous questions ought to be avoided on this single ground, that it is unseemly for a servant of God to fight, how impudently do they act, who have the open effrontery of claiming applause for raising incessant controversies? Let the theology of the Papists now come forth; what else will be found in it than the art of disputing and fighting? The more progress any man has made in it, the more unfit will he be for serving, Christ. _But gentle towards all, _(179) _qualified for teaching _When he bids the servant of Christ be “gentle,” he demands a virtue which is opposite to the disease of contentions. _To _t...

22-26 The more we follow that which is good, the faster and the further we shall flee from that which is evil. The keeping up the communion of saints, will take us from fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. See how often the apostle cautions against disputes in religion; which surely shows that religion consists more in believing and practising what God requires, than in subtle disputes. Those are unapt to teach, who are apt to strive, and are fierce and froward. Teaching, not persecution, is the Scripture method of dealing with those in error. The same God who gives the discovery of the truth, by his grace brings us to acknowledge it, otherwise our hearts would continue to rebel against it. There is no "peradventure," in respect of God's pardoning those who do repent; but we cannot tell that he will give repentance to those who oppose his will. Sinners are taken in a snare, and...

Verse 24. _THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT STRIVE_] See on 1 Timothy 3:2; 1 Timothy 3:3....

AND THE SERVANT OF THE LORD - Referring here primarily to the Christian minister, but applicable to all Christians; for all profess to be the servants of the Lord. MUST NOT STRIVE - He may calmly inquire after truth; he may discuss points of morals, or theology, if he will do it with a proper spirit; he may “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints” Jude 1:3; but he may not do that which is here mentioned as strife. The Greek word - μάχεσθαι machesthai - commonly denotes, “to fight, to make war, to contend.” In John 6:52; Acts 7:26;...

EXPOSITION 2 TIMOTHY 2:1 _Child _for _son_, A.V.; _strengthened _for _strong, _A.V. BE STRENGTHENED (ἐνδυναμοῦ)_; _more exactly (as Huther), _become strong, _or, which is the same thing, _strengthen thyself; _implying, perhaps, though gently expressed, some previous weakness, as m Hebrews 11:34, "From weakness were made strong;" where the image seems to be that of recovery from sickness. In Ephesians 6:10, however (ἐνδυναμοῦσθε ἐν Κυρίῳ), there is no evidence of preceding weakness, but only a call to use the strength they had; and it may be so here too. The strength, Timothy is reminded, by which he was to f

AND THE SERVANT OF THE LORD MUST NOT STRIVE,.... By "the servant of the Lord" is not meant any believer in common, but a minister of the word, as Timothy was; such an one ought not to strive about words to no profit, about mere words, and in a litigious, quarrelsome manner, and for mastery and not truth; though he may, and ought to strive for the faith of the Gospel; this is praiseworthy in him: BUT BE GENTLE UNTO ALL MEN; not only to troubled minds, and wounded consciences, by supplying them with the precious promises and truths of the Gospel; and to backsliders, by restoring them in a spirit of meekness; but even to those who contradict the truth, and themselves, by mild and kind instructions. APT TO TEACH, showing a willingness to instruct the ignorant and obstinate, and making use of abilities given for that purpose, notwithstanding all discouragements; for it follows, PATIENT, or...

2 Timothy 2:15. _Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth._ This is a metaphor taken from the action of the priest at the sacrifice. The priest cut up the bullock, and then laid it in its different pieces according to order. Or, as some think, it is taken from the part of the father at the table, when he carves the meat and gives to every child its portion. Old Master Trapp says that «there are some ministers who are only fit to be Gibeonites and certainly not to be Levites, for they hardly understand the cutting of wood, much less the art of cutting up the sacrifice of God.» Brethren, it is well so to handle the word as to be able to give rebuke when rebuke is wanted, exhortation when it is needed, and comfort when consolation is required, for otherwise we do mischief. As it is said in the old fable

II. FAITH'S CONFLICT AND THE BELIEVER'S PATH CHAPTER 2 _ 1. The apostle's charge (2 Timothy 2:1)_ 2. As soldier and husbandman (2 Timothy 2:3) 3. Identification with Christ (2 Timothy 2:8) 4. Exhortation and warning (2 Timothy 2:14) 5. The great House (2 Timothy 2:19) 6. The believer's path (2 Timothy 2:23) 2 T

CHARGE TO TIMOTHY CONCERNING PRESENT ERROR. The false teaching considered in this epistle is partly present and partly future. Paul's first charge relates to the former type. For its _general character cf._ 1 Timothy 1:3 *. Such _particular doctrines_ as that of 2 Timothy 2:18 were possibly confined to individual teachers. The charge expounds: (_a_) 2 TIMOTHY 2:14. TIMOTHY'S IMMEDIATE DUTY. Mere debates are diverting and evil. Timothy must so handle the situation as to win God's approval. This involves (_a)_ framing his own positive teaching after the right pattern, and (_b)_ definite hostility to the errorists-' discussions (_cf._...