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2Tim.2:1. Therefore, my son, be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus. “You, my child, may be helped by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” Knowing this, says the Apostle, stand courageously, for the grace of the Lord will strengthen you. 2Tim.2:2. and what you heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, then convey to faithful people who would be able to teach others. “And what thou hast heard from me as many witnesses, this thou shalt teach by a faithful man, who will be pleased to teach others.” What you heard from me, who taught many (the Apostle expressed this with the words: “many are witnesses”), continue to preach this. And just as I appointed you as a teacher, so teach those who are adorned with faith what you yourself have learned, so that they also pass on the teaching to others. 2Tim.2:3. So endure suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. “You must suffer evil, for Jesus Christ is a good warrior.” Take into account whose warrior you are, and bravely endure the labors of war. Then, holding on to the same figurative image of speech, he benefits from it. 2Tim.2:4. No warrior binds himself to everyday affairs in order to please the military leader. “No one who has been a warrior undertakes to make purchases of life, so that the governor will be pleased.” Those who love military life, being far from trading activities, have only one concern about how to skillfully wield weapons in order to please the commanders who are of the same nature as them. Then the Apostle derives the same instruction from another image. 2 Timothy 2:5. Even if someone strives, he will not be crowned if he struggles illegally. “Even if someone strives, he will not get married, unless he strives lawfully.” And asceticism has certain laws according to which ascetics must strive. And whoever fights not according to these laws does not receive crowns. Having thus shown that a valiant warrior is free from other worries, and that a courageous ascetic labors lawfully, and one who labors lawfully is crowned, the Apostle presented another image in which profit is combined with difficulty. 2 Timothy 2:6. The toiling farmer must be the first to taste the fruit. “It is fitting for the laboring worker to first partake of the fruit.” Before the rulers, the farmers eat the fruits. Therefore, you too, says the Apostle, have great rewards for your labors, cultivating the human souls entrusted to you. For he also added this: 2 Timothy 2:7. Understand what I say. May the Lord give you understanding in everything. “Understand what I say: may the Lord give you understanding about everything.” since the type of speech was tributary, the Apostle, of necessity, aroused Timothy to understand the hidden meaning and prayed to God to grant him understanding. Some understood the likeness of a farmer differently, for they said that the Apostle ordered the disciple to receive the necessary food from preaching. 2 Timothy 2:8. Remember the Lord Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, who rose from the dead according to my gospel. 2 Timothy 2:9. For which I suffer even to the point of imprisonment, like a villain; but there are no bonds for the word of God. “Remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, from the seed of David, according to my gospel, in which I suffered even to the point of being bound, like an evildoer.” At this time, Simon began to scatter heretical thorns. But he and all his followers denied the perception of the flesh and said that the incarnation was in a ghost. Therefore, the divine Apostle, in the present case, keeping silent about the Divine nature, wrote to Timothy about one dispensation, commanding him to always remember the birth in the flesh from the seed of David and the resurrection from the dead. He mentioned both, birth and suffering, and also added a mention of gender, because all this was openly denied by the enemies of the truth. And this, preaching the Gospel, says the Apostle, I endure the suffering of evildoers. But, showing the power of preaching, he added: “But the word of God does not fit.” Although the hands and feet are tied, the tongue preaches the Gospel. 2 Timothy 2:10. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may receive salvation in Christ Jesus with everlasting glory. “For this reason I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they too may receive salvation through Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.” With love I endure all kinds of grief, so that those worthy may be worthy of salvation and become partakers of that eternal glory; for the Lord not only granted salvation to the believers, but also promised them undying glory. Thus showing the reward for labor, the Apostle added: 2 Timothy 2:11. The word is true: if we died with Him, we will also live with Him. 2 Timothy 2:12. If we endure, then we will reign with Him; if we deny, He will deny us. “The word is true,” that is, true, undoubtedly, alien to lies. “If we die with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him.” The Apostle said this: “with Him we died” not only about those who were killed, but also about those who were baptized, for they too, sincerely believing and demonstrating a life consistent with faith, partake of the life of the Master. “If we reject, He will reject us.” For the Master Himself said this in the Holy Gospel: “Whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:33). Then the Apostle teaches that those who deny Christ will not harm Him, but will harm themselves. 2 Timothy 2:13. If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. “Even though we do not believe, He remains faithful: for He cannot deny Himself.” For by believing, we do not make him God, and by not believing, we do not deprive him of the Divine nature; but whether we believe or not, He is God. Therefore, by believing, we gain benefit. 2 Timothy 2:14. Remind us of this, imploring us before the Lord not to enter into arguments over words, which in no way serves to benefit but rather to upset those listening. “Remember this, testifying before the Lord, and do not argue with words, nor will I demand anything, for the ruin of those who hear.” For one must only believe, and not turn talking about this into a reason for blasphemy, and not harm those who listen with one’s argument. 