2 Timothy 2

Paul exhorts Timothy to be strong in grace, to faithfully transmit the gospel to others, and to endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ. He emphasizes the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth and shunning vain babblings, reminding Timothy that God's foundation stands sure. Timothy is encouraged to be a vessel of honor, fleeing youthful lusts and pursuing righteousness, while gently instructing those who oppose the truth.

Paul encourages Timothy to draw strength from Christ's grace and to entrust the teachings he received to faithful men capable of instructing others. He uses analogies of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer to illustrate the need for endurance, lawful striving, and diligent labor in ministry. Paul reminds Timothy of Jesus Christ's resurrection and his own suffering for the elect, affirming that the Word of God remains unbound. He charges Timothy to avoid unprofitable word disputes and to diligently present himself approved unto God by rightly dividing the truth, warning against the errors of false teachers like Hymenaeus and Philetus. The chapter also calls for believers to cleanse themselves to be vessels of honor, to flee youthful lusts, and to pursue virtues like righteousness and peace, while patiently and meekly instructing those who oppose the truth, hoping for their repentance.

In 2 Timothy 2, Paul exhorts his spiritual son Timothy to be strong in the grace found in Christ Jesus and to faithfully commit the truths he has learned to other trustworthy men who can, in turn, teach others. He employs three vivid analogies to impress upon Timothy the nature of Christian service: the good soldier, who endures hardship and avoids worldly entanglements to please his commander; the athlete, who must strive lawfully to receive a crown; and the diligent husbandman, who must labor to be the first partaker of the fruits. Paul then reminds Timothy to remember Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, raised from the dead, which is central to his gospel. He reflects on his own suffering, even unto bonds, for this gospel, but declares that the word of God itself is not bound, and he endures all things for the elect's salvation. A "faithful saying" is presented, affirming that if believers die with Christ, they will live with Him; if they suffer, they will reign; but if they deny Him, He will deny them, though He remains faithful even if they are faithless. Timothy is charged to remind believers of these things, warning them against striving about words, which profits nothing and subverts hearers. Instead, he must "study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." He is to shun "profane and vain babblings" which lead to ungodliness and spread like a canker, citing Hymenaeus and Philetus as examples of those who erred concerning the truth by claiming the resurrection was past. Despite such errors, Paul asserts that "the foundation of God standeth sure," bearing the seals: "The Lord knoweth them that are his" and "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." The chapter likens the church to a great house with various vessels, some for honor and some for dishonor, urging believers to purge themselves from unrighteousness to become vessels sanctified and fit for the Master's use. Finally, Timothy is admonished to flee youthful lusts and to pursue righteousness, faith, charity, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. He must avoid foolish questions that breed strife, and as a servant of the Lord, be gentle, apt to teach, patient, and meekly instruct opponents, in the hope that God might grant them repentance and deliverance from the devil's snare.