2 Timothy 2:15. Try to present yourself worthy to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, faithfully dividing the word of truth. “Strive to set yourself skillfully before God, a worker without shame, rightly ruling the word of truth.” We praise the farmers who cut straight furrows; So the teacher who follows the rule of Divine words is worthy of praise. 2 Timothy 2:16. And avoid obscene idle talk; for they will prosper even more in wickedness. 2 Timothy 2:17. And their word will spread like cancer. Such are Hymenaeus and Philetus. “Sweep away nasty vanities.” The Apostle clearly showed that he called the teaching of truth “rule of law”; for he urged them to flee from hateful and vain teachings. “Most of all, they will advance into wickedness, and their words will become fat like gangrene.” "Gangrene" is a disease that continually spreads and damages healthy parts in the body. The Apostle likened to her those who undertake to teach that which is contrary to the truth; because people who are free from illness are often corrupted. But the Apostle also lists the names of those to whom he likened the disease. “From them are Hymenaeus and Philetus.” What do they teach? 2 Timothy 2:18. Who have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are destroying the faith of some. “Those who err about the truth, saying that the resurrection has already come, disturb the faith of some.” This unfortunate succession of generations due to childbearing was called the resurrection and seduced some to deviate from the apostolic teaching. since the Apostle said: “they disturb the faith of some,” then, of necessity, he shows the power of truth. 2 Timothy 2:19. But the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His”; and: “Let everyone who confesses the name of the Lord turn away from unrighteousness.” “The firm foundation of God stands, having this seal,” that is, they cannot shake the foundations of truth, because God laid this foundation. The seal of the foundation is the hope of resurrection. For he who rejects the general resurrection also denies the resurrection of Christ; he who denies it also rejects suffering; and he who abolishes suffering does not even recognize the birth from the Virgin. Therefore, the Apostle rightly called faith in the resurrection the “seal” of the foundation. “The Lord knows His own being, and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” These are the words of Scripture. The Apostle, by the way, said both, commanding those who believed to run in company with the wicked, and not to be indignant at their rebellion, because, says the Apostle, the God of all things from the beginning foresaw both those who believe and those who openly arm themselves with the truth. Then, presenting a decent image, he invites Timothy to take comfort from this. 2 Timothy 2:20. And in a large house there are vessels not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; and some in honorable, and others in low, use. “In a great house, the vessels are not just gold and silver, but also wood and clay, and things that are in honor, and things that are not in honor.” The Apostle likened the world to a great house, and to golden vessels - those shining with piety and virtue, to silver vessels - those who loved civil life with faith and righteousness, and to wooden and clay vessels - those living in wickedness and wickedness; but nature itself condemned the vessels, and will made people honest or dishonest. For this makes it known by what is added. 2 Timothy 2:21. So, whoever is clean from this will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful to the Master, fit for every good work. “If anyone cleanses himself of these, the vessel will be in honor, sanctified and useful to the Lady, prepared for every good deed.” Having thus proved that choosing the best depends on our determination, the Apostle teaches Timothy a lesson about what we should do. 2 Timothy 2:22. Flee youthful lusts, and adhere to truth, faith, love, peace with all those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. “Flee from the lusts of the young,” that is, fun, immoderation, laughter, vanity and the like. “Cling to truth, faith, love, peace with all those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” You can love everyone; This is also prescribed by the law of the Gospel: “Love your enemies” (Matthew 5:44); but it is impossible to be at peace with everyone, for this requires a common will. And such are all those who “call on the Lord with a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:23. Avoid stupid and ignorant competitions, knowing that they give rise to quarrels. “Deny away from unpunished conflicts, you know, as they give birth to quarrels.” And these are the rants that happen out of ambition, and not out of any need. 2 Timothy 2:24. The servant of the Lord should not quarrel, but be friendly to everyone, teachable, and kind. 2 Timothy 2:25. Instruct your opponents with meekness, whether God will give them repentance to the knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 2:26. So that they are freed from the snare of the devil, who has ensnared them in his will. “It is not fitting for the servant of the Lord to be boiled.” For without controversy, the one who is entrusted with preaching them must offer Divine instructions. This is what the Apostle added: “But be quiet towards everyone, teachable, gentle,” and “punish those who oppose you with meekness.” Whoever, with fatherly meekness, teaches the doctrine to unbelievers and generously listens to their objections, will often convince extremely stubborn heretics. The Apostle teaches Timothy to remain in the teaching and not to despair of the reasoning of those who do not easily accept the word of the sermon. “What food God will give them is repentance for salvation, and they will arise from the devil’s snare, live caught from him, according to his will.” There is a possibility that they too will receive help from above, escape the devil’s snares and learn the distance between truth and lies. Then the Apostle predicts the future damage of many in the Church, teaching Timothy not to be upset by the laziness of some, since what will happen in the end will be even worse. You might be interested in: