Interpretive Study of 2Timothy 1-2

Epistle theme: Sound Doctrine Versus Doctrinal Error

God's Way to Study His Word:

In 2Timothy 2:15 we read: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. The true definition of the word dividing is: 'a Mathematical function whereby we separate pre-defined units according to a precise procedure which produces a precise result'. However, while most people understand that 'there is one interpretation but many applications of the word of God', they fail to separate the procedures of each. And, as a result, they fail to separate the 'one interpretation of the word of God' from the 'many applications of the word of God'. This leads to many errors which people blame on the perfect word of God instead of their using the wrong procedure.

The result, of men using the wrong way, is that men claim that there are errors and conflicts in God's word. In Isaiah 28, God tells us how to understand His word. In addition, God preserved the message of His word; He preserves every word of His sentences; and God preserves every punctuation mark (jot and title) of His sentences. Therefore, God preserved what He wanted us to understand and God told us how to understand His word so that we have no errors and no conflicts. Unfortunately, for at least one hundred and fifty (150) yeare, men have been taught to use the wrong way to interpret God's word instead of using God's way.

In Isaiah 55:9 we are told For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Thus, God warns us that our ways are wrong and that using God's way produces better results, which have no errors and no conflicts.

In addition, 1Corinthians 2:14 tells us: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore, we can not properly understand the spiritual word of God using man's way. We must use God's way to understand God's preserved word of God. And, the basics of God's way is to understand His preserved word of God using the sentence format and true Biblical definitions for Bible words.

This Study follows the Biblical Way to understand God's Word. It applies precepts ('truths that never change for any circumstance'). It then goes through the epistle sentence-upon-sentence (line upon line [Isaiah 28 ]). This is different from the ways of men which use verse-upon-verse or some other method which generates errors. God's sentence-upon-sentence method also pays attention to what 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved, which are the true Biblical meanings of words and the Biblical usage of punctuation. (These two are the components of sentences and do not give us verses.) the 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved punctuation (one jot or one tittle) in Matthew 5:18 and Luke 16:17. And 'the word of God' tells us that God preserved every word when he wrote: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4).

The summary of the epistle comes from the summary of each chapter and each chapter summary within that book. Every chapter summary comes from the summary of each sentence within that chapter. And, the sentence summaries come from analysis using the punctuation and true word definitions, as already explained. As a result, we have what God literally had written and see that there are no conflicts even when we consider the smallest part of a sentence compared to the entire Bible book. God is consistent from the start of a Bible book to the end and is consistent in His doctrines and word definitions across the entire Bible. What we have is an integrated whole (single) message, with no errors and no conflicts. This particular book Study is part of a detailed analysis of the entire New Testament which shows this truth.

Other than cults, all claims of errors and conflicts are based upon the New Testament. This Study is part of a series which interprets the preserved word of God using God's way and proving that there are no errors, nor any conflicts, if we obey God and use His way to interpret His word. And, this series concentrates on the New Testament, since that is the basis of these lies about the perfect word of God.

I have read, or at least skimmed, every book which has been written in the last hundred and fifty (150) years and which claims to teach people how to study and understand the word of God. In every case, they use a method which comes from man and do not use God's way (Isaiah 55:8) to study and understand the word of God. And, while there are variations from one man-written method to another man-written method, every one of them ends up with problems. The end result of those problems is that people blame God's perfect word for their own problems and either turn to a man-written 'bible' or skip verses. (By skipping the interpretation of certain verses, they can hide the conflict which their method has produced.)

Now, many people find that the Detail Studies to be overwhelming because they have everything required to prove that there are NO errors in the perfect word of God. This summary level is easier to understand for most people. At the same time, if someone has an argument with what is presented here, the matching Detail Study provides all of the proof required in order to show that what is here matches exactly what God wrote in His word. Again, this is not a matter of my opinion versus their opinion. I have over thirty (30) years’ experience as a professional Systems Analyst with an international reputation for accuracy in how to prove things. And, this series of books are the result of using recognized methods of analysis to prove what God actually wrote. This series does not present a religious opinion. Therefore, a religious opinion, which was arrived at from using wrong methods, is not superior to a true analysis of what God wrote.

People have looked for over twenty (20) years and failed to find any other work that covers everything this series cover. In addition, no one has found any other work which covers the level of detail found in the Detail Studies. Further, the Detail Studies literally have several million Bible references to support the interpretation provided and to show that the perfect word of God is consistent all across it for word definitions and doctrines. Again, no one has found any other work which has this quantity of Bible references supporting what is presented. I do not write this to brag but to inform the reader the depth of study which supports what is presented in this series.

Let any who disagree show their method and the results of their method and try to explain how their method, which produces errors, is greater that God's way which produces no errors and no conflicts.

Overview of 2Timothy

Epistle theme: Sound Doctrine Versus Doctrinal Error

Click on the following links to jump to a chapter within this study: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, God.

Many people have written all kinds of commentaries on this epistle. You can find many disagreements between these commentaries. The commentaries that teach doctrinal error ignore the context as they try to justify their doctrine. Such action is motivated by devils and the resulting doctrinal error can bring the judgment of God upon His people instead of the blessings that God wants to give. 1John 4:1 tells us Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.. The commentaries which do base their comments upon what is actually written, with consideration of context and proper methods of interpretation, will agree on doctrine even while presenting different views of that doctrine.

The phrase Sound Doctrine can be said to have a simple Biblical definition of 'God's way to teach spiritual truths so that God's people do the work to build God's kingdom on this Earth and, thereby, obtain God's character as their own character'.

Paul wrote three pastoral epistles: Titus, 1Timothy and 2Timothy. Titus is the pastor's basic job description and tells him how to use sound doctrine to cause saved people to produce good works. In the Bible, good is defined as: 'what comes from God'. Thus, the pastor is to get God's people to do Godly works and he is to use sound doctrine to accomplish this. 1Timothy defines sound doctrine. 2Timothy warns that people within the church and outside of the church will turn against sound doctrine to fables. 2Timothy tells us how to apply sound doctrine in the lives of people. Without sound doctrine, people will be motivated by fleshly lusts, the wisdom of this world (1Corinthians 1-3) and doctrines of devils (1Timothy 4:1). With this context of other epistles in mind, we can now look at the details of this particular epistle.

in this epistle Paul turns responsibility of the gospel over to Timothy. He starts out reminding Timothy about his heritage and of the cost which many others paid to put him in the ministry where he is. Paul then warns Timothy against all who teach error both within the church and without. Paul concludes, in chapter 4, with his charge that Timothy Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Forthe time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.. After giving Timothy this charge, Paul reminds him of the reward that Paul was looking for and that Timothy should also look for.

One of the problems that we have today is the doctrinal error that comes from Communism. People love to sing 'Mansion over the Hilltop' and 'No Tears in heaven'. Both are doctrinal errors. 'Mansion over the Hilltop' promises reward to people who do nothing to earn it. 'No Tears in heaven' promises no punishment after this life no matter how much sin we hold onto. 'No Tears in heaven' encourages saved people to ignore God's commandments to be holy, to forsake sin and to be Godly in so many other ways. 'Mansion over the Hilltop' encourages people to be lazy and not serve their Lord because it promises reward without payment. Both teach the opposite of what this epistle teaches. Both support the doctrinal error that this epistle warns us to avoid.

Please also see the Messages called: Sound Doctrine; Pastors; Pastors Produce Missionaries; Pastoral Charge and A Christ-directed Pastor for the application of these verses in the life of a pastor.

Chapter Outlines by sentence format.

Chapter 1
The Chapter theme is: Defend Sound Doctrine.

links to sentences in this chapter:

C1-S1 (Verse 1-2), C1-S2 (Verse 3-5), C1-S3 (Verse 6), C1-S4 (Verse 7), C1-S5 (Verse 8-11), C1-S6 (Verse 12), C1-S7 (Verse 13), C1-S8 (Verse 14), C1-S9 (Verse 15), C1-S10 (Verse 16-17), C1-S11 (Verse 18)'.

Our chapter tells us: 'Beware of people teaching false doctrine within and without the church'. in this chapter we see Paul, Timothy and Onesiphorus listed as examples of people who followed the sound words of the Bible as they were instructed by the Holy Ghost. We also see their personal testimonies and the promised blessings that resulted from those testimonies. Then we see Phygellus and Hermogenes and all they which are in Asia, who did not do the same thing even though they were saved. Other places in the Bible tell us the result of their disobedience, if we look closely at what is said in those places. The summary of the chapter can be said to be: 'The Spirit of God uses the word of God to show the child of God the will of God'. The warning is that saved people who do not use the sound words of the Bible as they are instructed by the Holy Ghost, can be led into doctrinal error.

We will reap what we sow (good or bad), especially in the ministry of our Lord. in this chapter Paul reminds Timothy of the negative physical consequences of serving our Lord but also reminds him of the great positive spiritual consequences of serving our Lord. He also reminds Timothy of the consequences of turning traitor ('backsliding'). However, Paul ends the chapter with a prayer for blessing to a Christian who did right in spite of many obstacles. Further, Paul reminds Timothy of the price that others paid to get him where he was (spiritually) at that time. Obviously, Timothy has a debt owed for the investment made in his life. Finally, Paul tells Timothy to not worry (be not...ashamed) about the price paid by others or any other consideration but use it to help him to continue in the service of our Lord.

The S and P's of 2Timothy 1

Seeking God's Truth based upon God's promises.

God's promise of life which is in Christ Jesus: 1:1. People have to believe God's promise before they get saved.
God's peace: 1:2. People have to understand that God will send them to the Lake of Fire for eternity before they will seek peace with God.
God's pure conscience: 1:3. People have to understand that they will receive a pure conscience from the changes that God will bring in their life or they will make a religious profession but not receive the true Biblical salvation.

Salvation from God.

prayers: 1:3. Often there is someone else praying for us before we get saved. Whether that is true or not we must personally pray and ask God to save us. No one else's prayers: will work.
persuaded: 1:5. We must be personally and fully persuaded that God will keep His promises.
put thee in remembrance: 1:6. We must personally (thee) let someone put to remembrance the scriptures so that our salvation is based upon the word of God and not on the word of a man or religion.
putting on of my hands: 1:6. This speaks of transferring the gift of God to another. We must personally receive God's gift of salvation.
power: 1:7. God hath not given us...power... God's power will change our life and if we refuse His power and the change that God will bring into our life then He will not save us.

Sanctification from God.

his [God's ] prisoner: 1:8. Full sanctification only comes when we become his [God's ] prisoner, which means He controls every part of our life down to our diet, our rest and all of the other things that we think of as 'personal'.
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel: 1:8. This is personal (be thou). If we are not willing to partake of the afflictions of the gospel then we will not be fully sanctified.
power of God: 1:8. The according to (in this sentence) means that the power of God is what determines how much and what type of afflictions of the gospel we are to partake of because the power of God makes us able to do so.
purpose and grace: 1:9. When we respond to God's calling and fulfill God's purpose we receive God's grace which sanctifies us.

Sovereign rewards.

preacher: 1:11. Every saved person is called a preacher (or something else with the same meaning) by lost people after they are truly sanctified. This is true even for women and children.
persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day: 1:12. Need I say more? Only God could persuade in this way.
Phygellus and Hermogenes: 1:15. God will cause the religious hypocrites to abandon us, which is actually a blessing.

C1-S1 Opening salutation and blessings for obeying the commands of this epistle.
1. The phrase Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ tells us Paul's specific authority. The title of apostle means that Paul has the highest human authority within the church. Please see the Word Study on Apostle for the true Biblical meaning of this word as there are many who teach lies about it.
2. The phrase by the will of God tells us that the most powerful being Who exists anywhere gave Paul his specific authority within the church. No one else has the power to supersede or replace Paul's authority.
3. The phrase according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus means that God promised spiritual life to all who are in a proper relationship to Christ Jesus. In John 10:10, Jesus said: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly that is: 'initial salvation (life) and increased spiritual life (more abundantly) through spiritual growth'. Since our phrase uses the title of Christ Jesus, it is telling us that a saved person must spiritually mature in order to have the life more abundantly. And, since our phrase uses the word according the amount of life promised by God is 'in harmony' with how much each saved person builds their personal relationship with Christ Jesus.
4. The phrase To Timothy, my dearly beloved son tells us who this letter was written to. While Paul trained many preachers, he only had three who received his character in the ministry and that he called son: Timothy, Titus and Onesimus.
5. The phrase Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord tells us the blessings which are offered to saved people who obey the commandments of this epistle.
C1-S2 Paul's reaction to the testimony of Timothy.
1. The phrase I thank God recognizes that God is who changed Paul's life and made him a person who recognizes the influence of God and thanks God for that influence.
2. The phrase whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience means that from Paul's earliest training (from my forefathers) he served God with pure conscience, even when he was following doctrinal error because he was taught wrong.
3. The phrase that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day lets us know that what Paul believed was most important for Timothy to understand was that Paul prayed for him faithfully.
4. The phrase Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears means that Paul understood what Timothy was going through in the ministry.
5. The phrase that I may be filled with joy means that Timothy brought joy to Paul no matter what was going on in either of their lives.
6. The phrase When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice recognizes the type of faith that Timothy had and who taught it to him.
7. The phrase and I am persuaded that in thee also recognizes this type of faith continues to dwell in Timothy.
C1-S3 Paul reminds Timothy that he personally knows what Timothy is capable of.
1. The phrase Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God means that, even though we have a gift of God, we need to stir it up or it will go dormant and we will not use it for God's glory.
2. The phrase which is in thee by the putting on of my hands means that Timothy received an additional gift of God when he was ordained.
C1-S4 Why Timothy had that ability.
1. The word For means: 'Here's why we need to personally stir up the gift of God, which is in us'.
2. The phrase God hath not given us the spirit of fear means that all fear, except the fear of the Lord, comes from our flesh or the world or devils.
3. The phrase but of power means: 'we have access to God's power but we must access it God's way and use it God's way and give God glory for anything that He does in and through us'.
4. The phrase and of love means: 'we are to know that God loves us and that anything which He allows in our life is for our good and His glory. We are also to share God's love with all who are around us'.
5. The phrase and of a sound mind means: 'Our thoughts are not to be bouncing around and we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive' (Ephesians 4:14). we need a sound mind in order to handle sound words (2Timothy 1:13) and handle sound doctrine (2Timothy 4:2).
6. The phrase which thou hast heard of me means that the preacher is to live sound doctrine as an example to others.
7. The phrase in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus means that the preacher is to live in faith and love which he has because he is maintaining his ongoing personal relationship with Christ Jesus. (Please see the Doctrinal Study called Relational Prepositions about this relationship.)
C1-S5 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord but embrace it.
1. The phrase Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord means: 'Don't hide the fact that God saved you and changed your life'.
2. The phrase nor of me his prisoner means: 'Never be ashamed of your pastor nor of the person who led you to salvation no matter how the world judges them'.
3. The phrase but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God means: 'Be willing to suffer afflictions of the gospel so that the power of God can be displayed in your life'.
4. The phrase Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling means: 'God is the one who saves us and who calls us and His calling is an holy calling'. (Please see the Message called Pastoral Charge.)
5. The phrase not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace means that our calling is 'in harmony' with his (God's ) own purpose and grace and not with our works.
6. The phrase which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began means: 'God planned the purpose and way of our personal life before the world began'.
7. The phrase But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ means that God revealed His plan for the world and for each person by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ. That is: Who (God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:4).
8. The phrase who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel means: 'our Saviour Jesus Christ is Who abolished death and made life and immortality available to us and let us know it (to light) through the gospel'.
9. The phrase Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles tells us the main ministries that Paul had. And, this lets us know that Paul, not Peter, was the apostle and teacher to the people in Rome.
C1-S6 Paul's testimony of doing what he told Timothy to do.
1. The phrase For the which cause I also suffer these things means: 'Here's why Paul suffered'. He suffered because of the testimony of our Lord. And, we are commanded to do the same
2. The phrase nevertheless I am not ashamed means Paul was never ashamed of the testimony of our Lord no matter how much he had to suffer.
3. The phrase for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day is well known, often preached and often sung. Even so, many people do not think about the true meaning of this phrase.
  1. As shown in the Word Studies on this site, true Biblical belief causes us to act upon that belief and any claimed belief that is not backed by matching action is a lie. Many people claim and sing about this phrase while refusing to back their claim by their life. The first phrase of our current sentence told us about the evidence of Paul living this belief.
  2. The phrase and am persuaded that he is able means: 'we are trusting in His power and ability and not trusting in our own'. Most fear is because people are truly trusting in their own power and ability and realize that their own is not enough. Daniel's three friends gave us a true example of this phrase when they stood up to the king and refused to bow to his idol.
  3. The phrase to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day means: 'I have full assurance of my salvation and future Heavenly rewards'.
C1-S7 Action to take as a result of the promise in the prior sentence.
1. The phrase Hold fast the form of sound words means: 'Don't let anything turn you from the true doctrine of the word of God'. When considered in context of the prior sentence, we need to consider all that Paul had suffered and that Paul knew he would die in prison when he wrote this letter. So, this means that even after experiencing all that Paul had experienced and in the sure assurance of a martyr's death, Hold fast the form of sound words.
2. The phrase which thou hast heard of me means: 'based upon written scripture which we have but which Timothy only heard Paul preach'.
3. The phrase in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus means: 'Here's how we are to Hold fast the form of sound words and Who is the true source of those sound words'.
C1-S8 the power to use when obeying the command given.
1. The phrase That good thing which was committed unto thee is speaking about the spiritual gift of God.
2. The phrase keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us means that we must rely on God's power in order to keep, and use, the spiritual gift which God gives to us.
C1-S9 Warning of the error resulting from using any other way than what is specified here. The Jews from Asia were some of the main motivators of the doctrinal error, and of the riot, in Jerusalem which resulted in Paul being arrested and sent to Rome. Reportedly, that area is given to Islam. This means that from that day through today those people have held onto the error that our religious activities in this physical world forces the spiritual world, and spiritual beings such as God, to do our will.
C1-S10 Blessings for those who obey the correct way.
1. The phrase The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus means: 'our doing right brings blessings to our families'.
2. The phrases: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me tell us the things that he did to help and encourage the man of God. It also lets us know that God blesses people who help and encourage the man of God.
C1-S11 Eternal blessings for a life lived right.
1. The phrase The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day speaks about the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10). God justifies the sins we do after being saved when we do righteousness.
2. The phrase and in how manythings he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well lets us know that there was another witness to his righteousness.

Chapter 2
The Chapter theme is: How to protect yourself from doctrinal error.

links to sentences in this chapter:

C2-S1 (Verse 1), C2-S2 (Verse 2), C2-S3 (Verse 3), C2-S4 (Verse 4), C2-S5 (Verse 5), C2-S6 (Verse 6), C2-S7 (Verse 7), C2-S8 (Verse 8-9), C2-S9 (Verse 10), C2-S10 (Verse 11-13), C2-S11 (Verse 14), C2-S12 (Verse 15), C2-S13 (Verse 16), C2-S14 (Verse 17-18), C2-S15 (Verse 19), C2-S16 (Verse 19), C2-S17 (Verse 20), C2-S18 (Verse 21), C2-S19 (Verse 22), C2-S20 (Verse 23), C2-S21 (Verse 24-26)'.

In the prior chapter Paul reminded Timothy about all that was done to put him into the position that he had. Paul also told Timothy about the rewards and consequences of fulfilling his job for the Lord and also of the rewards and consequences of disobedience. Now in this chapter Paul assumes that Timothy is properly motivated to do right and proceeds with specific instructions on the mindset that a pastor needs. Paul also tells Timothy how a pastor is to act in order to build a ministry, but those actions are based upon the correct way of thinking. For example, Paul says And if a man also strive for masteries (2:5). Part of 'the correct way of thinking' is to strive for masteries and not expect reward for laziness. Further, Paul tells us the requirement for masteries, which is that he strive lawfully. Paul tells Timothy how to get his thinking correct, how to deal with wrong thinking, the results of each type of thinking and the names of people who are examples of each (right and wrong) types of thinking. Paul then, once more, reminds Timothy that the type, quantity and quality of rewards from God are a direct result, and in proportion, to what we sow.

Please note that part of our getting 'the correct way of thinking' is to Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2:15). We must study the word for the purpose of changing the way we think so that it matches the way that God thinks.

In the first few verses of this chapter we see Paul use common occupations to illustrate truths that he bases further instructions on. He does this because God's truth is not hidden or hard to understand but is seen all through His creation. Paul uses a Teacher (2:1-2); a Soldier (2:3-4); a Sports Competitor (2:5) and a Farmer (2:6) to teach God's truth.

Many of these instructions can be matched to what we find in Proverbs 9, which is instructions on how to use God's wisdom to build a ministry. Please see the notes in the Proverbs Book Study.

C2-S1 Action to take based upon the evidence of the prior chapter.
1. The phrase Thou therefore means: 'You personally are to do this based upon the doctrine of the prior chapter'.
2. The phrase my son means: 'Timothy had the same character in the ministry as Paul had. Therefore, Paul expected Timothy to act the same way as Paul acted in the ministry'.
3. The phrase be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus says where Timothy was to get his strength to do the ministry (2Corinthians 12:10).
C2-S2 Teach these same things to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
1. The phrase And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses is what we have in the Pauline Epistles and the Book of Acts today.
2. The phrase the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also means: 'Teach the true doctrine of the word of God to men who can, and will, pass that true doctrine to the next generation and also instruct the next generation to teach those who follow them to keep passing true doctrine to future generations'.
C2-S3 Keep on keeping on in spite of all opposition. This sentence uses a soldier as our example for how we are to endure hardness.
C2-S4 Stay free of entanglements that will stop your obedience. This sentence tells a truth which, unfortunately, many ignore today. A soldier does not worry about providing his house, nor his food, nor his clothes, nor his equipment. And, he is supposed to avoid entanglements with the affairs of this life so that nothing hinders him from going where he is sent as soon as he is sent. That is how the minister of God is supposed to live.
C2-S5 Be sure to do things the right way. This sentence uses the professional sports person as an example to teach us a truth. Sports figures have lost their crown when it was found out that they cheated. God will not even give us a crown, but will make us ashamed, if we cheat and do not stick with sound doctrine.
C2-S6 Let God receive the first fruits of the ministry. God is the One who does all of the true spiritual work through us. God is the husbandman of this sentence and He must be first partaker of the fruits. Our rewards come later.
C2-S7 Meditate on the instructions of the Bible in order to receive understanding. These sentences, and illustrations, must be understood spiritually.
C2-S8 Paul's message from God and the consequence of it.
1. The phrase Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel means:
  1. The phrase of the seed of David means that Jesus Christ fulfilled prophecy. (Please see the references for Son of David in the Lord Jesus Christ Study.)
  2. The phrase was raised from the dead speaks of His resurrection, which also fulfilled prophecy. (Please see the references for Prophecies and Prophecy Fulfilled in the Significant Gospel Events Study.)
  3. The phrase according to my gospel means: the Gospel of Salvation and the Gospel of Christ. (Please see the Word Study on Gospel.)
2. The phrase Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer speaks about persecution from people preaching religious traditions and other false doctrines.
3. The phrase even unto bonds speaks of the extent that devil-motivated people will go to in order to suppress the truth.
4. The phrase but the word of God is not bound speaks of the futility and failure of fighting against the power and authority of God.
C2-S9 Paul's reaction to those consequences.
1. The word Therefore means: 'what follows is a result of what came before this sentence'.
2. The phrase I endure all things for the elect's sakes is often misinterpreted because people teach doctrinal error about the word elect. God does not elect people but elects a way and the people who follow God's way are God's elect. This phrase is speaking about God's saved who are in God's way to spiritually mature after their initial salvation.
3. The phrase that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory means:
  1. The phrase the salvation which is in Christ Jesus means: 'the salvation which includes spiritual maturing after our initial profession because that is what is in Christ Jesus'.
  2. The phrase with eternal glory speaks of everlasting rewards given in heaven only to saved people who work to spread the kingdom of God while they are still in this physical life.
  3. The word obtain means: 'Gain; procure; acquire'. This is something which we muse work for or pay for but we have nothing spiritual to pay. Therefore, the phrase obtain the salvation means: 'we must do the work required by God in order to let Him work in our life and increase our spiritual life by giving us spiritual maturity'. The work that God requires is prayer, reading our Bible, believing His promises, living by faith and similar things.
C2-S10 the doctrinal basis of how we are to serve God.
1. The phrase if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him, which means: 'if we stop responding to the temptations and pleasures of this physical life then we will return with Christ for His 1,000-years reign'.
2. The phrase If we suffer, we shall also reign with him, which means: 'Our position (reign) in the 1,000-years reign of Christ is directly related to how much we suffer for Him in this life'.
3. The phrase if we deny him, he also will deny us, which means: 'Christ will not be our advocate when Satan accuses us of sin if we refuse to be baptized or deny him in another way. In addition, He will deny us, returning with Him to reign, if we deny him (refuse to be His witness) in this physical life'.
4. The phrase If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself, which means: 'Jesus Christ is faithful and will keep all of His promises to all who truly believe. Our not getting the promises of God is 100% our fault and no blame can be laid to Jesus Christ'.
C2-S11 Keep our mind on the true goal and avoid distractions.
1. The phrase Of these things put them in remembrance means: 'The preacher, and especially the pastor, is to constantly remind God's people about the true doctrine from the word of God'. . . .
2. The phrase charging them before the Lord means: 'Tell them that the Lord gave them a formal and legal command to obey the doctrine of the word of God which includes the necessary rights and responsibilities to accomplish the assigned task and to teach others to do the same. In addition, since this came from the Lord, He will judge and reward their obedience and punish their disobedience'.
3. The phrase that they strive not about words to no profit means: 'Do not waste effort on things which do not bring a spiritual profit to God, such as the latest political tiff'. Such things distract from the true spiritual purpose of a saved person's life.
4. The phrase but to the subverting of the hearers means: 'Instead of doing the prior phrase, strive to undermine people's wrong thinking then bring them to a God-given way of thinking'.
C2-S12 Get properly prepared with sound doctrine and be sure that you will pass the test.
1. This sentence is well known, often quoted and preached. But many people fain to consider the context and while they think about the sentence, they often fail to consider the true personal application of not obeying this command. Please see the Doctrinal Studies called: Personal Application of God's Word. and Significant New Testament Events about this sentence. Please also see the Messages called: Follow Me As I Follow Christ, Testimony of God and Two parts of God's Life.
2. The word: Study means: 'Literally, a setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject; hence, application of mind of books, to arts or science, or to any subject, for the purpose of learning what is not before known'. This does not mean read, as many claim. A person who only reads a Math book will not learn Math like the person who studies Math. You must pay enough attention to truly learn what was said about the subject and then you must meditate on what you learned in order to consider many applications of it and, thereby, gain a true understanding.
3. The phrase to shew thyself approved unto God means: 'If a saved person does not do what is truly required by the word study, then they will not hear 'well Done!' from God at the judgment seat of Christ'. They also will not receive the blessings of God which are intended to help us with the problems of this life.
4. The phrase a workman that needeth not to be ashamed means:
  1. The word workman means that God expects us to work in His kingdom while we are in this physical reality. Think about the song which says: 'My house is full but my fields are empty'.
  2. The phrase needeth means: 'This is an ongoing life-long need'. The requirements of this sentence remain for our entire physical life.
  3. The phrase to be ashamed means that God will give us what we need and if God does not make us ashamed here in this life, God will do it at the judgment seat of Christ. And, if it is done there, everyone in Heaven will know it for all eternity just like they will always know that king David murdered his friend Uriah in order to steal Uriah's wife.
5. The phrase rightly dividing the word of truth means:
  1. The phrase the word of truth is another name for the preserved word of God ('KJV-1611').
  2. The word dividing is: 'A Mathematical function whereby we separate things according to precise rules in order to get a precise set of results'. One of the main ways that people violate this command is to accept some application of a word, found in some man-written dictionary, as the single true God-given interpretation (definition) of a Bible word.
  3. The word rightly implies that there is a wrong way and if we are following the rules of men, for how to study the word of God, then we will end up with errors because we are using the wrong way. Only God's way is the right way.
C2-S13 Avoid sources of doctrinal error.
1. The phrase But shun profane and vain babblings means:
  1. The word shun means: 'To avoid; to keep clear of; not to fall on or come in contact with'. Don't get in arguments nor discussions of these things.
  2. The word profane means: 'to pervert the use of something holy'. People using the Lord's name to swear by when they lie is profane. But science falsely so called (1Timothy 6:20) is also equated with the profane. (The reader would benefit from a proper Word Study of this word.) please see the note for 1Timothy 1:8-11 about the word profane.
  3. The word vain means: 'Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance'. The word vain in this sentence is best matched with the whited sepulchers of Matthew 23:27. That is, things that look good so long as you don't look too close or too deeply.
  4. The word babblings means: 'Talking idly; Foolish talk'. This word comes from the word Babel Where the Lord confused the language of men and they could not understand each other. Just as someone talking to you in a language that you do not understand is foolishness, so also is babbling foolishness.
2. The word for means: 'Here's why the command in the prior phrase was given'.
3. The phrase they will increase unto more ungodliness means: 'This is the end result of the prior mentioned type of foolish talk'.
C2-S14 Be aware of the evidence and consequences of doctrinal error.
1. The word canker is defined as: 'The word of those who err from the truth eats like a 'gangrene' which consumes the flesh. Such teaching saps the vitals of Christianity. 2Ti 2:17', by the Morrish Bible Dictionary.
2. The phrase And their word will eat as doth a canker means: 'This result is added to the result reported in the prior sentence. Foolish babblings will destroy true faith'.
3. The phrase of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus names people, whom Timothy knew, who produced this type of error. God wants us to name unrepentant sinners, especially when they claim to be Christians, who teach doctrinal error.
4. The phrase Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already tells us the specific doctrinal error which they taught.
5. The phrase and overthrow the faith of some tells us the result of listening to doctrinal error. We are not to listen to it and try to correct it but we are commanded to shun doctrinal error.
C2-S15 Trust the Lord to keep you sure.
1. The word Nevertheless means: 'It doesn't matter what lost, carnal and backslidden people do, the following remains true'.
2. As explained in the detail note for this sentence, the foundation of our legal assurance is Jesus Christ and our personal relationship with Him (Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:19-22) which results in our doing righteous acts (Proverbs 10:25; Luke 6:46-49; 1Corinthians 3:9-11; Hebrews 6:1-2) in obedience to His word of truth.
3. The phrase having this seal means: 'The indwelling Holy Spirit is our spiritual seal'.
4. The phrase The Lord knoweth them that are his means: 'It does not matter what we think or feel, the Lord is Who makes sure that we do not lose our salvation'.
C2-S16 depart from iniquity.
1. The word And adds this sentence to the prior sentence and helps us avoid doctrinal error and doubts.
2. The word iniquity is defined as: 'ongoing lifestyle sins'.
3. The phrase Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity means: 'not only stop doing iniquity but get far away from any temptation to do iniquity'.
C2-S17 Keep in mind our eventual judgment. The types of vessels, in our current sentence, are used to illustrate the different ways t6hat God will use people, in His kingdom, once we get to Heaven. Our next sentence must be considered with this sentence in order to properly understand the doctrine being taught. .
1. The phrase in a great house is used symbolically for when we get to Heaven.
2. The phrase there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth symbolically represents the different values that God places on the service of different saved people while they are in this physical reality.
3. The phrase and some to honour, and some to dishonour Is a symbolic representation of the results of the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10).
C2-S18 Do what is required to get the best results. Our prior sentence must be considered with this sentence in order to properly understand the doctrine being taught.
1. The phrase If a man therefore purge himself from these means:
  1. The word if makes this a conditional statement. We must fulfill the condition in order to get the results specified.
  2. The word purge is defined as: 'To cleanse or purify by separating and carrying off whatever is impure, heterogeneous, foreign or superfluous'. Please see the detail note for more on how the word of God tells us to do this action.
  3. The phrase If a man therefore purge himself from these means: 'We must get all iniquity completely out of our life in order to have the desired results'.
2. The phrase he shall be a vessel unto honour means: 'This person will hear well done thou good and faithful servant and will receive honor evermore'.
3. The phrase sanctified, and meet for the master's use means: 'God will use him to do great works'. And, this can be here in this life as well as in Heaven.
4. The phrase and prepared unto every good work means: 'God will do whatever is necessary to enable this person to do the job that God will give him to do'.
C2-S19 Flee what leads to sin but follow righteousness.
1. The phrase Flee also youthful lusts describes certain lusts which are easier to do when you are young and which many learn, through experience, that those lusts do not provide the pleasure promised and almost always also bring hidden problems into the life.
2. The phrase but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace tells us what to do instead. Please see the detail note for more on how the word of God tells us to do these actions.
3. The phrase with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart describes the type of people whom we are to seek for ongoing fellowship.
C2-S20 Beware of the sources of strife. Many people are tempted to answer foolish and unlearned questions, for an number of different reasons. However, our sentence says to avoid them because most people who ask them are not really looking for an answer but are looking to gender strife. Therefore, answering such questions is, usually, stepping into a trap.
C2-S21 Do the main actions of the servant of the Lord.
1. The word And adds this sentence to the prior sentence and explains why the prior command was given.
2. The phrase the servant of the Lord must not strive is clear, especially when we consider the word must. The servant of the Lord is to depend on the power of the Lord. When we strive, we prove that we are depending on our own power and not the power of the Lord.
3. The phrases: but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves tells us what to do instead. Please see the detail note for more on how the word of God tells us to do these actions.
4. The phrase if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth tells us why we are to do as instructed and to not strive. We, in our own ability, can not change anyone. However, the Lord can do this phrase if we let Him work through us.
5. The phrase And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will tells us the possible end result, if we obey the command of this sentence.

Chapter 3

The chapter theme is: 'Realize the difference between holy men and those teaching doctrinal error'.

This Chapter continues what was said in Chapter 2. The major difference is that Chapter 2 dealt with the influence of saved people who turned to sin while Chapter 3 deals with lost people who claim to be saved, but may still be lost, and become leaders within the church. Unfortunately, it can be hard, if not impossible, for us to tell the difference. Since it often takes our Lord to tell the difference, we would be better off not worrying about the condition of their salvation and (instead) concentrate upon identifying them and stopping their influence within God's church.

Chapter 3 starts with This know also and ends with a well-known sentence which tells us that All scripture is given by inspiration of God...That the man of God may be perfect... In both (Chapter 2 and Chapter 3) we are told to really know the word of truth because it is our standard and the only thing that will protect us from these sources of false doctrine. In Chapter 2 we saw that Paul told Timothy how to get his thinking correct, how to deal with wrong thinking, and what are the results of each (right and wrong types of thinking) and the names people who are examples of each type of thinking.

Now, in this Chapter, Paul is concentrating more upon different types of people and their effects within the church and within relationships and within society. But we also see Paul using the same pattern of comparing and contrasting false doctrine and God's truth while identifying the results of each and identifying men as examples of each. In the end, Paul returns to saying to rely upon the holy scriptures because no matter how men act, the Bible does not change and it ...is quick, and powerful..dividing asunder of soul and spirit...and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The word of God is the only thing that we have which can divide men who teach doctrinal error from men who preach God's truth.

C3-S1 Warning added to what was said in the prior chapter.
1. The word also means: 'is addition to what was written in the prior chapter'.
2. The phrase This know also means: 'make sure that you have no doubt about this truth'.
3. The phrase that in the last days perilous times shall come means: 'We are currently living in perilous times'.
4. Please note that while preachers will preach about this sentence, they will then define perilous times is ways which might not match the next sentence. Be careful about accepting the doctrine of such preaching.
C3-S2 Types of men to avoid.
1. The phrases: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof tells us what ungodly men will be like. Please note that these descriptions also file saved, but carnal, people. Please see the detail note for more on how the word of God tells us to do these actions.
2. The phrase from such turn away tells us what to do. What many people have a hard time obeying are the several commandments to break fellowship with saved people who refuse to stop certain sins. And, in fact, many preachers even deny these God-given commandments. Such preachers we need to break fellowship with also.
C3-S3 Actions which identify men to avoid.
1. The phrases: For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts means:
  1. This phrase identify certain woman. And, many women object to this truth complaining about Paul's character and denying that it was God who had Paul write these phrases. Cowardly preachers skip preaching these phrases rather than face the wrath of such women. However, as written elsewhere, Eve was deceived and Adam was not deceived. Therefore, the women who object most strenuously to 5these phrases are, most likely, truly objection to their own weaknesses being identified. The women that these phrases do not fit also recognize that there are some women that they do fit. Therefore, they are not upset by a truth which does not apply to them personally.
  2. The men, who are identified in this phrase, tell these women what they want to hear instead of telling them the truth from God. The phrase creep into houses means: 'They sneak in without people being aware of what they are like nor of what their intentions are'. They tell these women what they want to hear in order to get the women to support them while they try to take over the church, or at least a large portion of the church.
  3. The phrase laden with sins, led away with divers lusts means: 'They tell people that God will understand and similar things so that the people believe that God will reward their life which is devoted to sin and fulfilling their lusts'. This message is the type that sinful people want to hear.
2. The phrase Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth also identifies preachers who teach doctrinal error.
  1. They are Ever learning so that they can repeat popular doctrinal error and so that they get credentials from religious organizations.
  2. However, they also are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth because what they learn goes the opposite way from the truth.
C3-S4 Scriptural example of the type of men whom we are to avoid.
1. The word Now means: 'After you understand the message of the prior sentences'.
2. The phrase as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses references Exodus 7 and 8. Please see the detail note for more on this matter and the doctrine involved.
3. The phrase so do these also resist the truth means that the men whom Paul is identifying act like Jannes and Jambres, from a spiritual perspective. That is, they will withstand the true man of God and the truth from the word of God.
4. The phrase men of corrupt minds means: 'Their thinking is the wrong way. They think like the world, their flesh and devils tell them to and refuse to think the way that God says to think'.
5. The phrase reprobate concerning the faith means: 'They once understood how the faith worked but turned away from it'. Please see the detail note for definitions of the words used in this phrase.
C3-S5 their eventual end.
1. The phrase But they shall proceed no further means: 'They will not receive the blessings from God which they claim'.
2. The phrase for their folly shall be manifest unto all men means: 'God will bring public judgment on such men after their doctrine is revealed to all'.
3. The phrase as theirs also was means: 'God will bring a type of judgment which is similar to what God did to Jannes and Jambres'.
C3-S6 the testimony of men whom we are to follow.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject from the prior sentence (type of doctrine which is preached), while changing directions'. Paul will contract his doctrine, and more, to the doctrine, and more, of the false preachers.
2. The phrase thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience means: 'Everything that Paul did in the ministry and in his personal life which showed that he was a true man of God'. Notice that, as we read in other Bible references, everything involved in the ministry and in the private life of the preacher is to be examined. Someone who reaches one thing but lives another thing is a lying hypocrite. A true man of God will have a life which backs his preaching.
3. The phrase Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra are illustrations of the results which Paul had to suffer, because of his preaching, while he continued to preach God's truth. This is contrasted to the liars who get sinful women to support their doctrinal lies.
4. The phrase what persecutions I endured is a general statement to identify further persecutions which are not listed in this sentence.
5. The phrase but out of them all the Lord delivered me identifies the provisions and protections of the Lord. Please realize that the Lord did not act until there was no question about Paul's personal inability to handle the problems. Thus, there was no denying that it was the Lord Who delivered Paul.
C3-S7 Others who live like Paul will have his result.
1. The word Yea means: 'This is an absolute "YES" with no chance of it not being a "YES"'.
2. The word and means: 'This truth is added to the testimony of Paul'.
3. The phrase all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution means:
  1. The phrase in Christ Jesus means: 'in the ongoing personal relationship with God which brings spiritual maturity and requires some spiritual maturity before the results start'. In addition, we must do our part to maintain this ongoing personal relationship.
  2. The phrase shall suffer persecution describes the results which can not be avoided.
  3. The phrase that will live Godly describes the life which they choose (will) to live as a part of their ongoing personal relationship with God.
  4. The word all means: 'there are no exceptions'. Anyone who does not have these results has not fulfilled all of the requirements of this sentence regardless of what they might claim.
C3-S8 the results which doctrinal liars will have.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject from the prior sentence (the lifestyle that people live), while changing directions'. Now, many might claim that there are saved people whose lives are between the prior sentence and the next phrase, but the context makes is clear that such people are actually seducers...deceiving, and being deceived. That is, they give you an attractive lie (seducers), and they convince you that their lie is truth (deceiving), and they even believe their own lie (being deceived). However, God will reveal the truth at the judgment seat of Christ and God gives us this method to test the truth while we are still in this physical life.
2. The phrase But evil men and seducers means: 'These are two different types of people even is some people fit both categories'. Both of these categories of people we want to avoid and want to keep clear of our ministry.
3. The phrase shall wax worse and worse means that over time, people will be worse than historical figures. However, this phrase also tells us that such people will wax worse and worse the longer they continue in their sinful lifestyle . That is one reason why we need to take time and observe people. They might deceive us at first, but, over time, God will reveal their true nature if we are listening to the Holy Spirit.
C3-S9 How the Godly are to act.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject from the prior sentence (the lifestyle that people live), while changing directions'. The prior sentence told us how evil men and seducers will act. This sentence tells us how the true man of God must act differently.
2. The phrase continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of means: 'The true man of God must remain faithful to the true doctrine of God which he has been taught and has seen the witness of God that backs the true doctrine of God'. Our true assurance comes from God. Please also see the Message called True Biblical Assurance. As explained in that Message, 'True assurance comes only from God through our ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ'.
3. AQs explained in the detail note, the phrase knowing of whom thou hast learned them speaks about God teaching us spiritual truths by using Godly people who tell us what the word of God says and back their teaching by their life. However, no matter how consistent and good our teaching is, it takes God's Holy Spirit it truly teach our heart spiritual truths. Thus, we must truly include God's Holy Spirit in this phrase.
4. The phrase And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures is a reference back to 2Timothy 1:5 where Paul recognized the teaching of thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice. It is important to teach the holy scriptures to children by reading them to the child even while still in the womb and continuing through infancy and childhood
5. The true meaning of the word salvation, especially during the 'Church Age', is: 'God's life in you'. true life is not a one-time occurrence but is and ongoing activity. Therefore, the phrase which are able to make thee wise unto salvation is speaking about our ongoing personal relationship with God and not just the time when true salvation started. The scriptures made Timothy, and other Godly people wise unto their rights and responsibilities in their ongoing personal relationship with God.
6. The phrase faith which is in Christ Jesus means: 'This faith is available to all saved but the saved must spiritually mature before it becomes active in their life and this faith will continue to grow as long as they maintain their ongoing personal relationship with God that is through Christ Jesus'. Please see the detailed notes related to this sentence in the Studies called Relational Prepositions and the Lord Jesus Christ Study. As explained there, the true Biblical meaning of Christ Jesus is different from the true Biblical meaning of Jesus Christ and from all other titles for the Son of God. And, this doctrinal difference is important for truly understanding the doctrine of this sentence.
C3-S10 these instructions are based upon scripture.
1. This sentence is often quoted and preached separate from the context. I have no complaint against such practice. However, part of the doctrine of this sentence can be missed when people do not consider the context. For example, this sentence is a precept and the basis of everything written in this chapter. Therefore, the earlier sentences of this chapter give us applications of the doctrine found in this sentence. Thus, for example, when our sentence says That the man of God may be, the identification of a true man of God must reject claims of such made by men who match the descriptions given earlier in our chapter. And, when our sentence speaks about doctrine, we must realize that the true definition of this word must also reject claims of such made by men who match the descriptions given earlier in our chapter.
2. The phrase All scripture is given by inspiration of God means: 'God is the author and preserver of All (true) scripture'. However, we need to be careful here. People wax eloquent claiming that the word inspiration means: 'God breathed' and claim 'We have the God breathed word of God!!!'. However, the truth is that we 'had' (past tense) 'the God breathed word of God'. However, one of the lessons from the history found in the Bible is that men make idols out of anything physical that was/is related to God. Therefore, we no longer have the original 'God breathed' documents. What we have are 'manuscripts', which are the God preserved 'copies of copies of the word of God'. Be careful of someone who claims that you have to trust their interpretation of a language that you do not understand. God wants us to trust what He gave to us, which is the preserved word of God, which is in English and is the 1611-KJV. (The other English man-written perversions are not versions of the true word of God, but Bibles written in other languages which match the message of the 1611-KJV are the true versions. Please see How to Study the Word of God for more details on this truth.)
3. The phrase and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness tells us the ways that the true word of God can spiritually profit us. Please see the detail note for more on these words.
4. The word that means: 'what follows is the expected result of what was written earlier'. If these results are not produced then there was a failure in properly using all scripture in the way that was specified in this sentence.
5. The phrase That the man of God may be perfect means: 'he is to be spiritually mature'. Someone claiming to be a man of God does not make them 'spiritually mature', but his truly being 'spiritually mature' is evidence that he is a true man of God.
6. In the Bible, the word good means: 'what comes from God'. Therefore, the phrase throughly furnished unto all good works means: 'God gives the true man of God everything that he needs in order to do the work that God gives him to do'.

Chapter 4

The chapter theme is: 'How to keep the ministry pure'.

This chapter gives us the reason for Paul writing this epistle. Paul starts the chapter with I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom... This is a legal charge that Timothy will answer for if, and how well, he performs it. He will answer God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.

Having given Timothy his charge, Paul reminds Timothy of coming corruption of the souls of men and tells him to hold back the corruption and make full proof of thy ministry. Then Paul reminds Timothy of the reward that he is looking for and of judgment where the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Having concluded his charge, Paul finishes the chapter with some personal items. While there is temptation for many to skim over the concluding sentences of this epistle, there is much that can be learned if someone is diligent in their study.

C4-S1 the pastor's charge that is based upon all that has been said.
1. The word charge is defined as: 'A superior authority gives a formal and legal command to a subordinate which includes the necessary rights and responsibilities to accomplish the assigned task'. Please see the message called A Pastor's Charge for more about the use of this word within this sentence. The phrase I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ means: 'The pastor is given a legal charge, which will be enforced by the court of God, with the charge being based upon the provision from God which we were told about in the prior sentence and chapter'.
2. The phrase who (the Lord Jesus Christ) who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom means that the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10) will happen after the 'Rapture' and before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ to rule and reign this world.
3. The phrase Preach the word is the charge / commandment given to all preachers as their main task in this life.
4. The phrases: be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine describe how the preacher id to Preach the word. Please see the detail note for more on the definitions of these words.
C4-S2 Why the pastor must keep this charge.
1. The word For means: 'Here's why the command in the prior sentence was given'.
2. The phrase the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine means that, over time, people in general will be less willing to truly listen to sound doctrine. The history, and current spiritual state, of England is an example of this. However, this phrase also has an application in the lives of all people.
3. The phrase but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears is a general statement that applies to all people and that we saw applied to some women in the prior chapter. This phrase means: 'people will seek preachers who will justify their sinful lifestyle s and tell them that God will understand their clinging to their own lusts'.
4. The phrase And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables very clearly tells us what people will seek and believe. A simple evidence of this truth is the number of people who claim to be 'Christians', and yet adamantly support 'Evolution'. Another example is the people who claim 'It's as woman's body which is murdered in abortion and it is her right to choose an abortion'.
C4-S3 Warning to beware.
1. The word But means: 'This sentence is continuing the subject from the prior sentence (the type of doctrine that people accept), while changing directions'.
2. The phrase watch thou in all things means: 'Pay attention to what goes on in the world and understand the spiritual sources and significances of those things'.
3. The phrase endure afflictions means: 'accept the circumstances of life which prove that devils hate you and your ministry and which prove that God protects you when you get out of them'.
4. The phrase do the work of an evangelist means: 'do basic soul winning and teaching basic doctrines'.
5. The phrase make full proof of thy ministry means: 'Let the world see evidence, which can not be denied nor refuted, which shows that it is God working through you and not you using the power of your own flesh'.
C4-S4 Paul's admittance that his time is done and that he will die soon.
C4-S5 Paul's reward for the life he lived.
1. The phrases: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith are a summary testimony of Paul's life. Please see the note for this sentence, in the Detail Study, for more on these phrases.
2. The phrase Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness tells us a specific reward which Paul, and others, will receive if they live their life, in this world, over to completely serve God and His kingdom. Please see the note for this sentence, in the Detail Study, for more on this phrase. Please also see the note for James 1:12 about the different types of crowns found within the Bible.
3. The phrase which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day means that Paul will receive this crown at the judgment seat of Christ. It also means that he will return with Christ to rule and reign this world for 1,000-years.
4. The phrase and not to me only means that others can expect to also receive this particular crown.
5. The phrase but unto all them also that love his appearing identifies who will also receive this particular crown. The phrase love his appearing identifies people who have dedicated their life to His service to the extent that they fully expect rewards, and do not fear punishment, and who have separated themselves so far from the pleasures of this world that they look forward to death.
C4-S6 Paul's final personal request. note that only Demas hath forsaken me and the others went to where Paul sent them for the ministry. Yet, in spite of that, Paul still craves Godly fellowship.
C4-S7 this sentence is evidence that Luke was a missionary even though he was not a preacher.
C4-S8 Paul's command to bring Mark. Earlier, Paul refused to let Mark travel with him but, By this time, Mark has spiritually matured enough to be spiritually profitable to Paul.
C4-S9 Where Tychicus went.
C4-S10 Paul's desire for scripture and writings of other preachers.
C4-S11 Paul's warning against men who deliberately did wrong. Please note that, like king David, Paul is not writing this because of personal hurt but because, when he hurt Paul, he did it to hurt the ministry. A preacher is to defend the ministry and the people of the ministry.
C4-S12 Paul's prayer for men who did wrong while trying to do right. I can't say for sure, but I believe that Paul is writing about when he was arrested in Jerusalem.
C4-S13 Paul's testimony of help from the Lord from the time of his arrest until he wrote this epistle.
C4-S14 Paul's confidence in the Lord and His preservation.
C4-S15 Amen means that Paul is doubling his statement of confidence in the Lord.
C4-S16 People to salute. Paul sends personal greetings to long-time helpers in the ministry.
C4-S17 Status of other people.
C4-S18 Request to hurry.
C4-S19 Greetings from others.
C4-S20-21 Final blessings.
C4-S22 Amen means that Paul is doubling his final blessing.

2Timothy Chapter 1 Sentence-by-Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

Please see the Summary Chapter Outline using this link. It gives the overview of this chapter.

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1-5.	Paul's love to Timothy, and the unfeigned faith which was in Timothy himself, his mother, and grandmother.
6-7	He is exhorted to stir up the gift of God which was in him;
8-12	to be stedfast and patient in persecution;
13-14	and to persist in the form and truth of that doctrine which he had learned of him.
15-18	Phygellus and Hermogenes, and such like, are noted, and Onesiphorus is highly commended.

C1-S1 (Verse 1-2) This sentence tells the important people, relationships and results of this epistle.

Equivalent Section: Who the epistle is fRomans who it is to and the relationships which are the basis of this epistle.

Paul,
an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy,
my dearly beloved son :.

Equivalent Section: What each person will provide or receive if the instructions of this epistle are obeyed.

Grace,
mercy,
and peace,
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord..

This sentence mentions some very important relationships and some results of those relationships that are not available outside of those relationships. For example, Paul calls Timothy my son because, while Timothy was not a physical descendent of Paul, he had received the spiritual character of Paul. Son has a special doctrinal meaning in the Bible and it does not include all saved people. Please see the note for this verse under son in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. It provides many links to several other places which provide a great number of Bible verses and explanation which prove that there many saved people living today that God will refuse the title of son to.

Because of this special (son) relationship, Paul includes peace as one of the blessings mentioned in his opening. Peace is included by Paul ONLY when he is writing to a son. Other epistles from Paul do not include peace. Please see the note for This verse in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details.

In addition, to that relationship, we see that Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. (Please see the note for this sentence within the Word Study on Apostle for the use of this word within the Bible.) Lots of people claim to be 'an apostle', but they don't have the evidence that Paul, and other Biblical apostles, had from God. We also know that the church voted to replace Judas Iscariot in Acts 1:15-26, but neither of the two men that they gave to God to choose from are ever reported to have the God given signs of an Apostle. Of Course, the church didn't consider that God might choose Paul. They didn't know about Paul and he hadn't even started killing church members in Acts 1, much less been converted (Acts 9). Please see the note for This verse in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details.

We see that the two parts of this sentence are equivalent, which means they have the same subject / message said in different ways. In the second part of this sentence we see Paul use Christ Jesus our Lord, which is doctrinally different from the Jesus Christ and the Christ Jesus used in the first part of this sentence. (Please see the note for Christ Jesus in this verse in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details.) In the first part of this sentence, Paul said that he was an apostle of Jesus Christ...according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. The according to is a qualifier of an apostle of Jesus Christ. That is, Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ for the specific purpose of bringing people to receive the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus. As seen in the Overview of the Lord Jesus Christ Study, the Bible makes a doctrinal difference between Jesus Christ and Christ Jesus with Christ Jesus being used for the ongoing personal relationship that is true salvation with emphasis upon the spiritual maturity which comes from being in Christ. So this emphasis that Paul was to bring was to prove to people that just making a religious profession (without a changed life) was completely wrong and that the main purpose of God providing salvation was so that people would mature spiritually and let God work through their personal life. Paul had his position to emphasize the message of grow up because you will be judged according to you works. That is the doctrinal message of Christ Jesus our Lord. That is, we are going to be judged by our Lord for how much we 'grew up spiritually' through our personal relationship with Christ Jesus and the proof of our spiritual growth is the works that we allow Him to do through our personal life. One message from Paul, which most people try to deny, is that the terror of the Lord is a direct result of the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10 2Corinthians 5:10-11). Please see the note for This verse in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details.

Paul is writing to tell Timothy to 'grow up spiritually' and to go out and tell others to 'grow up spiritually'. That is the purpose of this epistle and that is why Paul uses the particular combination of names that he uses in this sentence and why he uses them where he does in this sentence. in this epistle more than most others Paul names people who were successful in their attempt to 'grow up spiritually' and those who failed. We also see the consequences of those who failed and some people think Paul is harsh with them but he is only letting us know what our Lord is going to do. We are better off knowing of the consequences while we can do something about them than we are to believe some lie that will result in our temporary current pleasure along with eternal loss and possibly suffering for more than 1,000-years.

In our Second Equivalent Section we see the blessings that are offered to those saints who obey what is in this epistle. We find, essentially, this same phrase in: Romans 1:7; 1Corinthians 1:3; 2Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1Thessalonians 1:1; 2Thessalonians 1:2; 1Timothy 1:2; 2Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3; 2John 1:3. In the personal letters of 1Timothy 1:2; 2Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4 and 2John 1:3, we find mercy also added in. Please also see the notes at these links if you need more explanation of this phrase. As with the titles that Paul gives himself in the opening of his various letters, we also find some differences in the exact title of our Lord Jesus Christ within these opening sentences.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 1:12 for links to where Paul is named within the Bible for links to every place where the phrase I Paul is used. Please also see the second half of the book called SbS-Preacher Missionaries about how God used Paul to show us how He uses a pastor / missionary to build the ministry. . We see Paul mentioned 163 times in the Bible but this is the only place in 1Timothy.

The meaning of the word wilt, does not match what is found in a man-written dictionary. The true Biblical meaning is: 'The will applied at a lifestyle level. That is: a decision of will which does not change throughout the life.'. Please also see the note for Philippians 1:15-17 about the word will. The functional definition for this word is: 'That faculty of the mind by which we determine either to do or forbear an action; the faculty which is exercised in deciding, among two or more objects, which we shall embrace or pursue'. Please also see the note for Philippians 1:15-17 about the word will. The functional definition for this word is: 'That faculty of the mind by which we determine either to do or forbear an action; the faculty which is exercised in deciding, among two or more objects, which we shall embrace or pursue'. Please also see the note for 1Peter 2:15 about the phrase will of God. That note has links to every place in the Bible where we find this phrase along with notes on each reference. In particular, that note explains that the good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God are not three different levels of the will of God but, in fact, are three attributes of the single will of God. As that note explains, there is only one will of God for each circumstance in life but we receive variable rewards or punishment based upon how well we obey the will of God or how much we disobey the will of God. Please also see the Message called The Will of God for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.

Please see the note for Philippians 2:1 about the word accord. The functional definition is: 'Agreeing; harmonizing when two notes are in a music chord, they move together, up or down, to the next note'.

Please see the notes for Romans C4S15; Galatians C3-S15 about the word promise. The note in Romans has a discussion about the promises to God and both notes provide links to where this word is used in those epistles. The functional definition is: 'a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it, either in honor, conscience or law, to do or forbear a certain act specified; a declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made, a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of the act'. Please also see the Section on Promises in the Doctrinal Studies called Significant Gospel Events and Significant New Testament Events.

We find forms of the word life / live occurring 1035 times in 937 verses of the Bible, 338 times in 301 verses of the New Testament, and in 2Timothy, in: our current sentence; 1:10; 2:4; 2:11; 3:10 and 3:12. Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 about the word life. That note has the definition from Webster's 1828 and links from other commentators. Please also see the notes for Life in 1John about the word life. Please see the notes for Hebrews 1:8-LJC and Philippians 1:27-LJC about the phrase life everlasting. Please see the note for Romans C10S15 about the phrase belief changes life.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S27 and Philippians 2:19 which tells us where the Bible talks about Timothy / Timotheus (Timothy). He is one of only three (Timothy, Titus and Onesimus) that Paul called Son. We first read about him in Acts 16:1. and he is seen traveling with Paul, in Acts, through Acts 20:4. Those notes have much more detail but he is generally accepted as the man who inherited Paul's ministry.

Please see the notes for Romans C9S23 and Colossians C3S8 about the word beloved. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:5 for links to every place where the phrase beloved Son is applied to Jesus. The note for Romans explains a scripture reference where God calls us beloved after we truly Biblically repent. The note for Colossians has links from other commentators. Both have links to where forms of this word are used within those epistles. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines it as: 'be and loved, from love. Belove, as a verb, is not used. Loved; greatly loved; dear to the heart'. In addition, we have forms of the word beloved / love within our epistle in: 1:2, 1:7, 1:13; 3:2,4; 4:8 and 4:10.

Please see the notes for Romans 8:39-LJC; Galatians C5-S14; Philippians 1:9-11; love in 1John and 2John 1:3-LJC about the word love. Please also see the note for Revelation 8:35-LJC for a table which divides the various roles of God and gives Bible references for how God loves us through each of His roles. Please also see the note for 1John C3S26 about the phrase love one another. Please see the note for 1John C4S13 about the phrase perfect love.

We find the word grace, within our epistle, in: 1:1, 1:9, 2:1 and 4:22. Please see the notes for Romans C4S5; Romans C4S17; Galatians 1:1 and Ephesians C1S2 about the word grace. The commonly accepted definition, which is actually the main application, is: 'receiving a blessing that we did not earn. The acrostic of 'God's Riches At Christ Expense' is a good way to remember this definition'. However, that saying ignores the fact that the Bible says that men also give grace, and Christ certainly didn't die for their grace. The true functional definition is: 'what is given to make the giver look good'. The devils tell lies about God to try to keep from going to God for salvation and sanctification. God gives us His grace so that we can make Him look good and cause people to turn to God for salvation and for sanctification. If we don't make God look Good then He wasted His grace on us.

We find the word mercy, within our epistle, in: 1:1, 1:16 and 1:18. Please see the notes for Romans C12S1 and Colossians C3S8 about the word mercy. Please also see the notes for Romans 14:8-LJC and 2Thessalonians 1:9-LJC about the phrase judgment without mercy. The functional definition is: 'not getting the punishment that you deserve'.

Please see the note for Romans 12:1 for links to verses in the New Testament where mercy is in the same verse with God.

We find the word peace, within our epistle, in: 1:1 and 2:22. Please see the notes for Romans C12S16 and Galatians C1-S1 about the word peace. Please also see the Gospel of Peace in the Word Study on Gospel. Please also see the notes for Romans 10:15 and Hebrews 12:14-LJC about the phrase peace with God. The note in Galatians points out that peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 6:16 tells us that only those saved people who walk according to this rule will have peace. The note in Romans provides the full definition from Webster's 1828 along with a note for how this word is used every place within Romans. The functional definition is: 'In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 1:5 about the word father. The functional definition is: 'the man who passes his character to the so'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'an. Ro 1:1; 2Co 1:1
the promise. Joh 5:24,39-40; 6:40,54; 10:28; 17:3; Ro 5:21; 6:23; 2Co 1:20; Eph 3:6; Tit 1:2; Heb 9:15; 2Pe 1:3-4; 1Jo 2:25; 5:11-13
Timothy. 1Ti 1:2; Ro 12:19; Php 4:1
Grace. Ro 1:7 exp: 1Ti 1:2; Tit 1:4'.

Home Start of Chapter

C1-S2 (Verse 3-5) Paul's reaction to the testimony of Timothy.

First Step: Paul thanked God for Timothy night and day.

I thank God,
whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience,
that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;.

Second Step: Paul enjoyed the encouragement that he received from Timothy.

Greatly desiring to see thee,
being mindful of thy tears,
that I may be filled with joy;.

Third step: Paul carefully considered the training that Timothy received.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee,
which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois,
and thy mother Eunice;.

Fourth Step: Paul verified that Timothy received the training that was given to him.

and I am persuaded that in thee also..

Paul is going to address Timothy as a senior pastor that he is. He is not teaching or providing background for the things that he says because, as he says in this sentence, Timothy already has these things. The next sentence starts with Wherefore, which means that it provides a conclusion that is valid anyplace (wherefore as opposed to therefore) that is based upon this sentence. It does not matter what circumstances Timothy finds himself in, he has the background for it. Timothy only needs to stir up what has already been provided.

Here we see the steps to take in order to develop a preacher and pastor. First, Paul had enough personal care for Timothy to pray for him night and day. Also, that prayer was thanking God, not complaining or asking God to provide something that Paul thought was missing. It also was based upon Paul's own religious training (from my forefathers) that Paul lived himself (whom I serve from...with pure conscience). (Please see the note for Romans 14:20 for links to all of the verses in the New Testament where pure is used along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . Please also see the note for Romans 9:1, which has links to every verse in the Bible which uses the word conscience.)

After Paul personally thanked God for Timothy on a daily basis, Paul received encouragement from God working in Timothy's life. Many times parents and leaders desire things for children / followers that the followers are not willing to provide for themselves. Paul had many followers that he taught but there were only three that he called son and Timothy was the first of them. Paul verified that Timothy was willing to receive what was provided and also, more importantly, was willing to put his own efforts into developing what was provided.

Next Paul verified the training that Timothy received from others (unfeigned faith) and verified that Timothy could be taught by others and that he wasn't too proud to be taught by 'women' or other types of people that religious people like to look down upon. Paul also verified that Timothy was taught by people who served God even when they didn't have a church or other 'proper religious leadership'. The fact that Paul said that the faith which Timothy had was unfeigned meant that Timothy's faith was real and, as Paul acknowledges, Timothy had that unfeigned faith because he saw the same in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice. The quality of our faith affects the quality of the faith of those whom we lead.

in this chapter we see several consequences of Timothy's unfeigned faith. They are:

In 1:4 we see that Paul was Greatly desiring to see thee (Timothy personally) because his faith was an encouragement to Paul. (See 3John 1:4.)
In 1:6 we see that his faith caused the gift of God to be expressed through his life. This gift was to have God's own purpose and grace (1:9) leading him in his life. It was also to have a personal understanding that Christ Jesus...abolished death and made the consequences manifest (1:10) in his personal life.
In 1:7-8 we see fear (of the world, flesh and devil) was causing Timothy to not fully show his faith. That is why Paul tells Timothy that the spirit of fear was not from God.
In 1:12 we see that we can overcome the fear through faith because I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. However, it takes true Biblical faith to go from shouting about this truth to actually acting upon it.
In 1:13 we read about the form of sound words which require true Biblical faith to Hold fast.
In 1:14 Paul says That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost and it takes true Biblical faith to keep (anything) by the Holy Ghost.

When Paul says I am persuaded he means that he started from a point of doubt and verified every point of doubt. (Please see the note for Romans 8:38-39 for links to every verse which uses the word persuaded along with the definition from Webster's 1828 and other notes.) All of these references to Timothy's unfeigned faith means that Paul thought about them and verified them before listing them in this epistle. Further, Paul didn't just check Timothy's unfeigned faith or the training provided to a group that Timothy came from but he verified the training that Timothy personally (thee) received. Paul is going to give a discouraged preacher a 'kick in the pants' because that is what he needs to take over and replace Paul in the ministry and other will be replying upon Timothy continuing when all others quit. Timothy had the unfeigned faith and the personal training that was needed for him to get busy. Paul is providing the motivation in this epistle.

Please see the notes for Ephesians 5:3-4 and 1Corinthians 14:17 about the word thank. Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. The functional definition is: ' to express gratitude for a favor; to make acknowledgments to one for kindness bestowed'.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S21 about the word serve. Please also see the notes for Romans C14S4; 1Corinthians C7S27 and Ephesians C6S4 about the word servant. Please also see the note for Philippians 2:17 about the word service. The definition from Webster's 1828 is: 'This verb is supposed to be from the noun servus, a servant or slave, and this from servo, to keep. 1. to work for; to bestow the labor of body and mind in the employment of another. Jacob loved Rachel and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy youngest daughters. Gen. 29. No man can serve two masters. Matt. 6. 2. to act as the minister of; to perform official duties to; as, a minister serves his prince. Had I served God as diligently as I have served the king, he would not have given me over in my gray hairs. Cardinal Woolsey. 3. to attend at command; to wait on. A goddess among gods, ador'd and serv'd By angels numberless, thy daily train. Milton. 4. to obey servilely or meanly. be not to wealth a servant. 5. to supply with food; as, to be served in plate. 6. to be subservient or subordinate to. Bodies bright and greater should not serve the less not bright. Milton. 7. to perform the duties required in; as, the curate served two churches. 8. to obey; to perform duties in the employment of; as, to serve the king or the country in the army or navy. 9. to be sufficient, or to promote; as, to serve one's turn, end or purpose. 10. to help by good offices; as, to serve one's country. 11. to comply with; to submit to. They think herein we serve the time, because thereby we either hold or seek preferment. Hooker. 12. to be sufficient for; to satisfy; to content. One half pint bottle serves them both to dine, And is at once their vinegar and wine. Pope. 13. to be in the place of anything to one. A sofa serves the Turks for a seat and a couch. 14. to treat; to require; as, he served me ungratefully; he served me very ill; We say also, he served me a trick, that is he deceived me, or practiced an artifice on me. 15. In Scripture and theology, to obey and worship; to act in conformity to the law of a superior, and treat him with due reverence. Fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and truth. As for means my house, we will serve the lord. Josh. 24. 16. In a bad sense, to obey; to yield compliance or act according to'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 1:5 about the word father. The functional definition is: 'the man who passes his character to the so'. The word forefathers is used for 'ancestors who passed their culture to their descendants'.

Please see the note for Romans C14S27 about the word pure. We find this word in 1:3 and 2:22. The functional definition is: '100%'.

Please see the note for Romans C9S1 about the word conscience. That note has links to several places where the Bible uses this word and explains why the dictionary definition is not correct. The functional definition is: 'a witness inside of ourselves that lets us know if something is right or wrong from a moral perspective'.

Please see the note for Hebrews 10:2 about the word cease. The functional definition for this word is: ' to stop moving, acting or speaking; to leave of; to give over; followed by from before a noun'. Please also see the note for Luke 9:30 about the word decease.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S28 about the word remembrance. That note has the full definition from Webster's 1828 , links from other commentators and links to where this word is used within that epistle. We find forms of this word, within 2Timothy, in: 1:3-5; 1:6; 2:8 and 2:14. The functional definition is: 'The retaining or having in mind an idea which had been present before, or an idea which had been previously received from an object when present, and which recurs to the mind afterwards without the presence of its object'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S25 and the Doctrinal Study on Prayer about the word pray. Those notes have a discussion of this word, the full definition from Webster's 128, links from other commentators and links where this word is used within those epistles. The functional definition is: 'In worship, a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits'.

Please see the note for John 11:10 about the word night. Fausset's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1) the time of distress (Isa 21:12). (2) Death, the time when life's day is over (Joh 9:4). (3) Children of night, i.e. dark deeds, filthiness, which shuns daylight (1Th 5:5). (4) the present life, compared with the believer's bright life to come (Ro 13:12)'. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Used symbolically for: 1. Death, a time "when no man can work." Joh 9:4. 2. the moral darkness of the world, in which men sleep and are drunken. 1Th 5:7. 3. the period of Christ's rejection, which is far spent, and the 'day' at hand. Ro 13:12. there will be no night of moral or spiritual darkness in the heavenly Jerusalem. Re 21:25; 22:5'. Please also see the note for Matthew 25:6 about the word midnight.

Please see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Le 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1Sa 11:11; Ne 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "the cool of the day" just before sunset (Ge 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (La 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Jg 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mr 13:35). (See Watches.) the division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Da 3:6,15; 4:19; 5:5. this mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. the reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (Joh 11:9). The word "day" sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Ge 2:4; Isa 22:5; Heb 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isaiah 2:12; Acts 17:31; 2Timothy 1:18, the great day of final judgment.'. The functional definition, of the phrase last day is: '(end of the) Church Age. However, in the life of the individual, it can be used for the day that he dies'. Please see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. The functional definition is: 'obey immediately'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:55 about the word daily. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week. Please also see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday. Please also see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the words birth / birthright / birthday.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S1; 2Corinthians 5:2-3; Galatians 4:19-20 and Philippians 1:23-24 about the word desire. Those notes have the full definition from Webster's 1828 , links from other commentators, links to where this word is used in those epistles and some discussion. The functional definition is: 'An emotion or excitement of the mind, directed to the attainment or possession of an object from which pleasure, sensual, intellectual or spiritual, is expected; a passion excited by the love of an object, or uneasiness at the want of it, and directed to its attainment or possession'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C13S9 about the word see / sight / seen. The functional definition, which deals with the physical world, is: 'a physical sense which conveys information about the physical world to the brain'. However, when applied to abstract mental or spiritual things, the word see is better defined as: 'a process which conveys information and understanding to the person'. This word is often used symbolically for spiritual understanding. Please also see the note for John 6:40-LJC about the phrase see the Son.

Please see the notes for Romans C11-S37; Romans C12-S2; 2Corinthians C1S9 and 1Timothy 6:17 about the word mind. Please see the note for Philippians 2:5-8 about the phrase mind Jesus. The functional definition is: 'Intention; purpose; design'. Our current sentence is the only place in 1Timothy where We find this word.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C2S4 about the word tears. Webster's 1828 dictionary define this word as: 'Tears are the limpid fluid secreted by the lacrymal gland, and appearing in the eyes, or flowing from them. A tear, in the singular, is a drop or a small quantity of that fluid. Tears are excited by passions, particularly by grief. this fluid is also called forth by any injury done to the eye. It serves to moisten the cornea and preserve its transparency, and to remove any dust or fine substance that enters the eye and gives pain'.

Please see the note for Romans C15S11 about the word fill. The functional definition is: 'to press; to crowd; to stuff'.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S23 and 1John C1S2 about the word joy. The Bible tells us that joy only comes from God. Human dictionaries confuse it with 'happiness'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S3 about the word call. That note has links to notes in every New Testament book where there are links to every place where the particular book uses this word. The functional definition is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'. This word is used, in this book, in: 2Timothy 1:5; 2Timothy 1:9 and 2Timothy 2:22. Please also see the note for Romans 10:13; 2Thessalonians 3:1-LJC; Ephesians 5:8-LJC and 1John 4:14-LJC about the phrase call upon the Lord. The note for Romans 10:13 has links to every place in the Bible where we find the words call and Lord used together, along with a small note on each reference.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 6:3-10 about the word unfeigned that note has links to every place in the Bible where We find this word. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines unfeigned as: 'Not feigned; not counterfeit; not hypocritical; real; sincere; as unfeigned piety to God; unfeigned love to man.'

Please see the notes for Romans C3S25; 1Corinthians C1S3; 2Corinthians C1S17; Galatians C3S27; Ephesians 6:23-LJC; Philippians 1:25-26 and 2Timothy C1S2 about the word faith. The functional definition is: 'an action word that is based upon a belief in a promise found within the Bible with the action dictated by the Bible and the understanding that our action does not force God to act nor determines when or how God acts but proves that of our own free will we are giving God permission to act in and through our life to do what He promised within His Word'. Please see the notes for Romans 4 and James 2:21-LJC about the word Abraham's faith. Please see the note for 2Timothy C1S2 about the phrase faith: unfeigned. Please see the note for Romans C10S12 about the phrase faith makes us not ashamed. Please see the note for Ephesians C1S2 about the phrase just shall live by faith. Please see the note for Romans C11S6 about the phrase just shall live by his faith. Please see the note for Romans C3S29 about the phrase justification by faith. Please see the note for Romans C3S25 about the phrase Law and faith. Please see the note for Romans C9S28 about the phrase live / walk by faith.

Please also see the other verses of this epistle (1:13; 2:2; 2:11,13; 2:18; 2:22; 3:8; 3:10; 3:15 and 4:7) that tell us about faith.

Please see the note for Romans C7S24 about the word dwell. That note has the definition from Webster's 1828 along with a small note on the usage of this word in every verse of Romans where it is used. The functional definition is: 'Inhabiting; residing; sojourning; continuing with fixed attention'.

Please see the note for Mark 1:30 about the word mother. Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The law commanded that honour was to be paid to a mother as well as to a father. In nearly all cases the mothers of the kings of Israel are mentioned as well as the fathers. the wise woman who appealed to Joab as 'a mother in Israel,' was at once listened to. 2Sa 20:19. A mother has naturally great influence over her children, whether for good or evil, as Jochebed the mother of Moses, and Jezebel the mother of Athaliah. the children of the virtuous woman arise and call her blessed. Pr 31:28. Timothy had a faithful mother and grandmother. 2Ti 1:5. there are also 'mothers' in the church, who have the Lord's interests at heart in the welfare of the saints, as Paul called the mother of Rufus his own mother also. Ro 16:13'.

Please see the note for Romans C8S40 about the word persuade. The functional definition is: 'Influenced or drawn to an opinion or determination by argument, advice or reasons suggested; convinced; induced'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I thank. Ro 1:8; Eph 1:16 whom. 2Ti 1:5; 3:15; Ac 22:3; 24:14; 26:4; 27:23; Ga 1:14 exp: Ro 1:9. with. Ac 23:1; 24:16; Ro 1:9; 9:1; 2Co 1:12; 1Ti 1:5,19; Heb 13:8 that. Ro 1:9; 1Th 1:2-3; 3:10 night. Lu 2:37 exp: 1Th 2:9; 3:10
desiring. 2Ti 4:9,21; Ro 1:11; 15:30-32; Php 1:8; 2:26; 1Th 2:17-20; 3:1 being. Ac 20:19,31,37-38; Re 7:17; 21:4 filled. Ps 126:5; Isa 61:3; Jer 31:13; Joh 16:22,24; 1Jo 1:4
I call. Ps 77:6 unfeigned. Ps 17:1; 18:44; 66:3; 81:15 (margin) Jer 3:10; Joh 1:47; 2Co 6:6; 1Ti 1:5; 4:6; 1Pe 1:22 thy mother. Ps 22:10; 86:16; 116:16; Ac 16:1I am. 2Ti 1:12; Ac 26:26; Ro 4:21; 8:38; 14:5,14; 15:14; Heb 6:9; 11:13'.

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C1-S3 (Verse 6) Paul reminds Timothy that he personally knows what Timothy is capable of.

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,
which is in thee by the putting on of my hands..

Paul reminds Timothy of his spiritual heritage that Paul was personally involved with before he tells him to 'stir up' his own faith. Timothy had an unfeigned faith and he needed to stir it up so that others would see it. A lot of times religious leaders will have a ceremony where they put on hands as if the ceremony transferred some religious gift. There is only one time that I know of the Bible saying that this is true and that is when a man is ordained to be a pastor. A properly ordained pastor has special spiritual gifts such as the ability to organize a church from a mission work. In Matthew 16:19 and Matthew 18:18 Jesus said: Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.. In context He was speaking to / of the church and the right given to the church, not to some other organization or even to another pastor. Only the church has the right to ordain a pastor and 1Timothy 6:14 we read Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. please notice that our verse says that it was the presbytery (church) that laid hands on Timothy personally (thee) to do this.

However, based upon the prior sentence, this not the same thing that Paul is talking about since our context says that Paul personally laid hands on Timothy. Our current sentence is talking about the fact that Paul personally spent years doing 'hands on training' of Timothy and any ceremony was only a formal recognition of the personal 'hands on training' that Timothy already received. The personal 'hands on training' by Paul taught Timothy how to display his own unfeigned faith so that others could see it and learn to have the same type of faith. Part of the spiritual gift wasn't transferred by the ceremony but by the years of personal 'hands on training' which Paul expected Timothy to pass on.

Please see the note for Romans intro about the word wherefore. The functional definition is: Wherefore 'tells us a result (for) that occurs where ever you look'.

Please see the note for 1:3-5 about the word remembrance. The functional definition is: 'The retaining or having in mind an idea which had been present before, or an idea which had been previously received from an object when present, and which recurs to the mind afterwards without the presence of its object'.

Please see the note for 2Peter 1:13 about the word stir. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to move; to change place in any manner. My foot I had never yet in five days been able to stir. 2. to agitate; to bring into debate. Stir on the questions of jurisdiction. 3. to incite to action; to instigate; to prompt. An Ate stirring him to blood and strife. 4. to excite; to raise; to put into motion. And for her sake some mutiny will stir.
To stir up, 1. to incite; to animate; to instigate by inflaming passions; as, to stir up a nation to rebellion. The words of Judas were good and able to stir them up to valor. 2 Maccabees. 2. to excite; to put into action; to begin; as, to stir up a mutiny or insurrection; to stir up strife. 3. to quicken; to enliven; to make more lively or vigorous; as, to stir up the mind. 4. to disturb; as, to stir up the sediment of liquor'. As already mentioned, One of the main consequences of stirring up, found in the New Testament, was a riot or a near riot. This is a far stronger reaction than most preaching gets today.

Please see the notes for Romans C5S9 and 1Corinthians C12S4 about the word gift. The functional definition is: 'Power; faculty; some quality or endowment conferred by the author of our nature'. Please note: there is a doctrinal error which uses this verse to teach that the indwelling Holy Spirit is only received by the right people laying their hands on us. This is error and our sentence does not support that interpretation. Timothy was given the gift of being a pastor, with all of the authority and power including the right to organize a church. This gift was not receiving the indwelling Holy Spirit. Please notice that Ephesians 4:7-8 says: But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. the he of this verse is Christ. Then Ephesians 4:11 says: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; thus, we see that a pastor is a spiritual gift from Christ and that spiritual gift is given when the church ordains a man (with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery).

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. Please see the note for 1:7 for links to every place where our epistle uses the word give. The functional definition is: ' what one person gives to another without compensation'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C12S12 and Colossians 2S7 about the word hand. The functional definition is: 'Symbol of skill, energy, action, strength and control'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I put. 2Ti 2:14; Isa 43:26; 1Ti 4:6; 2Pe 1:12; 3:1; Jude 1:5 that. 2Ti 4:2; Ex 35:26; 36:2; Mt 25:15-30; Lu 19:13; Ro 12:6-8; 1Th 5:19; 1Pe 4:10-11 by the. Ac 8:17-18; 19:6; 1Ti 4:14; Heb 6:2'.

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C1-S4 (Verse 7) Two steps in reminding Timothy of what God gave him.

First Step: deny that fear (of the world) came from God.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;.

Second Step: acknowledge what did come from God.

but of power,
and of love,
and of a sound mind..

Many preachers take Paul's unqualified phrase of spirit of fear to mean that God never gives ANY fear. However, Paul did not include the word 'any' in this statement and a lot of doctrinal error results in people assuming that an unqualified statement in the Bible is all-encompassing. In fact, rightly dividing (2:15) requires us to find and apply limits found elsewhere in the Bible. There are over 500 verses in the Bible which contain the combination of fear, of and Lord. That does not include fear of God. What the Bible actually teaches is that we are not to fear man, the world or devils but we are to fear the Lord because that is given to help us 'stop our sinning'. Please see the paper called Fear the Lord for more details on this subject.

After Paul removed any objection he added in the positive. We see this pattern many places in the Bible. We are to remove wrong influences before we try to add the positive or the wrong influences will interfere with our adding the positive in a proper manner. While many have preached on these three items, I will only say that each must come from God and anyone who claims any of these gifts outside of the control of God will lead others into error.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:15 about the word give. We find the word give in: 1:9, 1:16; 2:7, 2:25; 3:16 and 4:8. The functional definition of this action verb is: 'Bestowing; confering; imparting; granting; delivering'.

Please use the link in the sentence above and see the notes for Romans C8S1; Galatians C6S8 and Hebrews 8:10-LJC about the word Spirit. The functional definition is: 'An intelligent being from the spiritual reality which is a super-set of the physical reality'. As seen in the summary part of the Study on Spirit, 'We are made spiritually alive when God's spirit quickens our spirit'. That study also provides links to many more verses which teach the same doctrine. Please use his link for links to every usage in the Bible where we find the phrase Spirit of the Lord. Please see the note for Romans C11S13 about the phrase spirit of slumber. Please see the note for Galatians 6:1 in Word Study on Spirit for links to every place where we find the word spiritual. Please see the notes for Romans C8S40; Ephesians C6S8 about the phrase spiritual powers. Please see the note for 1Peter C1S11 about the phrase spiritual verses physical. Please see the notes for Word Study on Spirit; Romans C14S20 and Colossians C3S5 about the phrase unclean spirits. Please see the note for please see the Word Study on Holy Ghost for links to every place in the Bible where we find the phrase Holy Ghost.

Please see the notes for Romans C11S25; Philippians 1:12-14 and the Doctrinal Study called Fear the Lord about the word fear. The functional definition is: 'This is the absolute knowledge that we will be hurt beyond our imagination. We are not to fear anything but the Lord. We are to fear the Lord'.

Please see the note for Romans C13S2 about the word power. We find this word in our epistle in: C1-S4; C1-S5 and C3-S2. The functional definition is: 'The primary sense of the verb is to strain, to exert force. However, there are many applications of this word and some of the applications, such as mental or spiritual ones, may take some thought in order to see how this base definition fits the application'.

Please see the note for 1:2 about the word love. The functional definition is: 'The willing giving of oneself for the best good of another with no expectation of return. Spiritual good is more important than physical good and long-term good is more important than short-term good'. Please also see the notes for Romans 8:39-LJC; Galatians C5-S14; Philippians 1:9-11; love in 1John and 2John 1:3-LJC about the word love. Please see the note for 1John C3S26 about the phrase love one another. Please see the note for 1John C4S13 about the phrase perfect love. Please see the notes for Romans C9S23 and Colossians C3S8 about the word beloved. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:5 for links to every place where the phrase beloved Son is applied to Jesus. The note for Romans explains a scripture reference where God calls us beloved after we truly Biblically repent. The note for Colossians has links from other commentators. Both have links to where forms of this word are used within those epistles. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines it as: 'be and loved, from love. Belove, as a verb, is not used. Loved; greatly loved; dear to the heart'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C13S1 about the word sound. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:7 (sound mind), 1:13 (sound words), and 4:3 (sound doctrine). The functional definition is: 'Entire; unbroken; not shaky, split or defective; as sound timber'. Please also see the Message called: Sound Doctrine.

Please see the notes for Romans C11-S37; Romans C12-S2; 2Corinthians C1S9 and 1Timothy 6:17 about the word mind. Please see the note for Philippians 2:5-8 about the phrase mind Jesus. The functional definition is: ' Intention; purpose; design'. Our current sentence is the only place in 1Timothy where We find this word.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the spirit. Ac 20:24; 21:13; Ro 8:15; Heb 2:15; 1Jo 4:18 but. Mic 3:8; Zec 4:6; Lu 10:19; 24:49; Ac 1:8; 6:8; 9:22; 10:38; 1Co 2:4 of love. Ro 5:5; Ga 5:22; Col 1:8; 1Pe 1:22 a sound. Ps 119:80; Pr 2:7; 8:14; Lu 8:35; 15:17; Ac 26:11,25;2Co 5:13-14'.

Home Start of Chapter

C1-S5 (Verse 8-11) Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord but embrace it.

Equivalent Section: Don't be ashamed of ANYTHING that God does.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord,
nor of me his prisoner:.

Equivalent Section: How to get personally involved in what God is doing.

First Step: Get personally involved in what God is doing.

but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;.

Second Step: Realize how God has equipped you and use what He provided.

Who hath saved us,
and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who hath abolished death,
and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel :.

Equivalent Section: Paul is our example of getting personally involved in what God is doing.

Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,
and an apostle,
and a teacher of the Gentiles..

This sentence has three equivalent sections which each tell us to get involved in what God is doing in a personal way. What He is doing is giving us the opportunity to build a testimony that can be proven in His court when He judges us as Lord. Our having that testimony justifies His giving us the reward that He wants to give us.

This sentence uses the word gospel twice. There is a subtle difference between the two uses of gospel in this sentence. This difference is explained in the note for this sentence in the Word Study on Gospel. Since the second instance of gospel (in this sentence) is an application of the first instance, this note will ignore the subtle difference and continue as if both instances are the application that is available to us tday. please see the note in the Word Study on Gospel for more details.

The first section of this sentence tells us to not be ashamed of what God is doing even though the world tries shame, torture and even death to discourage us. (Please see the note for Romans 10:11 for references where the Bible tells us that our belief / faith makes us not ashamed.) History tells us that people were called Christians as a name of derision and God's people embraced it while living a life that displayed the Spirit of Christ, which caused the name of derision to become a name of honor. That is the message of the first section of this sentence. Even when facing a threat of death, be honored that God would choose to use you and that He didn't choose someone else. Please see the note for this sentence under Lord (in the Lord Jesus Christ Study) for more detail on this section of the sentence.

Next I will deal with the third equivalent section of this sentence because it is simpler than the second section. This third section starts with whereunto which refers to the gospel in the second section. What a lot of people miss is that in the Bible, the gospel includes the gospel of salvation and the gospel of Christ, which are not the same thing. In the first part of this sentence, Paul said that he was a prisoner. If we look at the record in Acts 21, the problem started when saved Jews within the church were offended with Paul about his teaching concerning the religious part of the Mosaic Law. In Acts 15 the church had a council at the Jerusalem church and concluded that Gentiles did not have to keep the religious part of the Mosaic Law. However, we read all through the New Testament about saved Jews coming from Jerusalem telling Gentiles that they had to keep the Law. Doctrinally, it culminated in Galatians with Paul saying Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). However, the Jews continued until they had Paul beheaded and our Lord sent the Romans to kill these saved Jews who were teaching doctrinal error from the church at Jerusalem. In Acts 21:19-24 we read how the church at Jerusalem glorified the Lord when they heard what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. However, instead of concluding that the Lord approved of Paul's ministry, they made a demand of Paul based upon substantiated lies. that led to Paul being beheaded and God destroying the church at Jerusalem before John wrote Revelation. (The church at Jerusalem is not mentioned among the churches listed in Revelation.) God not only brought judgment upon His children who sinned and held religious beliefs above the word of God but God also brought judgment upon the church which failed to correct their error.

In the third section of this sentence, Paul says that he is appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (Please see the note for this sentence within the Word Study on Apostle for the use of this word within the Bible.) All of these ministries deal with salvation and, with the possible exception of preacher, all deal specifically with the gospel of Christ which teaches sanctification after salvation. (Please see the note for Romans 10:14, in the Book Study on Romans, for links to every place in the Bible where we find preacher. That note also has a short note for each verse and the definition from Webster's 1828 Dictionary.) this is what caused Paul to become a prisoner and it is what Paul told Timothy to Be not thou (you personally) therefore ashamed. This is the specific part of the gospel that is neglected in many churches today and that neglect keeps us safe from becoming prisoners but also prevents us from being effective. It also robs people of the testimony of the Lord and, therefore, their eternal reward.

This brings us to the middle part of our sentence. We saw in the first equivalent section that Paul was a prisoner in the flesh but would receive eternal rewards because of the testimony of the Lord. We saw in the third equivalent section that Paul was given specific offices that dealt with the gospel of Christ, which provided sanctification and spiritual maturity after our initial profession and it was the specifics of the gospel of Christ which caused Paul to be a prisoner. So the middle equivalent section must give the same message said in a different way. As we see in the notes under Christ Jesus and Jesus Christ within the Lord Jesus Christ Study, Paul associates the everlasting gifts with Jesus Christ while he associates the spiritual gifts that only some receive with Christ Jesus. For example, every place that we have seen the Bible talk about a calling, it has talked about a spiritual gift that required spiritual maturity and sacrifice beyond our initial profession. We have also seen the truth of Matthew 22:14 (For many are called, but few are chosen.) Our Lord called us according to his own purpose and grace and equipped us in Christ Jesus, which means that we have to mature spiritually in order to receive this equipment. (Please see all of the verses and notes dealing with in which show that many saved people are not in Christ Jesus.) Just like you don't give a loaded gun to a baby, so also does our Lord restrict who receives the gifts associated with an holy calling. He gives these gifts to those who will do the work of a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher, in particular when dealing with the gospel of Christ. Those who allow God to work his own purpose and grace through their life will also have the testimony of our Lord and will receive the eternal rewards for that testimony when our Lord provides rewards at His judgment.

Please see the note for Romans intro about the word therefore. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:8; 2:1, 2:3 2:10, 2:21 and 4:1. We find the word wherefore within 2Timothy only in 1:6. Therefore and wherefore gives us a result based upon what came before the Therefore or wherefore. Most people understand that in these cases context is critical. Unfortunately, many of the same people ignore context when it goes against their current beliefs. Therefore tells us that this result (for) is there (at this one location which is specified before the therefore) with the result following the therefore. Therefore tells us that this result (for) is there (at this one location which is specified before the therefore) with the result following the therefore.

Please see the notes for Romans C5S2 about the word ashamed. The functional definition for this word is: 'effected by shame; abashed or confused by guilt or a conviction of some criminal action or indecorous conduct, or by the exposure of some gross errors or misconduct, which the person is conscious must be wrong, and which tends to impair his honor or reputation'. Please also see the note for Romans C10S12 about the phrase faith makes us not ashamed. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 6:7 for links to every sentence in this epistle which use any form of the word shame. The functional definition is: 'A painful sensation excited by a consciousness of guilt, or of having done something which injures reputation; or by of that which nature or modesty prompts us to conceal. Shame is particularly excited by the disclosure of actions which, in the view of men, are mean and degrading. Hence it is often or always manifested by a downcast look or by blushes, called confusion of face'. Please see the note for Romans C5S2 which has a discussion of the Biblical use of shame along with links to several other verses. Basically, if God has to make us ashamed then it will probably be at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10 and 2Corinthians 5:10-11) and that shame will last for eternity.

Please see the note for Psalms 119 about the word testimony. We find this word only in our current sentence within 2Timothy. The functional definition is: 'statements that are used in a court of law to judge the legality of someone's actions'.

Please see the note for Matthew 4:12 about the word prison. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 6:3 about the word imprisonment. The functional definition for this word is: 'The place where people who were arrested and detained by government'. Please also see the note for Philemon 1:1 about the word prisoner. The functional definition for this word is: 'The person who was arrested and detained by government'.

Please see the note for 15:27 for the links to every place in the Bible where forms of partake are used along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . That note separates what we should partake in from what we should not partake in. Please also see the note for Ephesians C5S5 about the word partakers. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:8 and 2:6. The functional definition is: 'part and take. 1. to take a part, portion or share in common with others; to have a share or part; to participate; usually followed by of, sometimes less properly by in'.

Please see the notes for 2Timothy C4S3 and Philippians 1:15-17 about the word afflictions. The note for 4:5 has links to every place in the Bible where we find his word. The functional definition is: 'physical, emotional and / or mental pain and suffering up to (and sometimes including) death'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 for links to every place in that epistle where we find the word salvation along with definitions from three different dictionaries and links from other commentators. Please see the notes for 2Thessalonians 2:13-LJC and Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase salvation through sanctification. Please also see the note for Main Menu item for Salvation about the word save. The functional definition is: 'to exclude. When used spiritually, it means to exclude from the damned by having God's life in you. When used physically, it means to exclude from what is endangering physical life'. Please also see the messages available at the Salvation Menu.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S3 about the word call. That note has links to notes in every New Testament book where there are links to every place where the particular book uses this word. The functional definition is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'. Please also see the note for Romans 10:13; 2Thessalonians 3:1-LJC; Ephesians 5:8-LJC and 1John 4:14-LJC about the phrase call upon the Lord. The note for Romans 10:13 has links to every place in the Bible where we find the words call and Lord used together, along with a small note on each reference.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; 1Corinthians C3S17; Philippians 1:3-7 and Colossians C1S6 about the word holy. Please see the note for 1John C2S25 about the phrase Holy One. Please see the Word Study on Spirit about the Holy Spirit. The functional definition is: 'Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions'. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:9; 1:14; 3:2 and 3:15.

Please see the notes for Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13; 2Corinthians 4:8-12; Galatians C2-S10 and Philippians 1:1 about the word works. Please also see the following notes about works: law of works: Romans C3S27. works are seen of men: Romans C11S10. works: Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13. judged by works: Romans 8:1-LJC; Revelation 19:2-LJC. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:9; 2:15; 2:21; 3:17; 4:5; 4:14 and 4:18. The functional definition is: 'In a general sense, to move, or to move one way and the other; to perform; as in popular language it is said, a mill or machine works well'.

Please see the note for Matthew 26:8 about the word purpose. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'that which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished; the end or aim to which the view is directed in any plan, measure or exertion. We believe the Supreme Being created intelligent beings for some benevolent and glorious purpose, and if so, how glorious and benevolent must be his purpose in the plan of redemption! the ambition of men is generally directed to one of two purposes, or to both; the acquisition of wealth or of power. We build houses for the purpose of shelter; we labor for the purpose of subsistence. 2. Intention; design. this sense, however, is hardly to be distinguished from the former; as purpose always includes the end in view. Every purpose is established by counsel. Prov.20. Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. Eph.1. 3. End; effect; consequence, good or bad. What good purpose will this answer? We sometimes labor to no purpose. Men often employ their time, talents and money for very evil purposes. Towhat purpose is this waste? Matt.26. 4. Instance; example. Not in use. 5. Conversation. Not in use. Of purpose, on purpose, with previous design; with the mind directed to that object. On purpose is more generally used, but the true phrase is of purpose.
PUR'POSE, v.t. to intend; to design; to resolve; to determine on some end or object to be accomplished. I have purposed it, I will also do it. Is.46. Eph.3. Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem. Acts. 19.'.

Please see the notes for Romans C4S5; Romans C4S17; Galatians 1:1 and Ephesians C1S2 about the word grace. The commonly accepted definition, which is actually the main application, is: 'receiving a blessing that we did not earn. The acrostic of 'God's Riches At Christ Expense' is a good way to remember this definition'. However, that saying ignores the fact that the Bible says that men also give grace, and Christ certainly didn't die for their grace. The true functional definition is: 'what is given to make the giver look good'. The devils tell lies about God to try to keep from going to God for salvation and sanctification. God gives us His grace so that we can make Him look good and cause people to turn to God for salvation and for sanctification. If we don't make God look Good then He wasted His grace on us.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. This is the only place in our epistle where we find the word gift. Please see the note for 1:7 for links to every place where our epistle uses the word give. The functional definition is: ' what one person gives to another without compensation'.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S33; 1Corinthians C1S19; 1Timothy 1:15 and World in 1John about the word world. We find this word within 2Timothy in : 1:9 and 4:10. The functional definition is: 'The world is not the earth but is all of the people in the earth and often is used for the majority opinion / thought process. That opinion / thought process is the result of lost people thinking that they know better than God does and believe Satan's lie'.

Please see the notes for Romans C16S33 and 1John-Manifest about the word manifest. Please also see the note for Romans C3S20 about the word manifested. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:10 and 3:9. The functional definition is: 'made available for extensive examination that uses multiple means to accomplish the examination'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:10 about the word appear. That note has the full definition from Webster's 1828 along with links from other commentators. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:10; 4:1 and 4:8. The functional definition is: 'To come or be in sight; to be in view; to be visible'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 3:12-14 about the word abolish. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'pp. annulled; repealed; abrogated, or destroyed'.

Please see the notes for Romans C6S4; 2Corinthians 2:15; Philippians 1:19-20 and Colossians C1S4 about the word death. In particular, the note for 2Corinthians 2:15 explains the phrase death unto death. We find this word only in this sentence within 2Timothy. The functional definition needs some explanation because of error that is commonly taught.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 3:12-14 for links to every place in the Bible where we find forms of the word abolish. The functional definition of the word abolish is: 'pp. annulled; repealed; abrogated, or destroyed'.

The word death has a different Biblical meaning than most people think it has. This is because men have their own multitude of wrong definitions and people think they must choose among the erroneous definitions. If you seriously consider what is called 'terminal cancer', then you should be able to understand how we can have death working in someone's body even though they have not yet reached the 'one-time-event' that most people think of as being death. With that in mind, the reader should be able to understand why I say that: basically, death, in the Bible, can be defined as: 'an ongoing process of corruption which starts at conception and continues until the body is completely destroyed. Physical death is used for the one-time point when the soul and spirit are forced to leave the corrupted body. Spiritual death is also used for the one-time point when the soul and spirit are forced to leave the presence of God. When the Bible uses death for these events, it assumes that the reader understands that the one-time-event is the pinnacle of an ongoing process. Within the Bible, death is to be understood to be an ongoing process, even while highlighting the ultimate point of victory for the process'. We see this process of corruption in our body, our soul and in our spirit.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 about the word life. That note has the definition from Webster's 1828 and links from other commentators. Please also see the notes for Life in 1John about the word life. Please see the notes for Hebrews 1:8-LJC and Philippians 1:27-LJC about the phrase life everlasting. Please see the note for Romans C10S15 about the phrase belief changes life.

Please see the note for Romans C2S5 about the word immortality. The functional definition is: 'The quality of never ceasing to live or exist; exemption from death and annihilation; life destined to endure without end; as the immortality of the human soul'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C15S48 about the word mortal.

Please see the notes for Romans C13S15; 2Corinthians 4:3-4 and Ephesians C5S6 about the word light. In particular, the note in 2Corinthians has the full definition from Easton's, links from other commentators and a discussion. Please see the notes for Light and Darkness in 1John and Romans C13S15 about light and darkness. We find this word only in our current sentence within 2Timothy. The functional definition is: 'the offspring of the divine command (Ge 1:3)'.

Please see the note for Luke 3:13 about the word appoint. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'to fix; to settle; to establish; to make fast. When he appointed the foundations of the earth. Prov. 8. 2. to constitute, ordain, or fix by decree, order or decision. Let Pharaoh appoint officers over the land. Gen. 41. He hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world. Act. 17. 3. to allot, assign or designate. Aaron and his sons shall appoint every one to his service. Num 4. These cities were appointed for all the children of Israel. Josh. 20. 4. to purpose or resolve; to fix the intention. Forso he had appointed. Acts 20. 5. to ordain, command or order. Thy servants are ready to do whatever my Lord the King shall appoint. 2Sam. 15. 6. to settle; to fix, name or determine by agreement; as, they appointed a time and place for the meeting'.

Please see the note for Romans C10S17 about the word preacher. That note has links to every place in the Bible where We find this word along with a short note on each verse. We find this word only in our current sentence within 2Timothy. The definition from Webster's 1828 is: 'n. One who discourses publicly on religious subjects. 1. One that inculcates anything with earnestness. No preacher is listened to but time'. Please also see the notes for Romans C16S33; 1Corinthians C15S1; Galatians C1-S4 and 2Timothy 4:1-LJC about the word preach.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C12S27 about the word teach. The functional definition is: 'To instruct; to inform; to communicate to another the knowledge of that of which he was before ignorant'. Please also see the note for John 3:2 about the word teacher. Please also see the Study called False things According to the Bible about 'false teachers'. We find forms of the word teach occurring in 1Timothy, in: our current sentence; 2:12; 3:2; 4:11; 6:2; 6:3. Please also see the note for C1-S3 about the word teacher. The functional definition is: 'one who teaches'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S13 and Galatians C2-S4 about the word Gentiles. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:11 and 4:17. The functional definition is: 'all non-Jews'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'ashamed. 2Ti 1:12; Ps 119:46; Isa 51:7; Mr 8:38; Lu 9:26; Ac 5:41; Ro 1:16; 9:33; Eph 3:13; 1Pe 4:14 the testimony. Ps 19:7; Isa 8:20; Joh 15:27; 19:35; Eph 4:17; 1Ti 2:6; 1Jo 4:14; 5:11-12; Re 1:2; 12:11; 19:10 exp: 1Co 2:1. his prisoner. 2Ti 1:16; 2:9; Eph 3:1; 4:1; Php 1:7 be thou. 2Ti 2:3,11-12; 4:5; Ro 8:17-18,36; 1Co 4:9-13; 2Co 11:23-27; Php 3:10; Col 1:24; 1Th 3:4; 1Pe 4:13-15; Re 1:9; 12:11 according. 2Ti 4:17; Ro 16:25; 2Co 6:7; 12:9-10; Php 4:13; Col 1:11; 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24
hath. Mt 1:21; Ac 2:47; 1Co 1:18; Eph 2:5,8; 1Ti 1:1; Tit 3:4-5 called. Ro 8:28,30; 9:24; 1Th 4:7; 2Th 2:13-14; Heb 3:1; 1Pe 1:15-16; 2:9,20-21 exp: 1Co 1:2; 2Pe 1:3. not. Ro 3:20; 9:11; 11:5-6; Eph 2:9; Tit 3:5 exp: Php 3:9. according to his. De 7:7-8; Isa 14:26-27; Mt 11:25-26; Lu 10:21; Ro 8:28; Eph 1:9,11 which. Joh 6:37; 10:28-29; 17:9; 1Co 3:21-22; Eph 1:3 before. Joh 17:24; Ac 15:18; Ro 16:25; Eph 1:4; 3:11; Tit 1:2; 1Pe 1:20; Re 13:8; 17:8
now. Isa 25:7; 60:2-3; Lu 2:31-32; Ro 16:26; Eph 1:9; Col 1:26-27; Tit 1:3; 2:11; 1Pe 1:20-21; 1Jo 1:2 our. Isa 43:3; 45:15,21; Lu 2:11; Joh 4:42; Ac 5:31; 13:23; Tit 1:4; 2:13; 3:4; 2Pe 1:1,11; 2C1S6:20; 3:2,18; 1Jo 4:14 who. Isa 25:8; Ho 13:14; Joh 11:25-26; 1Co 15:54-55; Heb 2:14-15; Re 20:14 abolished. Lu 13:7; Ro 3:31; 6:6; Ga 5:4 (Gr) and hath. 2Ti 1:1; Joh 5:24-29,40; 14:6; 20:31; Ro 2:7; 5:17-18; 1Co 15:53; 2Co 5:4; 2Pe 1:3; 1Jo 1:2; Re 2:7; 22:1-2,14,17; Lu 11:36; Joh 1:9; 1Co 4:5; Eph 1:18; Heb 10:32; Re 18:1 (Gr)
General references. Ac 9:15; Eph 3:7-8; 1Ti 1:7; 2:7'.

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C1-S6 (Verse 12) Paul's testimony of doing what he told Timothy to do.

Equivalent Section: Paul suffered these things in order to do what he said in the prior sentence.

For the which cause I also suffer these things:.

Equivalent Section: Paul was not ashamed because he had the testimony of the Lord.

nevertheless I am not ashamed:.

Equivalent Section: what Paul would gain because suffered these things and was not ashamed.

for I know whom I have believed,
and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day..

Lots of people like to claim the third Equivalent Section of this sentence while refusing to have the testimony of the first two Equivalent Sections. The Bible doesn't work that way. The fact is that this sentence is giving the reason why the prior sentence commanded us to have a testimony like Paul tells us in his first two Equivalent Sections. Unless we personally do the prior sentence and the Equivalent Sections, we have no right to claim the third Equivalent Section.

The first and third equivalent section of this sentence starts with For, which means that they are the reason why Paul said what he did in the prior sentence. Both for and because are used in the Bible to tell us 'here's why'. The difference is that the Bible uses because when the 'reason why' is in the past and the Bible uses for when the 'reason why' is in the future. in this sentence we see Paul use the present tense when he says I also suffer these things and I am not ashamed and I know and am persuaded. (Please see the note for Romans 10:11 for references where the Bible tells us that our belief / faith makes us not ashamed.) He uses the past tense when he says I have believed and I have committed. Paul uses the future tense when he says he is able to keep and unto him against that day. One of the first things that we need to observe and keep in mind is the time factor of various phrases and actions as we try to understand what Paul is truly saying in this sentence.

Lots of people like to quote and preach on the third section of this sentence while completely ignoring the other two equivalent sections (which limit the correct interpretation of the third section). They also like to ignore the prior sentence which this sentence is justifying. (For means that this sentence is giving the reason why the prior sentence is true.) Ignoring context like this leads to doctrinal error which people hold onto strongly because it feeds fleshly sins like pride or excuses sins that God is trying to correct. There have been times that God may be punishing someone for a sin that they refuse to give up and instead of recognizing the punishment from God, they claimed that the devil was attacking them and 'they knew God would make it OK because they committed their soul to Him'. However, when the punishment is because of their clinging to doctrinal error, then God will not 'make it OK' so long as they c ling to the error.

in this sentence, we see true faith in action. James 2 teaches us that Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. However, verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches us Not of works. True Biblical faith requires us to find what God tells us to do in order to receive a promise. We then have to obey Him before He works in our life to prove that He has our free will permission to do the work. He does all of the actual work, but we must obey first to provide the permission for Him to work. We see this in the time applications of the various phrases in this sentence. We see that Paul took some actions in the past in obedience to God. He says that he is suffering in the present as a direct result of his past obedience to God. He is persuaded that God will keep His promise in the future. The problem with a lot of claims based upon this sentence, and other promises in the Bible, is that people 'claim' and preach that people can be persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day when they have not really committed unto him because they do not have the past actions of obedience that Paul based his claim upon. Many also do not have the present suffering that Paul said he had or their present suffering is due to disobedience and not due to obedience.

In the First Equivalent Section of this sentence, Paul says For the which cause. The word cause has legal aspect, as shown in the word definitions below. This means that Paul recognized that he would answer, at the judgment seat of Christ, for how he fulfilled the roles which he names in the prior sentence. That also means that everyone who has one of these roles will also face judgment for how they fulfill their role. Since Paul knew that he would face judgment, he found out about his judge and what was expected from him. It was the result of this search for understanding which let Paul say: I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Please notice that this phrase is the third Equivalent Section, which means that it delivers the same message as: For the which cause I also suffer these things. While the message is the same, the view of that message is different. Paul had confidence because he understood the judgment (cause) that he would face and understood that the more he was willing to suffer these things, the greater would be his reward at his judgment.

Continuing on with the First Equivalent Section of this sentence, Paul says For (Here's why) the which cause I also suffer these things. The things that Paul suffered were because he stood for the Biblical truth against doctrinal error taught by 'good Godly fundamental believers' who accepted the religious doctrine that they were taught without verifying it against what the Holy Spirit taught through the Bible. Like many religious people, those who opposed Paul were willing to make others suffer for disagreeing with their beliefs but they weren't willing to personally suffer even enough to question their own beliefs and to use proper study methods in order to prove all things using God's method to prove.

When we get to the third equivalent section, Paul could say that he was persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day because in order to be persuaded Paul had to take a stand against what he eventually believed. (Please see the note for Romans 8:38-39 for links to every verse which uses the word persuaded along with the definition from Webster's 1828 and other notes.) He had to be persuaded to change his belief and that required valid Biblical proof. Next, Paul added (and) this phrase unto the for I know whom I have believed. That is, Paul was persuaded by the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 6:16 tells us Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? John 1:1 says In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. and 1:14 says And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us. When there comes a disagreement over doctrine, you have not yielded yourselves servants to obey the God given and God preserved perfect and inerrant picture of our Lord Jesus Christ (which is the Bible) unless you can show where the Bible literally says that it backs your doctrine. Further, according to the Bible, you must have it literally back your doctrine in at least two places. If you do not have this for doctrine that you 'stand on', then you do not know whom (you) have believed because you think that you have believed God while you really have believed some religious man. Further, the he of the second phrase in this section refers to whom (you) have believed in the first part. Unless you nave really believed upon the Son of God, and can prove it by showing where the Bible literally backs your doctrine, then you are trusting some religious man to hold what he can't hold.

As I said: a lot is preached upon the third part of this sentence and a lot of what is preached ignores the sentence structure, the context and especially the requirements that the Bible places upon those who can truly 'claim' this Biblical promise. Now if any doubt what I have been saying, just look at the next sentence which is based upon this sentence.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians C2S5 for links to every place in 2Corinthians where we find forms of the word cause along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . That definition gives this word legal implications. The functional definition is: 'Basically, the source of a result. It can also be an action in court, or any legal process whereby someone demands his supposed right'. Please note that the Biblical use of this word means that the cause will come up at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10 2Corinthians 5:10-11). Please also see the note for Romans C1S10 about the word because. Please also see the note for John 15:25 about the phrase without cause. In John 15:25, we read that the prophecy was fulfilled about Jesus that: They hated me without a cause.

Please see the notes for Romans C8S17 and 1Corinthians C4S13 about the word suffer. Those notes have the full definition from Webster's 1828 , links from other commentators and more. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:12; 2:9; 2:12; 3:10; 3:13 and 4:2. The functional definition is: 'To feel or bear what is painful, disagreeable or distressing, either to the body or mind; to undergo. We suffer pain of body; we suffer grief of mind'. Please also see the note for Romans 9:22 about the word longsuffering. Please also see the Study called Significant Gospel Events, for references to verses related to the suffering of Jesus Christ.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:23-24 about the word nevertheless. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'adv. Not the less; notwithstanding; that is, in opposition to anything, or without regarding it. It rained, nevertheless, we proceeded on our journey; we did not the less proceed on our journey; we proceeded in opposition to the rain, without regarding it, or without being prevented'.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S25; 1Corinthians C1S11; Galatians C3-S9 and know in 1John about the word know. The functional definition is: 'A clear and certain perception of that which exists, or of truth and fact; and the perception of the connection and agreement, or disagreement between various truths and acts. Within the Biblical usage is the knowledge that comes only from personal intimate experience'. Please see the notes for 2Peter 1:2-LJC; 2Peter 2:20-LJC and Philippians 1:9-11 about the word knowledge. Please see the note for Romans C11S4 about the word foreknow. Please see the note for Romans C6S5 about the phrase Know ye not. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C16S17 about the word acknowledge. There are different levels of knowledge which can vary based upon their source, how the knowledge is obtained and more. True Biblical knowledge includes the most intimate and personal type of knowledge which comes from personal experience.

Please see the notes for Romans C10S15; 1Corinthians C14S25 and Galatians C3-S8 about the word believe. The functional definition is: 'To credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of something upon the declaration of another, or upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by other circumstances, than personal knowledge'. Please also see the note for Romans C10S15 about the phrase belief changes life. Please also see the notes for Romans 3:26-LJC and John 20:31-LJC about the phrase believe in Jesus / Christ. Please also see the note for Romans C4S21 about the phrase belief requires us to do.

Please see the note for 1:5 about the word persuade. The functional definition is: 'Influenced or drawn to an opinion or determination by argument, advice or reasons suggested; convinced; induced'.

Please see the note for Matthew 28:3-4 about the word keeper. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'of anything. 1. One who retains in custody; one who has the care of a prison and the custody of prisoners. 2. One who has the care of a park or other inclosure, or the custody of beasts; as the keeper of a park, a pound, or of sheep. 3. One who has the care, custody or superintendence of anything. In Great Britain, the keeper of the great seal, is a lord by his office, and one of the privy council. All royal grants, commissions and charters pass through his hands. He is constituted lord-keeper by the delivery of the great seal. the keeper of the privy seal is also a lord by his office, and a member of the privy council.'. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 5:22 about the word keep. Please see the note for 1John about the phrase keep his commandments. The functional definition is: 'To hold; to retain in one's power or possession; not to lose or part with; as, to keep a house or a farm; to keep anything in the memory, mind or heart. 2. to have in custody for security or preservation'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S26 about the word commit. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:12; 1:14 and 2:2. The functional definition is: 'To do a premeditated act or to trust another to do it; with no way of taking it back'.

The phrase that day is referring to the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which was stated in our prior sentence. This is when we personally meet Him in death or the 'Rapture'. Please see the note for Luke 1:5 about the word day. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The Jews reckoned the day from sunset to sunset (Le 23:32). It was originally divided into three parts (Ps 55:17). "The heat of the day" (1Sa 11:11; Ne 7:3) was at our nine o'clock, and "the cool of the day" just before sunset (Ge 3:8). Before the Captivity the Jews divided the night into three watches, (1) from sunset to midnight (La 2:19); (2) from midnight till the cock-crowing (Jg 7:19); and (3) from the cock-crowing till sunrise (Ex 14:24). In the New Testament the division of the Greeks and Romans into four watches was adopted (Mr 13:35). (See Watches.) the division of the day by hours is first mentioned in Da 3:6,15; 4:19; 5:5. this mode of reckoning was borrowed from the Chaldeans. the reckoning of twelve hours was from sunrise to sunset, and accordingly the hours were of variable length (Joh 11:9). The word "day" sometimes signifies an indefinite time (Ge 2:4; Isa 22:5; Heb 3:8, etc.). In Job 3:1 it denotes a birthday, and in Isaiah 2:12; Acts 17:31; 2Timothy 1:18, the great day of final judgment.'. The functional definition, of the phrase last day is: '(end of the) Church Age. However, in the life of the individual, it can be used for the day that he dies'. Please see the note for Hebrews 3:13 about the word today. The functional definition is: 'obey immediately'. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:55 about the word daily. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of the Lord. Please also see the note for John 20:1 about the phrase first day of the week. Please also see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday. Please also see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the words birth / birthright / birthday.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the which. 2Ti 1:8; 2:9; 3:10-12; 4:16-17; Ac 9:16; 13:46,50; 14:5-6; 21:27-31; 22:21-24; Eph 3:1-8; 1Th 2:16 I am. 2Ti 1:8; Ps 25:2; Isa 50:7; 54:4; Ac 21:13; Ro 1:16; 5:4-5; 9:33; Php 1:20; Heb 12:2; 1Pe 4:16 exp: 2Ti 1:5. ForI. Ps 9:10; 56:9; Php 3:8,10; 1Pe 4:19 exp: Ro 8:38. believed. or, trusted. Isa 12:2; Na 1:7; Mt 12:21; Ro 15:12-13; Eph 1:12-13; 1Pe 1:20-21 am persuaded. 2Ti 1:5 he is. Joh 10:28-30; Php 3:21; Heb 2:18; 7:25 keep. Joh 6:39-40,44; 17:11-12,15; 1Ti 6:20; 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24 which I. Ps 31:5; Lu 23:46; Ac 7:59; 1Pe 4:19 against. 2Ti 1:18; 4:8; Mt 7:22; 24:36; Lu 10:12; 1Th 5:4'.

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C1-S7 (Verse 13) Action to take as a result of the promise in the prior sentence.

Hold fast the form of sound words,
which thou hast heard of me,
in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus..

Basically, the problem that Paul was warning Timothy about, and the problem that we have today, is that while men did Hold...the form of...words they did not Hold fast and what they held to was religious doctrine of 'good Godly preachers' which is not the same as sound words. As pointed out more than one place, if Peter could end up preaching doctrinal error because he believed the religious doctrine of 'good Godly preachers' (which he failed to verify with the Holy Spirit and the literal interpretation of the Bible), then anyone born since the time of the apostles can also teach doctrinal error. Back in 1:5 we read that Timothy had unfeigned faith. The devil wants to destroy the reliability (unfeigned) of Timothy's faith (and do the same to our faith). In order to do this, the devil destroys the foundation of our faith. He does this by getting us to switch our faith from the sound words of the Bible to the not sound words of religion. The details supporting my contention about this sentence are provided in the note for this sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. Please see it.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S10 about the word hold. The only other place within 2Timothy where we find any form of this word actually has the word household. The functional definition is: 'Stopping; confining; restraining; keeping; retaining; adhering; maintaining, etc'. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 6:17-19 about the phrase lay hold.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:27-28 about the word fast. This is the only place within 2Timothy where We find this word. The functional definition is: 'to be secured in place such as when something is held by a fastener'. Please also see the note for Galatians C5S1 about the phrase stand fast. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians C15S54 about the word stedfast

Please see the note for Galatians C4-S17 about the word form. We find this word within 2Timothy in : 1:13 and 3:5. The functional definition is: 'Made; shaped; molded; planned; arranged; combined; enacted; constituted'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C13S1 about the word sound. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:7, 1:13 and 4:3. The functional definition is: 'Entire; unbroken; not shaky, split or defective; as sound timber'. Please also see the Message called: Sound Doctrine.

We find forms of the word in 2Timothy, in: 1:13; 2:9; 2:14; 2:15:; 2:17; 4:2 and 4:15. Please see the note for Colossians 2:4 for extensive links and other information about the word word. The functional definition is: 'a single component part of human speech or language'. However, the word of God is the holy scriptures and in the English language, it is only the KJV-1611. Please see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the phrase word of God. The phrase every word is explained in Romans C13S12, stated in Deuteronomy 8:3; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 4:4; Matthew 18:16; Luke 4:4.

Please see the note for Mark 4:9 about the phrase He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. We find forms of the word hear, within 2Timothy, in: 1:13; 2:2; 2:14; 2:22 and 4:17. The functional definition is: 'To perceive by the ear; to feel an impression of sound by the proper organs; as, to hear sound; to hear a voice; to hear words'. Please also see the note for James 2:5 about the word hearken.

Please see the notes for Romans C3S25; 1Corinthians C1S3; 2Corinthians C1S17; Galatians C3S27; Ephesians 6:23-LJC; Philippians 1:25-26 and 2Timothy C1S2 about the word faith. The functional definition is: 'an action word that is based upon a belief in a promise found within the Bible with the action dictated by the Bible and the understanding that our action does not force God to act nor determines when or how God acts but proves that of our own free will we are giving God permission to act in and through our life to do what He promised within His Word'. As explained many times on this site, faith is an action word which Hebrews 11:1 defines as: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11 then goes on to list actions done by the elders but notice that what is in your head and heart (a belief) does not have substance, which can be sensed by others, until a person acts on their belief (faith) and produces works. Further, what is in your head and heart (a belief) can not be separated from you in order to be evidence in court. No, true faith produces works and it is the works which 'belong to' (are the results of) faith which are remembered by God and His workers.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Hold. 2Ti 1:14; 3:14; Pr 3:18,21; 4:4-8,13; 23:23; Php 1:27; 1Th 5:21; Tit 1:9; Heb 3:6; 4:14; 10:23; Jude 1:3; Re 2:25; 3:3,11 the form. Pr 8:14; Ro 2:20; 6:17; 1Ti 1:10; 6:3; Tit 2:1,8 which. 2Ti 2:2; Php 4:9 in faith. Col 1:4; 1Ti 1:14'.

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C1-S8 (Verse 14) That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

This sentence is referring back to C1-S5 which told us: Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. That is the good thing which this sentence refers to and is what we are all tempted to abandon because of the associated afflictions of the gospel. C1-S5 gave us details about the testimony of our Lord, C1-S6 followed that sentence with Paul's personal testimony of doing what he instructs us to do and the promised blessing of our obedience, then C1-S7 told us the tool (sound words from the Bible) that we are to use in order to obey this command. Finally, our current sentence tells us the power to use, along with the sound words from the Bible, in order to obey this command. As we are told in other places of the Bible, we do not use just the Spirit nor do we use just sound words from the Bible, because either can lead to error when used alone. We use the combination. 'The Spirit of God uses the word of God to reveal the Will of God to the Child of God'.

In the Bible, good is used for 'what comes from God'. The devil, the world and our own flesh fight against anything that 'comes from God'. This sentence tells us to use the power of the Holy Ghost to personally (thee) keep anything that 'comes from God'. This is because nothing short of the power of God will allow us to keep anything that 'comes from God'. This follows (is built upon) the prior sentence where we were told to Hold fast the form of sound words (Bible) because the Holy Ghost works through the Bible.

Please note that our sentence says: the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. The Holy Ghost is God, as shown by the capitalization within our sentence. There are times that people feel that God isn't listening but, since God dwelleth in us, the problem is our failure to listen to the answer that God gave us or the fact that we quenched the Spirit (1Thessalonians 5:19).

The word good is found in 2Timothy in: 1:14; 2:3, 2:21; 3:3, 3:17 and 4:7. Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; Romans C11S26 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the word good. Please see the note for Romans C11S26 about the word goodness. Please see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday. In the Bible, good is defined as: 'what comes from God'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S26 about the word commit. The functional definition is: 'To do a premeditated act or to trust another to do it; with no way of taking it back'.

Please see the note for 1:8-11 about the word holy. The functional definition is: 'Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character; and man is more or less holy, as his heart is more or less sanctified, or purified from evil dispositions'. The Holy Ghost is God.

Please see the Word Study on Holy Ghost for links to every place in the Bible where we find the phrase Holy Ghost. There is a Biblical doctrinal difference between the use of the phrase Holy Ghost and God's Holy Spirit, but I can not specify what that doctrinal difference is at this time. Both are identifiers of the third Person within the Trinity. Please see the link for God's Holy Spirit for links to the various applications where this other identifier of the third Person is used. The phrase Holy Ghost only occurs within the New Testament.

Please see the note for Romans C7S24 about the word dwell. We find this word only in our current sentence within 2Timothy. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines dwelling as: 'ppr. Inhabiting; residing; sojourning; continuing with fixed attention. DWELL'ING, n. Habitation; place of residence; abode. Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons. Jer.49. 1. Continuance; residence; state of life. thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. Dan.4'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'good. 2Ti 2:2; Lu 16:11; Ro 3:2; 1Co 9:17; 2Co 5:19-20; Ga 2:7; Col 4:11; 1Ti 1:11; 6:20 by the. Ro 8:13; Eph 5:18; 1Th 5:19; 1Pe 1:22 which dwelleth. Joh 14:17; Ro 8:11; 1Co 3:16; 6:19; 2Co 5:16; Eph 2:22'.

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C1-S9 (Verse 15) Paul warns of people who failed to Hold fast the form of sound words.

First Step: warn of a general group.

This thou knowest,
that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me;.

Second Step: warn of specific people.

of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes..

Nothing is known about Phygellus and Hermogenes beyond what is said in this verse. There is some speculation by a few commentators, but it is only speculation. We read about Asia in:

Acts 2:9 is part of the story of Pentecost and we learn that Jews from Asia were there and heard the gospel just like other Jews did. However, as we see in further verses, these people were prone to disputing and were a source of constant trouble and doctrinal error.
Acts 6:9 Tells us that these people were part of those who stoned Stephen. Notice that they were friends with Paul at this point but turned on him when he turned from error to God's truth.
Acts 16:6 where Paul and others were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word.
Acts 19:10 where Paul found certain disciples who had not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost and were baptized Unto John's baptism. They repented but had not accepted Jesus as Lord and did not have the personal relationship with Christ which is a mandatory part of salvation. They were not saved until Paul told them the truth. However, divers were hardened, and believed not, and caused problems even though all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Now that the religious crowd has caused Paul to be arrested and plan on getting his head chopped off, these 'saved but religious' people decided to 'play it safe' and turned away from the person who could cause them to personally suffer like he did.
Acts 19:22 tells us that after there was a big religious fight, and God prevailed, Paul sent his helpers on but himself stayed in Asia for a season just to be sure that these people really understood and held onto God's truth. However, they returned to error and causing trouble.
Acts 19:26-27 tells us that lost people had a fit because they were losing money when saved people stopped buying idols. Here we see believers compromising with unbelievers for financial gain.
Acts 19:31 tells us that while most of Asia turned to doctrinal error for financial gain, some saved people did not. Instead they acted to protect Paul.
Acts 20:4 tells us that after Paul told the people the truth, he left the area and stopped disputing with them. Later he went back through Asia on his way to Jerusalem. He was not afraid to go there but he avoided further disputes.
Acts 20:16 where we see that Paul decided to bypass these people when he was in a hurry. Apparently, Paul did not believe that any gain from his teaching them would be worth the cost because of their attitude of constant disputing.
Acts 20:18 is part of a multiple verse sentence which gives us Paul's testimony about how he dealt with the people in Asia.
Acts 21:27 tells us that the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him. They demanded that Paul do a religious act in the temple specifically so that they could start a riot and get Paul killed like they had tried to do several times before. Many religious people will insist that others die for their beliefs. God allows them to act and create the proof that justifies God sending them to Hell and bring further judgment within this world.
Acts 24:18 is part of Paul's testimony at one of his trials.
Acts 27:2 tells us of Paul's last visit and his saying goodbye to his friends who were in Asia.
1Corinthians 16:19 where The churches of Asia were still associating with Paul and Aquila and Priscilla were there. However, by the time that Paul wrote the letter to the Romans, Aquila and Priscilla had already left and moved to Rome.
2Corinthians 1:8 is Paul's personal testimony about how he had a sentence of death in ourselves while in Asia because of doctrinal disputing.
Our current sentence tells us how the people turned away from me.
1Peter 1:1 tells us that Pater wrote to the saints in Asia along with saints in other areas. Even though saints are among people who hate God, God does not forget them.
Revelation 1:4 tells us that this epistle is written to the seven churches which are in Asia. in this epistle we see the details of how different churches in Asia turned against God in different ways and how God tried to win them back and warned of judgment if they did not return.
Revelation 1:11 tells us that the Son of God specifically said to write and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia.

While these people in Asia were saved through the ministry of Paul, they were willing to forsake him and choose religion which excused their sin. We see the same thing in 4:10 and 4:16 only with other people. In 4:16 Paul shows the proper response, but that does not prevent these people from being punished nor does it save them from eternal loss of rewards. Paul explained this in Philippians 2:21 where he said For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. If we do not maintain our ongoing personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we will do the same.

The functional definition for the word Asia is: 'An area of the world where Paul started churches. While these people in Asia were saved through the ministry of Paul, they were willing to forsake him and choose religion which excused their sin'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'that. Ac 16:6; 19:10,27,31; 20:16; 1Co 16:19 be. 2Ti 4:10,16; Php 2:21'.

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C1-S10 (Verse 16-17) Blessings for those who obey the correct way.

Equivalent Section: His actions proved his attitude.

First Step: Blessings upon the whole house of Onesiphorus because of his actions.

The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus;.

Second Step: Why he received the blessings.

for he oft refreshed me,
and was not ashamed of my chain:.

Equivalent Section: His actions showed diligence and refusal to accept an excuse for failure.

But,
when he was in Rome,
he sought me out very diligently,
and found me..

This sentence and the next tell us how Onesiphorus faithfully acted. His actions were different from all they which are in Asia, which Paul mentioned in the prior sentence. This sentence can not be fully understood without properly understanding the times and the culture, which I can not do. From what I have been told, they did not have the easy way of finding people in a strange place like we have today. Further, instead on helping Onesiphorus to find Paul, the authorities might have arrested Onesiphorus and killed him along with Paul. In spite of personal danger and other believable excuses for not finding Paul, Onesiphorus found him and kept going back to encourage and help any way that he could. What we see here is a principal found throughout the Bible. When we do right we can bring blessings upon our whole family.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. This is the only place in our epistle where we find the word gift. Please see the note for 1:7 for links to every place where our epistle uses the word give. The functional definition is: ' what one person gives to another without compensation'.

Please see the notes for Romans C12S1 and Colossians C3S8 about the word mercy. The functional definition is: 'not getting the punishment you deserve'. Please see the notes for Romans 14:8-LJC and 2Thessalonians 1:9-LJC about the phrase judgment without mercy.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 5:1 about the word house. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:16:; 2:20; 3:6 and 4:19. The functional definition is: 'a building or shed intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but appropriately, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, mansion or abode for any of the human species'.

Please see the note for Philemon 1:7 about the word refresh. The functional definition is: 'Philemon 1:7 To give new strength to; to invigorate; to relieve after fatigue; as, to refresh the body. A man or a beast is refreshed by food and rest. Ex. 23'.

Please see the note for Mark 5:2-4 about the word chain. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: '(1.) A part of the insignia of office. A chain of gold was placed about Joseph's neck (Ge 41:42); and one was promised to Daniel (Da 5:7). It is used as a symbol of sovereignty (Eze 16:11). the breast-plate of the high-priest was fastened to the ephod by golden chains (Ex 39:17,21).
(2.) It was used as an ornament (Pr 1:9; Song 1:10). the Midianites adorned the necks of their camels with chains (Jg 8:21,26).
(3.) Chains were also used as fetters wherewith prisoners were bound (Jg 16:21; 2Sa 3:34; 2Ki 25:7; Jer 39:7). Paul was in this manner bound to a Roman soldier (Ac 28:20; Eph 6:20; 2Ti 1:16). Sometimes, for the sake of greater security, the prisoner was attached by two chains to two soldiers, as in the case of Peter (Ac 12:6)'.

Please see the note for Acts 2:10 about Rome. Smith's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'the famous capital of the ancient world, is situated on the Tiber at a distance of about 15 miles from its mouth. the "seven hills,"
Re 17:9: which formed the nucleus of the ancient city stand on the left bank. On the opposite side of the river rises the far higher side of the Janiculum. Here from very early times was a fortress with a suburb beneath it extending to the river. Modern Rome lies to the north of the ancient city, covering with its principal portion the plain to the north of the seven hills, once known as the Campus Martius, and on the opposite bank extending over the low ground beneath the Vatican to the north of the ancient Janiculum. Rome is not mentioned in the Bible except in the books of Maccabees and in three books of the New Testament, viz., the Acts, the Epistle to the Romans and the Second Epistle to Timothy.
1. Jewish inhabitants. the conquests of Pompey seem to have given rise to the first settlement of Jews at Rome. the Jewish king Aristobulus and his son formed part of Pompey's triumph, and many Jewish captives and immigrants were brought to Rome at that time. A special district was assigned to them, not on the site of the modern Ghetto, between the Capitol and the island of the Tiber, but across the Tiber. Many of these Jews were made freedmen. Julius Caesar showed them some kindness; they were favored also by Augustus, and by Tiberius during the latter part of his reign. It is chiefly in connection with St. Paul's history that Rome comes before us in the Bible. In illustration of that history it may be useful to give some account of Rome in the time of Nero, the "Caesar" to whom St. Paul appealed, and in whose reign he suffered martyrdom.
2. the city in Paul's time. --The city at that time must be imagined as a large and irregular mass of buildings unprotected by an outer wall. It had long outgrown the old Servian wall; but the limits of the suburbs cannot be exactly defined. Neither the nature of the buildings nor the configuration of the ground was such as to give a striking appearance to the city viewed from without. "Ancient Rome had neither cupola nor camyanile," and the hills, never lofty or imposing, would present, when covered with the buildings and streets of a huge city, a confused appearance like the hills of modern London, to which they have sometimes been compared. the visit of St. Paul lies between two famous epochs in the history of the city, viz, its restoration by Augustus and its restoration by Nero. the boast of Augustus is well known, "that he found the city of brick, and left it of marble." Some parts of the city, especially the forum and Campus Martius, must have presented a magnificent appearance, of which Niebur's "Lectures on Roman History," ii. 177, will give a general idea; but many of the principal buildings which attract the attention of modern travellers in ancient Rome were not yet built. the streets were generally narrow and winding, flanked by densely crowded lodging-houses (insulae) of enormous height. Augustus found it necessary to limit their height to 70 feet. St, Paul's first visit to Rome took place before the Neronian conflagration but even after the restoration of the city which followed upon that event, many of the old evils continued. the population of the city has been variously estimated. Probably Gibbon's estimate of 1,200,000 is nearest to the truth. One half of the population consisted, in all probability, of slaves. the larger part of the remainder consisted of pauper citizens supported in idleness by the miserable system of public gratuities. there appears to have been no middle class, and no free industrial population. Side by side with the wretched classes just mentioned was the comparatively small body of the wealthy nobility, of whose luxury and profligacy we learn so much from the heathen writers of the time, Such was the population which St. Paul would find at Rome at the time of his visit. We learn from the Acts of the Apostles that he was detained at Rome for "two whole years," "dwelling in his own hired house with a soldier that kept him,"
Ac 28:16,30: to whom apparently, according to Roman custom, he was hound with a chain.
Ac 28:20; Eph 6:20; Phm 1:13: Here he preached to all that came to him, no man forbidding him.
Ac 28:30-31: It is generally believed that on his "appeal to Caesar" he was acquitted, and after some time spent in freedom, was a second time imprisoned at Rome. Five of his epistles, viz., those to the Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, that to Philemon, and the Second Epistle to Timothy, were in all probability written from Rome, the latter shortly before his death
2Ti 4:6: the others during his first imprisonment. It is universally believed that he suffered martyrdom at Rome.
3. the localities in and about Rome especially connected with the life of Paul are-- (1) the Appian Way, by which he approached Rome.
Ac 28:15
(2) "The palace," Or "Caesar's court" (praetorium,)
Phm 1:13: this may mean either the great camp of the Praetorian guards which Tiberius established outside the walls on the northeast of the city, or, as seems more probable, a barrack attached to the imperial residence on the Palatine. there is no sufficient proof that the word "praetorium" was ever used to designate the emperors palace, though it is used for the official residence of a Roman governor.
Joh 18:28; Ac 23:35: the mention of "Caesar's household,"
Phm 1:25: confirms the notion that St. Paul's residence was in the immediate neighborhood of the emperor's house on the Palatine. (3) the connection of other localities at home with St. Paul's name rests only on traditions of more or less probability. We may mention especially-- (4) the Mamertine prison, of Tullianum, built by Ancus Martius near the forum. It still exists beneath the church of St. Giuseppe dei Falegnami. It is said that St. Peter and St. Paul were fellow prisoners here for nine months. this is not the place to discuss the question whether St. Peter was ever at Rome. It may be sufficient to state that though there is no evidence of such a visit in the New Testament, unless Babylon in
1Pe 5:13: is a mystical name for Rome yet early testimony and the universal belief of the early Church seems sufficient to establish the fact of his having suffered martyrdom there. [PETER] the story, however, of the imprisonment in the Mamertine prison seems inconsistent with
See Peter : 2Ti 4:11
(5) the chapel on the Ostian road which marks the spot where the two apostles are said to, have separated on their way to martyrdom. (6)The supposed scene of St. Paul's martyrdom, viz., the church of St. Paolo alle tre fontane on the Ostian road. to these may be added -- (7) the supposed scene of St. Peter's martyrdom, viz., the church of St. Pietro in Montorio, on the Janiculum. (8) the chapel Domine que Vadis, on the Aypian road,the scene of the beautiful legend of our Lord's appearance to St. Peter as he was escaping from martyrdom. (9) the places where the bodies of the two apostles, after having been deposited first in the catacombs, are supposed to have been finally buried --that of St. Paul by the Ostian road, that of St. Peter beneath the dome of the famous Basilica which bears his name. We may add, as sites unquestionably connected with the Roman Christians of the apostolic age-- (10) the gardens of Nero in the Vatican. Not far from the spot where St. Peter's now stands. Here Christians, wrapped in the skins of beasts, were torn to pieces by dogs, or, clothed in inflammable robes, were burnt to serve as torches during the midnight games. Others were crucified. (11) the Catacombs. these subterranean galleries, commonly from 8 to 10 feet in height and from 4 to 6 in width, and extending for miles, especially in the neighborhood of the old Appian and Nomentan Ways, were unquestionably used as places of refuge, of worship and of burial by the early Christians. the earliest dated inscription in the catacombs is A.D. 71. Nothing is known of the first founder of the Christian Church at Rome. Christianity may, perhaps, have been introduced into the city not long after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost by the "strangers of Rome, who were then at Jerusalem,
Ac 2:10: It is clear that there were many Christians at Rome before St. Paul visited the city.
Ro 1:8,13,15; 15:20: the names of twenty-four Christians at Rome are given in the salutations at the end of the Epistle to the Romans. Linus, who is mentioned
2Ti 4:21: and Clement, Phil 4:3 are supposed to have succeeded St. Peter as bishops of Rome'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 8:7 about the word diligence. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:17; 4:9 and 4:21. The functional definition is: 'Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity'.

Please see the note for John 1:41 about the word find. The functional definition for this word is: 'Literally, to come to; to meet; hence, to discover by the eye; to gain first sight or knowledge of something lost; to recover either by searching for it or by accident'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Lord. 2Ti 1:18; Ne 5:19; 13:14,22,31; Ps 18:25; 37:26; Mt 5:7; 10:41-42; 25:35-40; 2Co 9:12-14; Heb 6:10; 10:34 the house. 2Ti 4:19 refreshed. 1Co 16:18; Phm 1:7,20 and was. 2Ti 1:8 my. Ac 28:20; Eph 6:20 (margin)
General references. Ac 28:30-31'.

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C1-S11 (Verse 18) Our judgment is equivalent to our acts.

Equivalent Section: Paul prays for mercy for Onesiphorus at the judgment seat of Christ.

The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day:.

Equivalent Section: Onesiphorus should get mercy because of his righteous acts.

and in how manythings he ministered unto me at Ephesus,
thou knowest very well..

This sentence is a continuation of the prior and shows the different judgment that our Lord gives depending upon our works. The phrase that day is the time that we face our Lord in judgment. Please see the note for note for this sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:55 about the word daily. Please also see the notes for Philippians 1:6-LJC and 1Thessalonians 5:2 about the phrase day of. Those notes explain the different days which are found in the New Testament.

Please see the note for Mark 10:37 about the word grant. The functional definition for this word is: 'To admit as true what is not proved; to allow; to yield; to concede'.

Please see the notes for Romans C13S6 and 1Corinthians C3S5 about the word minister. The note in Romans provides the definition from Webster's 1828 and the note in 1Corinthians provides links from other commentators. In addition, please see the note for 1Corinthians C12S5 about the word administration. Please also see the notes for Proverbs Study and Ephesians C4S7 about the word ministry. This is the only place within 2Timothy where We find this word, although the word ministry is used in 4:5 and 4:11. The functional definition is: ' Properly, a chief servant; hence, an agent appointed to transact or manage business under the authority of another; in which sense, it is a word of very extensive application.'

Please see the note for Ephesians 1:1 about the word Ephesus. The Morrish Bible Dictionary definition is: 'A renowned city of Ionia, and in the time of the Romans the capital of the part called 'the province of Asia,' being the west portion of Asia Minor. Being near the sea it was a place of great commerce, and as the capital of the province it had constant intercourse with the surrounding towns. the celebrated temple of Diana also brought multitudes of heathen. Its inhabitants are supposed to have been of Greek origin, with also a large number of Jews engaged in commerce. Ac 18:19-24; 19:1,17,26,35; 20:16-17; 1Co 15:32; 16:8; Eph 1:1; 1Ti 1:3; 2Ti 1:18; 4:12; Re 1:11; 2:1. It is now named Ayasolook. the ruins are extensive: the sea has retired, leaving a pestilential morass of mud and rushes.'

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'that he. 2Ti 1:16; 1Ki 17:20; Mt 25:34-40 mercy. Ps 130:3-4; Lu 1:72,78; Ro 3:23-24; 9:15-23; Eph 2:4; 1Pe 1:10 exp: 2Sa 15:20. in that. 2Ti 1:12; 1Th 2:19 exp: 2Th 1:10. ministered. Lu 8:3; 2Co 9:1; Heb 6:10 Ephesus. 2Ti 4:12; Ac 19:1; 1Co 16:8; 1Ti 1:3; Re 2:1 exp: Ac 18:19'.

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2Timothy Chapter 2 Sentence-by-Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

Please see the Summary Chapter Outline using this link. It gives the overview of this chapter.

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1-16	Timothy is exhorted again to constancy and perseverance, and to do the duty of a faithful servant of the Lord in dividing the word aright, and staying profane and vain babblings
17-18	Of Hymenaeus and Philetus.
19-21	The foundation of the Lord is sure
22-26	He is taught whereof to beware, and what to follow after, and in what manner the servant of the Lord ought to behave himself.

C2-S1 (Verse 1) The instructions starting in this sentence are based upon what was said in the prior chapter.

Thou therefore,
my son,
be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus..

Please see the note for note for this sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. It has details about this sentence and links to other relevant notes. Basically, Paul tells Timothy to be strong in the grace. Grace is not something that we can earn. Further, please note that Paul qualifies (limits) where this grace comes from when he says that is in Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is used by the Bible for things given only to people who are saved and maturing spiritually through maintaining their personal relationship with Christ Jesus. This grace is not available outside of that relationship and, as explained elsewhere, we can be saved and yet no longer be in Christ Jesus. Please see the notes linked under Relational Prepositions in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for many more details.

Please also see the Message called Pass it on for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.

Please also see the Message called 2Timothy 2:1-2 for the application of these verses in the life of the believer.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about the word strong. We find this word only in our current sentence within 2Timothy. The functional definition is: 'Very powerful; having great command'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'my. 2Ti 1:2; 1Ti 1:2,18 be. 2Ti 1:7; Jos 1:7; Hag 2:4; 1Co 16:13; 2Co 12:9-10; Eph 6:10; Php 4:13; 2Pe 3:18'.

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C2-S2 (Verse 2) Teach others to take the action of the prior sentence based upon the evidence of the prior chapter.

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses,
the same commit thou to faithful men,
who shall be able to teach others also..

This sentence starts with the word And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. Please see the note above along with the note for the prior sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. Please also see the Message called Pass It On.

Paul tells Timothy to build himself up first and then to teach others and to teach them to pass it on into all future generations. This is like the instructions on an airplane. Parents are to get their own oxygen mask before putting one on a child because they must be strong enough to finish the job or both could die. As taught in the Book Study for Proverbs 9, pastors need to get their own personal worship correct before they can help anyone else.

In the next few sentences Paul adds to his instructions that Timothy is to follow because of the truths in chapter 1. In those sentences Paul uses things of this world to illustrate what he is telling Timothy to do. In the first two sentences Paul did not use an illustration because there is nothing of this world that will properly illustrate the grace that is in Christ Jesus. However, that grace is foundational to building a ministry, just like we saw in the Book Study for Proverbs 9. Also, like Proverbs 9, there are additional things to do which are based upon our personal relationship with God. Therefore, what is said in these first two sentences is foundational to the rest of the chapter.

Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 13:1 and Colossians C3S13 about the phrase two or three witnesses. Please also see the note for Hebrews 11:4 about the word witness.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S26 about the word commit. The functional definition is: 'To do a premeditated act or to trust another to do it; with no way of taking it back'.

Please see the notes for Colossians 1:1 and Titus 1:1 about the word faithful. That note has links to many other places on this site where this critical doctrine is discussed as well as providing other definitions. The functional definition is: 'reliable and firm in adherence to the truth and to the duties of religion'. Please also see the note for Hebrews 3:1-LJC about the phrase Christ Jesus is faithful. Please also see the note for 1:1 about the word faith.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C12S27 about the word teach. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 1:11; 2:2; 2:24 and 4:3. Please note that this is different from preach. The functional definition is: ' to instruct; to inform; to communicate to another the knowledge of that of which he was before ignorant'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the things. 2Ti 1:13; 3:10,14 among. or, by. many. 1Ti 4:14; 6:12 the same. 2Ti 1:14; 1Ti 1:18; 5:22 faithful. Nu 12:7; 1Sa 2:35; Ne 7:2; Ps 101:6; Pr 13:17; Jer 23:28; Mt 24:25; Lu 12:42; 16:10-12; 1Co 4:2; Col 1:7; 1Ti 1:12; Heb 2:17; 3:2-3; Re 2:10-13 exp: 1Co 4:17. who. 2Ti 2:24-25; Ezr 7:10,25; Mal 2:7; Mt 13:52; 1Ti 3:2-9; 4:6; Tit 1:5-9'.

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C2-S3 (Verse 3) Stay free of entanglements that will stop your obedience.

Thou therefore endure hardness,
as a good soldier of Jesus Christ..

The first sentence of this chapter started with a therefore, which means the commandment of that sentence was based upon what Paul said in the first chapter. The second sentence started with And, which added it to the first sentence. This sentence starts with Thou therefore, which means it is given as a personal command (Thou) and it is also based upon all that Paul said in the first chapter but it is independent of the first command in this chapter because it is not added with an And like the prior sentence was. As mentioned in the note above, this sentence and the ones following it are instructions which are based upon the truths in chapter 1 and upon the personal relationship mentioned in the first two sentences of this chapter. I hope I wasn't boring by showing how the structure of these sentences support this claim. :-)

in this sentence (and the next) Paul uses a soldier to illustrate an instruction to someone serving God. A soldier must be ready to be ordered to move quickly and they have to carry all that they own on their back. That means they can't have too much stuff, as Paul says in the next sentence. Men like to say 'I chased her until she caught me' and the same is true about stuff of this world. The things that we think we own really entangleth us and holds us back from being able to go and serve God wherever He wants to send us. Please see the note for This sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details.

Please see the note for Romans intro about the word therefore. Therefore and wherefore gives us a result based upon what came before the Therefore or wherefore. Most people understand that in these cases context is critical. Unfortunately, many of the same people ignore context when it goes against their current beliefs. Therefore tells us that this result (for) is there (at this one location which is specified before the therefore) with the result following the therefore. Therefore tells us that this result (for) is there (at this one location which is specified before the therefore) with the result following the therefore.

Please see the note for Hebrews 6:15 about the word endure. The functional definition is: 'To last; to continue in the same state without perishing; to remain; to abide'.

In the Bible, good is used for 'what comes from God'. The devil, the world and our own flesh fight against anything that 'comes from God'. This sentence tells us that the preacher is to fight the spiritual war as a soldier who 'comes from God'. Please see the note for 1:14 for links to every place in 2Timothy where the word good is used. Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; Romans C11S26 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the word good. Please see the note for Romans C11S26 about the word goodness. Please see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday.

Please see the note for Luke 3:14 about the word soldier. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'Apart from the common application of this term (for which see ARMY, ARMOUR, etc.) it is used in the N.T. for the service of a Christian. Two things are said of the Christian soldier. He must "endure hardness," that is, share in the suffering incident to warfare; and he must not entangle "himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier": that is, be quite free to obey his Captain in all things. As explained by the centurion, "I say to this man Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh;" so the Christian servant is under authority, and unhesitating obedience is what should characterise the soldier of Jesus Christ: he must be prepared to endure hardships, and to suffer with his Captain. Mt 8:9; 2Ti 2:3-4'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'endure. 2Ti 2:10; 1:8; 3:11; 4:5; 1Co 13:7; 2Co 1:6; Heb 6:15; 10:32; 11:27; 12:2-3; Jas 1:12 a good. 2Co 10:3-5; Eph 6:11-18; 1Ti 1:18'.

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C2-S4 (Verse 4) Be sure to do things the right way.

First Step: What to avoid.

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;.

Second Step: Why.

that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier..

Please see the note above for details on this verse. Our current sentence is providing the conclusion about being a soldier. The application, for all preachers, is that they are to not entangleth himself with the affairs of this life. Too many preachers are getting involved in politics and administering the physical aspects of the church and other things to be able to claim that they are obeying this sentence.

Please notice that our Second Step tells us why (that) a preacher is to avoid entangling himself with the affairs of this life. When he does so he can not please God. Yet too many preachers claim to expect God to tell them well done while their life proves that they are ignoring this command.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 10:3-6 about warfare. Please see the note for James 4:1 about the word war. The functional definition is: 'War is the natural consequence of sin being in the world, and men and nations coveting the possessions of others'.

Please see the note for Galatians C5-S1 about the word entangle. That note has links to every place in the Bible where forms of this word are found. The functional definition is: 'Twisted together; interwoven in a confused manner; intricate; perplexed; involved; embarrassed; ensnared'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:27-28 about the word affairs. The functional definition is: 'Business of any kind; that which is done, or is to be done; a word of very indefinite and indefinable signification'.

Please see the note for Galatians 1:10-LJC about the word please. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to excite agreeable sensations or emotions in; to gratify; as, to please the taste; to please the mind. Their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem, Hamor's son. Gen.34. Leave such to trifle with more grace than ease, Whom folly Please s, and whose follies Please. 2. to satisfy; to content. What next I bring shall Please thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire. 3. to prefer; to have satisfaction in; to like; to choose. Many of our most skilful painters were pleased or recommend this author to me. Tobe pleased in or with, to approve; to have complacency in. Matt.3. Toplease God, is to love his character and law and perform his will, so as to become the object of his approbation. They that are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom.8.
Please , v.i. s as z. to like; to choose; to prefer. Spirits, freed from mortal laws, with ease Assume what sexes and what shapes they Please. 1. to condescend; to comply; to be pleased; a word of ceremony. Please you, lords, In sight of both our battles we may meet. The first words that I learnt were, to express my desire that he would please to give me my liberty. Please expresses less gratification than delight'.

Thompson Chain Topics provides references for the word please as: 'Pleasing God: Renders Life Secure: Pr 16:7. A Characteristic of Christ: Mt 3:17; Joh 8:29. The Aim of the True Minister: 1Th 2:4. The Christian Duty: 1Th 4:1. Enoch an Example of: Heb 11:5. Benevolence a means of: Heb 13:16; 1Jo 3:22.
Pleasing Men. Joh 12:43; Ac 12:1-3; 24:27; 25:9; Eph 6:6; Col 3:22.
Pleasure, Worldly. Results of a Pleasure-seeking Life: Poverty: Pr 21:17; Isa 22:13. False Security: Isa 47:8-9. Spiritual Barrenness: Lu 8:14. Presumption: Lu 12:19. Spiritual Death: 1Ti 5:6; 2Ti 3:4; Tit 3:3; Jas 5:5. Desire for Incessant Revelry: 2Pe 2:13. Sought by the Epicure and as the Chief Aim of Life: Ec 2:1,24; 5:18; 8:15; 9:7; Isa 22:13; Am 6:4; Ac 17:18; 1Co 15:32. Luxurious living, examples of: 1Ki 4:22-23; 10:21-22; Es 1:5-6,7; Am 6:4; Lu 16:19. Prodigality, general references to: Pr 18:9; 21:20; Am 6:6; Lu 15:13,30. Wantoness Pr 29:3; Lu 15:30; Jas 5:5; 2Pe 2:18'.

We find forms of the words chosen occurring 123 times in 119 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Matthew 12:18; Matthew 20:16; Matthew 22:14; Mark 13:20; Luke 10:42; Luke 23:35; John 6:70; John 13:18; John 15:16; John 15:19; Acts 1:2; Acts 1:24; Acts 9:15; Acts 10:41; Acts 15:22; Acts 15:25; Acts 22:14; Romans 16:13; 1Corinthians 1:27-28; 2Corinthians 8:19; Ephesians 1:4; 2Thessalonians 2:13; 2Timothy 2:4; James 2:5; 1Peter 2:4; 1Peter 2:9; Revelation 17:14. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines the word choose as: 'pp. 1. Selected from a number; picked out; taken in preference; elected; predestinated; designated to office. 2. Select; distinguished by preference; eminent. His chosen captains are drowned in the sea. Ex. 15. Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. 1 Pet. 2'. The functional definition for this word is: 'Past-tense form of choose'. Please see the note for Philippians 1:22 about the word choose. The functional definition for it is: 'To pick out; to select; to take by way of preference from two or more things offered; to make choice of'.

Thompson Chain Topics provides references for the word choose as: '(To choose between God and Evil): Ex 32:26; De 30:19; Jos 24:15; 1Ki 18:21. Choosing Jehovah: (as God): Ge 28:21; De 26:17; Ru 1:16; 1Ki 18:39; 2Ki 5:17; Ps 16:2; 31:14; 63:1; 73:25; 118:28; 140:6. chosen Instruments to accomplish God's purposes: Hag 2:23; Joh 15:16; Ac 9:15; 1Co 1:27-28,29. chosen Ones: (God's people called): De 7:6; Ps 4:3; 1Co 1:26; Eph 1:4; Jas 2:5; 1Pe 2:10'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'that warreth. De 20:5-7; Lu 9:59-62 entangleth. 2Ti 4:10; Lu 8:14; 1Co 9:25-26; 1Ti 6:9-12; 2Pe 2:20 that he. 1Co 7:22-23; 2Co 5:9; 1Th 2:4'.

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C2-S5 (Verse 5) Be sure to do things the right way.

And if a man also strive for masteries,
yet is he not crowned,
except he strive lawfully..

As mentioned in the notes above, Paul is using things of this world to illustrate instructions to a minister of Christ Jesus. Paul switches from a soldier to a sports contender because it is pretty hard to tell a soldier that he cheated if he survives. However, we are not trying to survive in this world but to build up eternal rewards and Paul says, in this sentence, that we will not receive those rewards unless we strive lawfully.

One of the major doctrinal errors of our day (that many people follow) is 'claiming' a Bible promise while ignoring God's requirements to receive that promise. Then, when God doesn't give the promise, Satan convinces people that God is a liar instead of God's ministers showing them that they did not fulfill God's requirements. This failure by the ministers is because they are doing the same thing. In a few more sentences Paul will tell the minister that he must be rightly dividing the word of truth. However, I've met several 'good Godly preachers' who are not rightly dividing the word of truth and refuse to be corrected because I'm not a famous preacher. In Acts 18:26 Aquila and Priscilla corrected the doctrine of a famous visiting preacher. Neither of this wife-and-husband team was a preacher. When preachers refuse to be corrected by anyone that God chooses to use, they are full of pride and heading for a fall. The biggest fall will come at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10 2Corinthians 5:10-11) when they will not receive the crown that they are 'positive' that they will receive. They will not receive it because they ignore God's requirement in this sentence that they strive lawfully. When we refuse to be rightly dividing the word of truth we are also refusing to strive lawfully. Not only will we loose the promised crown but we will also be punished for teaching others to follow an unlawful method of serving Christ Jesus.

There are other ways that people fail to strive lawfully, but the example that I have shown should be a sufficient example for people to see how easily we are led into error. God's Law is exact and precise. We must be careful when we check to be sure that we are striving lawfully or we will go to judgment and be vastly disappointed when we do not receive the crown that we are 'positive' we will receive.

Please see the note for Romans C15S25 about the word strive. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 2:5; 2:14 and 2:24. The functional definition is: 'to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard'.

Please see the note for 1Peter 2:18 about the word master. The functional definition is: 'A man who rules, governs or directs either men or business'. Please also see the notes for Romans 14:6-LJC; Galatians C3S28; Ephesians C6S5 about the word schoolmaster. Please also see the note for Ephesians 5:5 about the word whoremaster.

Please also see the note for James 1:12 for links to where the New Testament deals with forms of the word crown. The definition from Webster's 1828 is also provided along with info from some commentators. The functional definition is: 'Crowns show that the person wearing them has authority and a special position'.

The functional definition of the word law is: 'A written code or rule that is enforced by God or some government'. Please also see the following notes about law: law of works: Romans C3S27. kinds of laws that apply to us tday: Romans C3S31; 1Corinthians 9:21-LJC. Law defined: Romans C6S16; 1Corinthians C6S1. religious part of Moses' law: Hebrews 19:29-LJC. righteousness of the Law: Ephesians 4:7-LJC. Law and faith: Romans C3S25. Mosaic Law added: Galatians C3S22. We find forms of the word law occurring in 2Timothy, only in our current sentence.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'strive. Lu 13:24; 1Co 9:24-27; Php 1:15; Col 1:29; Heb 12:4 is he. 2Ti 4:7-8; Heb 2:7,9; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 5:4; Re 2:10; 3:11; 4:4,10'.

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C2-S6 (Verse 6) The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

Here, Paul is telling Timothy to let God and the ministry provide for your needs. in this illustration we see that he uses a farmer (husbandman) and tells us that he must be first partaker of the fruits. This matches what was said above and what we saw in the Book Study for Proverbs 9. The preacher must receive the grace that is in Christ Jesus and have it demonstrated in his life before he can convince others that they want it in their lives also. However, this truth doesn't stop there but goes on to a related truth that many 'good Godly preachers' mess up on.

When it comes to 'faith promise missions', they tell people that if they give and support missionaries that they will share in the rewards from the missionaries' efforts. But at other times they claim that it is wrong to give and serve God for eternal rewards. This is inconsistent, wrong and goes against the principal taught in this sentence. The husbandman will not continue to work without reward and most (all?) preachers have had times that they wanted to quit but continued for the reward which is promised. It is a ridiculous claim to say that martyrs died 'for their great love of God only'. The fact is that God promised rewards and punishment to help us continue to obey when 'the love of God only' is not enough. This sentence does not say 'it would be a good idea' but uses the word must when it says that he is the first partaker of the fruits because without the reward there are times that we will all quit and then who is left to help others who can not do for themselves? Pray about all of the people in your church that don't tithe and don't give and ask God what you can do to motivate them to obey God in this area. While praying about that problem, ask God about His opinion of what I have contended here.

God uses the word must when He talks about rewarding the worker and we are fighting against God when we deny the truth of this sentence and tell people that they should serve God 'for their great love of God only'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C3S9 about the word husbandry and about the word husband. The functional definition, for the word husbandman, is: 'a person who takes care of growing things in a field'.

Please see the note for Luke 10:2 about the word labourer. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'One who labors in a toilsome occupation; a man who does work that requires little skill, as distinguished from an artisan.'. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:3 about the word fellowlabourers. Please also see the notes for 1Corinthians C3S9 and 1Corinthians C4S13 about the word labour. The functional definition is: 'Exertion of muscular strength, or bodily exertion which occasions weariness; particularly, the exertion of the limbs in occupations by which subsistence is obtained, as in agriculture and manufactures'. The main application, within the Bible, is: 'work of God's ministry'. Please also see the note for Philippians 4:3 about the word fellowlabourers. Please also see the Message called Labor for Everlasting Life which is based upon this sentence and the next couple of sentences. Please also see the Message called Labourers for the Harvest.

Please also see the note for 15:27 for the links to every place in the Bible where forms of partake are used along with the definition from Webster's 1828 .

Please see the notes for Romans C1S5 and 1Corinthians C9S10 about the word fruit. Please see the note for Romans C8S21 about the word firstfruits. Please see the note for Philippians 1:9-11 about the phrase fruit of righteousness. The functional definition is: 'In a general sense, whatever the earth produces for the nourishment of animals, or for clothing or profit'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'husbandman. Isa 28:24-26; Mt 9:37-38; 20:1; 21:33-41; Lu 10:2; Joh 4:35-38; 1Co 3:6-9; 9:7-11 that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. or, labouring first, must be partaker of the fruits. 1Co 9:23; Heb 10:36'.

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C2-S7 (Verse 7) Meditate on the instructions of the Bible in order to receive understanding.

Consider what I say;
and the Lord give thee understanding in all things..

This sentence says that we must consider what we are told. This sentence does not say if we must consider what has already been said or what is to come next. I personally believe that both are true because what follows is based upon what was already said but considering only what was already said does not give us the blessings of obeying the commands which will follow this sentence. Regardless, here we are given specific instructions to meditate (consider in every way possible) on the instructions of the Bible.

Please notice that our sentence tells us that this understanding comes from the Lord and is to be given personally (thee), and not to everyone. Please see the note for This sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details. All throughout this chapter Paul is speaking about things which God does for / to all men the same way based upon their response to God. The obedient are blessed and the disobedient are punished. In addition, there are several precepts which are applied to all people the same way. There are the result of how the Lord works, which is why Paul says the Lord give thee understanding.

In order to consider something, we must spend time and mental effort upon it and that effort must be towards receiving personal understanding. I've heard many 'good Godly preachers' claim that the word study (in 2:15 below) means 'read the Bible'. That's like claiming that this word consider means half-listen to a preacher read the verse before a message. I tell many people 'God gave you a brain and He expects you to use it'. Most places in the Bible where we read about fools, God is talking about people who refuse to obey this sentence. No one will receive understanding until after they give the time and mental effort to truly consider what God's Word says.

Please see the note for John 11:49-50 about the word consider. The functional definition for this word is: 'To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to think on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on'.

Please see the note for Romans 11:1 about the phrase I say. As pointed out there, Paul is stating his own point of view. However, here Paul is teaching us how to take a precept and apply it to life in order to learn how to apply the word of God to people's lives. Here is training for the preacher. Please also see the note for Revelation 1:8 about the word saith. Please also see the note for Romans C10S28 about the word gainsaying. Please also see the note for Matthew 26:1 about the word sayings (plural). Please see the note for Romans C15S15 about the word speak. Please see the note for Ephesians C4S15 about the phrase evil speaking. Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 2:17 and 2Corinthians 3:12-14 about the word speech. The functional definition is: 'To utter in words'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. This is the only place in our epistle where we find the word gift. Please see the note for 1:7 for links to every place where our epistle uses the word give. The functional definition is: ' what one person gives to another without compensation'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S2 about the word understand. The functional definition is: 'The sense is to support or hold in the mind. Tohave just and adequate ideas of; to comprehend; to know; as, to understand a problem in Euclid; to understand a proposition or a declaration'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Consider. De 4:39; 32:29; Ps 64:9; Pr 24:32; Isa 1:3; 5:12; Lu 9:44; Php 4:8; 1Ti 4:15; Heb 3:1; 7:4; 12:3; 13:7 and. Ge 41:38-39; Ex 36:1-2; Nu 27:16-17; 1Ch 22:12; 29:19; 2Ch 1:8-12; Ps 119:73,125,144; 143:8-9; Pr 2:3-6; Isa 28:26; Da 1:17; Lu 21:15; 24:45; Joh 14:26; 16:13; Ac 7:10; 1Co 12:8; Eph 1:17-18; Col 1:9; Jas 1:5; 3:15,17; 1Jo 5:20'.

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C2-S8 (Verse 8-9) Paul's message from God and the consequence of it.

Equivalent Section: Paul's message from God.

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel :.

Equivalent Section: the consequence of Paul's message from God.

First Step: Paul was personally bound to stop the word of God.

Wherein I suffer trouble,
as an evil doer,
even unto bonds;.

Second Step: God proved that what Paul preached was from Him when the word of God could not be bound.

but the word of God is not bound..

This sentence is divided into two equivalent sections by the colon. The first section tells us the message that Paul preached and the second section tells the consequences that were a direct result of that message. The consequences are a two-step process whereby the messenger had to suffer before the word of God could shed the bounds. This makes no sense to our flesh but we see this truth all through the Bible. I will try to explain it in a way that I understand it but many people will still have to take my word by faith because some things are only learned by experience. I have personally died and been revived twice. I can honestly say that I no longer fear death even if I fear pain before death. Lots of people (especially the religious) who have never experienced death insist that they know more than I do about it. Ask a mother of multiple children or a wounded vet how well others can understand their experience when those others have never even been close to their experience.

Notice that Paul does not say that he suffers the threat of death because Paul had personally experienced death and it (literally) held no threat to him. He did suffer trouble...even unto bonds, which interfered with his preaching. However, God raised up several others to take his place. (Please see the note for Philippians 1:13 in the Lord Jesus Christ Study which explains this statement.) Notice that the second step of this section of sentence says that the word of God is not bound. The main thing that binds the word of God is God's people refusing to obey and spread His Word. God has given the job of spreading His Word to the church and will not use another way until after He removes the church from this world. Men have tried to kill off the church and tried persecution and other things and none of them work. The main thing that stops the spreading of the word of God is when God's people become too entangled with this world and they are trying to serve God and enjoy this world at the same time.

One of the most insidious ways that this world entangles the church of God is with religion. That is what the first (equivalent) section of this sentence is talking about. I've heard many 'good Godly preachers' condemn other religions for rejecting the literal interpretation of the word of God and then insist that it's different when they do the exact same thing. Just look at the fear of the LORD in the Book Study for Proverbs 9 or the Study called Fear the Lord and then see how many 'good Godly preachers' talk circles around their rejecting what God's Word literally says in the verses referenced there.

In the first section of this sentence, Paul says Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David... We have the physical lineage in Luke and the legal lineage in Matthew and many other places which tell us that Jesus Christ was of the seed of David and yet religious people reject what God's Word literally says. While the Jews had a problem with that fact, others within the church had a problem with Paul saying that He was raised from the dead (for various reasons). They were joined by others who had religious objections to what Paul preached in my gospel. As already shown in the note for 1:15, it was 'saved but religious' people who got Paul arrested. Returning to the equivalency of these two sections, we see that the word of God is not bound in spite of the efforts to disprove and suppress the gospel that Paul preached. As we have seen many places, we are to 'inspect fruit'. The fruit of this religious argument was that the gospel preached by Paul was spread while God sent Roman soldiers to kill those who opposed the message from God through Paul.

The gospel that Paul preached was the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ as shown in many notes and references within the Word Study on Gospel. As also explained in that Study, this particular gospel was an application of the gospel of God. The gospel of the kingdom was another application of the gospel of God. While the gospel of God stays the same, there are differences in the applications. God had offered the Jews the kingdom, but they rejected it when they rejected Jesus. As a result, God withdrew the gospel of the kingdom and replaces it with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ until the Church Age is over. The religious Jew, as with religious men everywhere, rejected God's authority and demanded that people follow the Mosaic Law, which is part of the gospel of the kingdom. Paul's gospel was the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and it matched the word of God. That is why he was hated. He proved the religious crowd wrong.

Please see the note for This sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details and references to Old Testament prophecies about His being the seed of David.

Please see the note for Galatians C3-S17 about the word seed. As explained in that chapter, Jesus Christ was the physical descendent of Abraham to Whom God made the promises and God did not make the promises to all physical Jews. Please follow these links to all verses in the New Testament and to a Summary on the name / role of Son of David.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C15S32 about the word raise / resurrection. Please also see the Prophecies and Prophecy Fulfilled Sections for Bible references to resurrection. Please see the note for Romans C8S11 about the resurrection of Christ. Please see the note for Romans C8S11 about the resurrection of Jesus. This subject is dealt with, within 2Timothy, in 2:8 and 2:18.

We find forms of the words die /dead /death occurring 1062 times in 940 verses of the Bible, 375 times in 322 verses of the New Testament, and in 2:8; 2:11 and 4:1 within this epistle. Please see the note for Romans C6S4; 1Corinthians C15S20; Philippians 1:19-20 about the word death. Please see the note for Romans C6S4 about the word die. We find this exact phrase of sin unto death: in 1John 5:16; Romans 6:16. We see this doctrine dealt with in: Acts 5; Romans 5; 1Corinthians 8:11-LJC and Galatians C3-S26. Please see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S34 about the phrase sleep is physically dead but spiritually alive. There is a lot of confusion about this word because men insist upon defining an ongoing process as a one-time event and can not even agree when that one-time event is supposed to have happened because every test that they make proves to be wrong at some time. We keep having people who were declared to be dead to later prove that they were actually still alive. The note for Romans C6S4 has a considerable discussion on this subject and explains why all human definitions, including those accepted by fundamental Bible believers, do not match the actual Biblical definition of this ongoing process.

Please see the note for Galatians C5-S10 about the word trouble. The functional definition is: 'The primary sense is to turn or to stir, to whirl about, as in L. turbo, turbinis, a whirlwind. Hence the sense of agitation, disturbance'.

Please see the note for Romans 7:19 about the word evil. Please also see the note for Ephesians C4S15 about evil speaking. Please also see the note for Philippians 3:2 about evil workers. Please also see the note for Romans C1S16 about inventors of evil thing. The functional definition is: 'to be unjust or injurious, to defraud. Both the source and consequence of things which people consider to be really really bad. The source and / or result can be natural or spiritual or any combination thereof. However, even what seems to be a natural source can actually be caused by a devil, especially when the recipient is a child of God. In all cases the result is deliberately intended and caused, which is what separates evil from the accidental'. While Paul was accused of this, the accusation was a lie. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 2:9; 3:13; 4:14 and 4:18.

Please see the note for Luke 8:29 about the word bound. The functional definition for this word is: 'the past-tense form of the word bind'. Please see the note for Mark 3:27 about the word bind. The functional definition for this word is: 'Past-tense of bind. As a participle, made fast by a band, or by chains or fetters; obliged by moral ties; confined; restrained'. Please also see the Word Study on Word Study on abound. It means: 'not bound'.. The singular (the word of God is not bound) functional definition is: 'Anything that binds, as a cord, a chain, a rope; a band'. That is: there is nothing that restricts the word of God.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S2 about the word word. The functional definition is: 'a single component part of human speech or language'. However, the word of God is the holy scriptures and in the English language, it is only the KJV-1611. Please also see the notes for Romans C10S22 and Word in 1John about the phrase word of God. Please also see the note for John 1:1 for an extensive note explaining the differences, and similarities, between the capitalized and the non-capitalized word word. When a Bible reference uses an uppercase word, it is referring to Jesus Christ. The uppercase makes this a formal name of the Son of God. However, while the exact definition is different, the properties are spiritually similar to the lowercase word. Please also see the note for 1Thessalonians 1:8 about the phrase word of the Lord. Please note that the word of the Lord is a sub-set of the word of God. the word of God contains all of God's written truth including recording the lies of Satan. The word of the Lord is that part of the word of God which will be used to judge us. The lies from Satan are not included within the word of the Lord.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Remember. Heb 12:2-3 Jesus. Mt 1:1; Ac 2:30; 13:23; Ro 1:3-4; Re 5:5 raised. Lu 24:46; Ac 2:24; 1Co 15:1,4,11-20 according. Ro 2:16; 16:25; 2Th 2:14; 1Ti 1:11; 2:7
I suffer. 2Ti 1:8,12,16; Ac 9:16 as. Eph 6:20; 1Pe 2:12,14; 3:16; 4:15 exp: Php 1:7. even. Ac 28:31; Eph 6:19-20; Php 1:12-14; 2Th 3:1 but. Eph 3:1; Php 1:7; Col 4:3,18'.

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C2-S9 (Verse 10) The consequence in Paul's life because of the truth of the prior sentence.

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes,
that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory..

This sentence starts with Therefore which means it is a direct result of what was said in the prior sentence. There we were told about a religious fight which resulted in Paul suffering trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God (preached by Paul) is not bound. Please see the note for This sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study which explains this sentence in detail. In addition, please note that Paul did not say that he endured all things for the church or for the Jews but for the elect's sakes. What the Bible means by the elect is far more limited that what is commonly preached. Please see the note for Titus 1:1 and the 1Peter 1:2 for details about election and for links to other notes with further details on this doctrine. Basically, a lot of people 'claim' to be in Christ Jesus who do not fulfill the Biblical requirements. As a result, many saved people will be severely disappointed when they do not receive the eternal glory that they expect to receive. Formore evidence of this claim, please see the notes linked under Prepositions in verses of the Lord Jesus Christ Study for many more details.

Please see the note for Hebrews 6:15 about the word endure. The functional definition is: 'To last; to continue in the same state without perishing; to remain; to abide'.

Please see the Word Study called Election. The functional definition for this word is: 'saved and living a life that is a testimony of the changes which the ministries Jesus Christ cause. In the Bible, this word is not used in the Bible to separate the lost from the saved, as is erroneously taught, but to separate saved people who are in God's way of obedience from saved people who are not in God's way of obedience'. Please also see the note for 1Timothy 4:10-LJC about the word predestine. God does not predestine anyone to Hell but predestines everyone to Heaven (1Timothy 2:4). However, since God gave everyone a free will, men can reject God's predestination and go to Hell. Those people who truly go to God must go God's way. God does not elect people but elects a way. Those people who go God's way, to God, are God's elect.

Please see the note for Romans 11:30-31 for links to where the Bible deals with forms of the word obtain. The functional definition is: 'Gained; procured; acquired'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:19-20 for links to every place in that epistle where we find the word salvation along with definitions from three different dictionaries and links from other commentators. Please see the notes for 2Thessalonians 2:13-LJC and Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase salvation through sanctification. Please also see the note for Main Menu item for Salvation about the word save. The functional definition is: 'to exclude. When used spiritually, it means to exclude from the damned by having God's life in you. When used physically, it means to exclude from what is endangering physical life' . Please also see the messages available at the Salvation Menu.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:17-18 about the word eternal. The functional definition is: 'Without beginning or end of existence'.

Please see the notes for Romans C15S14; 1Corinthians C15S36; Ephesians C1S2; 2Corinthians 10:14-LJC and Colossians C1S6 about the word glory. The functional definition is: 'Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour, dignity of God; of the mind or heart; Splendour, brightness, majesty of Jehovah , the infinite perfections of God'. Please also see the note for Matthew 17:1 about the phrase Jesus Christ return in glory. Think about the 'Mount of transfiguration'. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 2:10 and 4:18. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines glory as: '(Heb kabhod; Gr. doxa). (1.) Abundance, wealth, treasure, and hence honour (Ps 49:12); glory (Ge 31:1; Mt 4:8; Re 21:24,26). (2.) Honour, dignity (1Ki 3:13; Heb 2:7; 1Pe 1:24); of God (Ps 19:1; 29:1); of the mind or heart (Ge 49:6; Ps 7:5; Ac 2:46).

(3.) Splendour, brightness, majesty (Ge 45:13; Isa 4:5; Ac 22:11; 2Co 3:7); of Jehovah (Isa 59:19; 60:1; 2Th 1:9).

(4.) the glorious moral attributes, the infinite perfections of God (Isa 40:5; Ac 7:2; Ro 1:23; 9:23; Eph 1:12). Jesus is the "brightness of the Father's glory" (Heb 1:3; Joh 1:14; 2:11).

(5.) the bliss of heaven (Ro 2:7,10; 5:2; 8:18; Heb 2:10; 1Pe 5:1,10).

(6.) the phrase "Give glory to God" (Jos 7:19; Jer 13:16) is a Hebrew idiom meaning, "Confess your sins." the words of the Jews to the blind man, "Give God the praise" (Joh 9:24), are an adjuration to confess. they are equivalent to, "Confess that you are an impostor," "Give God the glory by speaking the truth;" for they denied that a miracle had been wrought'. The note in Romans provides the full definition from Webster's 1828 along with links from other commentators.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'I endure. 2Ti 2:3; Eph 3:13; Col 1:24 for. Mt 24:22,24,31; Joh 11:52; 17:9; 1Co 9:22; 2Co 1:6; 4:15; Col 1:24 exp: Joh 11:15; 17:19; 1Co 4:6; 9:23; 2Co 5:13; Eph 3:1; 1Th 1:5; 1Jo 2:19. obtain. Pr 8:35; Joh 17:24; 1Th 5:9; 1Ti 1:13-14; 1Pe 2:10 with. Ro 2:7; 9:23; 2Co 4:17; Col 1:27; 2Th 2:14; 1Pe 5:10'.

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C2-S10 (Verse 11-13) Why we should endure all things for the elect's sakes.

Equivalent Section: Based upon the faithfulness of Christ Jesus.

It is a faithful saying:.

Equivalent Section: We share in His life in proportion to our sharing in His death.

For if we be dead with him,
we shall also live with him:.

Equivalent Section: We share in His reward in proportion to our sharing in His suffering.

If we suffer,
we shall also reign with him:.

Equivalent Section: We are rejected by Him in proportion to our rejection of Him.

if we deny him,
he also will deny us:.

Equivalent Section: these truths are not dependent upon our believing them.

If we believe not,
yet he abideth faithful:.

Equivalent Section: these truths are based upon the character of Christ Jesus.

he cannot deny himself..

This sentence states a principal that is foundational for what follows in this chapter. In the rest of this chapter Paul is going to discuss disputes arising from false teaching that come from saved leaders who teach doctrinal error. In Isaiah 28 God tells us how He makes to understand doctrine and God's method puts precept before line or anything else. Capitalism is a precept of the Bible found in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) and the parable of the pounds (Luke 19:11-27) which Jesus said were about the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God. We also have the judgment by the Son of man in Matthew 25:31-46 and many other places which teach judgment based upon out works. Yet many people teach and believe doctrine which is based upon a precept of Communism, which is not Biblical. The people who would have a problem with the headings that I gave to the sections of this sentence are those who believe in a Communistic concept of us all getting almost the same rewards. This sentence tells us that these promises are based upon the character of our God (he cannot deny himself) and these sayings are faithful because He is faithful. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). All through the Bible we read that God rewards obedience and punishes disobedience and makes the reward or punishment proportional to the act according to His scale. People want to have the reward without the suffering or death and this sentence tells us 'not happening'. We have continuously seen that colons provide equivalency and what is equivalent throughout each section of this sentence is proportional rewards based upon the character of Christ Jesus and our willingness to participate in the things that He says are important.

Please see the note for 2:8 about the words die /dead /death. All human definitions, including those accepted by fundamental Bible believers, do not match the actual Biblical definition of this ongoing process. This is an on-going process of corruption which opposes life, both physically and spiritually. Please see the note for Romans C6S4; 1Corinthians C15S20; Philippians 1:19-20 about the word death. Please see the note for Romans C6S4 about the word die. Please also see the notes for Sin in 1John; Romans C2S4; 1Corinthians 8:11-LJC and Galatians C3-S26 about the phrase sin unto death. Please see the note for Romans C8S38 about the phrase dying because of the truth. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C11S34 about the phrase sleep is physically dead but spiritually alive. There is a lot of confusion about this word because men insist upon defining an ongoing process as a one-time event and can not even agree when that one-time event is supposed to have happened because every test that they make proves to be wrong at some time. We keep having people who were declared to be dead to later prove that they were actually still alive. The note for Romans C6S4 has a considerable discussion on this subject and explains why all human definitions, including those accepted by fundamental Bible believers, do not match the actual Biblical definition of this ongoing process.

Please see the note for Romans C6S12 about the word reign. The functional definition is: 'To possess or exercise sovereign power or authority; to rule; to exercise government, as a king or emperor; or to hold the supreme power'.

We find forms of the words deny / denial occurring 51 times in 47 verses of the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Matthew 10:33; Matthew 16:24; Matthew 26:34-35; Matthew 26:70; Matthew 26:72; Matthew 26:75; Mark 8:34; Mark 14:30-31; Mark 14:68; Mark 14:70; Mark 14:72; Luke 8:45; Luke 9:23; Luke 12:9; Luke 20:27; Luke 22:34; Luke 22:57; Luke 22:61; John 1:20; John 13:38; John 18:25; John 18:27; Acts 3:13-14; Acts 4:16; 1Timothy 5:8; 2Timothy 2:12-13; 2Timothy 3:5; Titus 1:16; Titus 2:12; 2Peter 2:1; 1John 2:22; 1John 2:23; Jude 1:4; Revelation 2:13; Revelation 3:8. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to contradict; to gainsay; to declare a statement or position not to be true. We deny what another says, or we deny a proposition. We deny the truth of an assertion, or the assertion itself. the sense of this verb is often expressed by no or nay. 2. to refuse to grant; as, we asked for bread, and the man denied us. 3. Not to afford; to withhold. 4. to disown; to refuse or neglect to acknowledge; not to confess'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C7S9 about the word abide. The functional definition is: 'To continue; to be; to dwell, rest, continue, stand firm, or be stationary for anytime indefinitely'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'faithful. 1Ti 1:15; 3:1; Tit 3:8 for. Ro 6:5,8; 2Co 4:10; Ga 2:19-20; Col 3:3-4 we shall. Joh 14:19; 2Co 13:4; 1Th 4:17; 5:10
we suffer. Mt 19:28-29; Ac 14:22; Ro 8:17; Php 1:28; 2Th 1:4-8; 1Pe 4:13-16; Re 1:6,9; 5:10; 20:4,6 if we deny. Pr 30:9; Mt 10:33; 26:35,75; Mr 8:38; 10:33; Lu 9:26; 12:9; 1Jo 2:22,23; Jude 1:4; Re 2:13; 3:8
yet. Isa 25:1; Mt 24:35; Ro 3:3; 9:6; 1Th 5:24; 2Th 3:3 he cannot. Nu 23:19; Tit 1:2; Heb 6:18'.

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C2-S11 (Verse 14) How we do at remembering, doing and passing on these things will be judged.

Of these things put them in remembrance,
charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit,
but to the subverting of the hearers..

Please see the note for This sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study which explains how this sentence is talking about judgment. Remember that the prior sentence gave us the foundational precept for the judgment of this sentence. (Please see note above.) Since our reward is proportional, we are losing eternal rewards while we are arguing about words to no profit but we can increase our eternal rewards by putting others in remembrance...of these things because we get credit for the good that we encourage others to do.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 1:3-4 about the word charge. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 2:14; 4:1 and 4:16. Please also see the message from 1Timothy called A Pastor's Charge. The functional definition is: 'A superior authority gives a formal and legal command to a subordinate which includes the necessary rights and responsibilities to accomplish the assigned task'. Please also see the note for Luke 21:34 about the word overcharge. Please also see the Message called A Pastoral Charge.

Please see the note for 2:5 about the word strive. The functional definition is: 'to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard'.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C13S3 and 2Timothy C3S10 about the word profit. The functional definition is: 'to proceed forward, to advance'. Please also see the note for Matthew 25:30 about the word unprofitable. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'Bringing no profit; producing no gain beyond the labor, expenses and interest of capital; as unprofitable land; unprofitable stock; unprofitable employment. 2. Producing no improvement or advantage; useless; serving no purpose; as an unprofitable life; unprofitable study. Job. 15. 3. Not useful to others. 4. Misimproving talents; bringing no glory to God; as an unprofitable servant. Matt. 25'.

We find forms of the word subvert only in: Lamentations 3:36; Acts 15:24; 2Timothy 2:14; Titus 1:11; Titus 3:11. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to overthrow from the foundation; to overturn; to ruin utterly. the northern nations of Europe subverted the Roman empire. He is the worst enemy of man, who endeavors to subvert the Christian religion. the elevation of corrupt men to office will slowly, but surely, subvert a republican government. This would subvert the principles of all knowledge. 2. to corrupt; to confound; to pervert the mind, and turn it from the truth. 2 Tim.2'. Out sentence tells us that when someone believes doctrinal error then we are to subvert ('overthrow from the foundation of the doctrinal error') so that the person can then turn to the truth. However, if we can not do then then we are to not argue about the doctrine (strive not about words to no profit).

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'put. 2Ti 1:6; 2Pe 1:13 charging. 2Ti 4:1; Eph 4:17; 1Th 4:1; 2Th 3:6; 1Ti 5:21; 6:13 that. 2Ti 2:16,23; Ro 14:1; 1Ti 1:4,6; 6:4-5; Tit 3:9-11 to no. 1Sa 12:21; Jer 2:8,11; 7:8; 16:19; 23:32; Hab 2:18; Mt 16:26; 1Ti 4:8; Heb 13:9 the subverting. Jer 23:36; Ac 13:10; 15:24; Ga 1:7; Tit 3:11'.

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C2-S12 (Verse 15) How to get God's approval.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth.

There are many references to this verse throughout this site and a paper called Dividing that is based upon it. I have heard people refer to this verse but ignore the context and other things about it. For example, I've heard people quote this verse and claim 'That means you have to read your Bible' even though read and study are obviously different verbs. Therefore, there is doctrinal error taught about this main verse in a chapter that warns against doctrinal error taught by saved preachers.

In addition, the true definition of the word dividing is: 'a Mathematical function whereby we separate pre-defined units according to a precise procedure which produces a precise result'. However, while most people understand that 'there is one interpretation but many applications of the word of God', they fail to separate the procedures of each. And, as a result, they fail to separate the 'one interpretation of the word of God' from the 'many applications of the word of God'. This leads to many errors which people blame on the perfect word of God instead of their using the wrong procedure.

We already saw (in this chapter) that Paul suffered trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds because he disagreed with doctrinal error taught by saved preachers. We also saw that these people thought that they were going to get a crown but probably would not because, as Paul warned, if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. Those who are not striving lawfully will not receive a crown. We also saw that judgment by our Lord was already mentioned. And we can see that in the very next sentence Paul contrasts how we are to treat the word of truth with profane and vain babblings and we've seen how Paul goes on in this chapter to tell of the different judgments that saved people will receive based upon how they respond to these teachings. Therefore, the teaching about the word of truth and about profane and vain babblings goes throughout the entire chapter. Further, the teaching about Lawfully handling the word of truth and our judgment related to our obedience to this Law is mentioned.

That is the context. Now we need to deal with the specifics of this sentence. Within it, the middle phrase of a workman that needeth not to be ashamed implies that God will make workman who do not obey this command to be ashamed. Further, there is reason to believe that this will happen at the judgment seat of Christ, which means that all of heaven will know it for all eternity. (Yes I have Bible verses to back that claim but will not go into it here.)

Please see the note for Romans 10:11 for references where the Bible tells us that our belief / faith makes us not ashamed.

We already saw that our God is faithful and that He does not change (see notes above) and we know that He is the Creator of everything. Therefore, the precepts that He used while creating the universe would also be used when He gave us His Word. In fact, since heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Mark 13:31; Luke 16:17; Luke 21:33), what God has established in His Word is more reliable than Creation. (Do your own Bible search for the many verses that use established and you will see this truth.) Both God's Word and God's Creation reveal God's character and we were just told (as a foundation of this section) that what is a faithful saying (see note above) is based upon the character of God. The same God shows the same character in the same way within His Word and within His Creation.

When Galileo was alive people insisted that they 'proved that the world was flat' using 'faith'. Galileo proved that it was a globe using the Scientific Method. In fact, all true science uses the Scientific Method and science falsely so called (such as Big Bang and Evolution) do not use the Scientific Method. 1Timothy 6:20 tells us that science falsely so called is part of the profane and vain babblings that our current sentence tells us to shun. Therefore, when preachers tell us that we have to accept something by 'faith' that goes against Laws that God has established throughout His Word and also throughout Creation as never changing Laws, they are spouting profane and vain babblings.

The Scientific Method uses the Mathematical field called Probability and Statistics to prove all true Scientific laws. Yes, people claim that perversions are 'statistically proven', but the true methods of Probability and Statistics shows their claims to be lies. One of the simplest methods is see if some liar (like the weather person) gives you only one percentage. All true Probability and Statistics must have two percentages. That shows us how profane and vain babblings pervert God's Laws to claim that they are teaching truth.

If we are to be rightly dividing the word of truth, we must follow principles that are true throughout creation. If God's Word warns us to be rightly dividing, then there is obviously 'wrongly dividing'. The basic action of dividing is to 'separate'. If we have a pile of books and refuse to separate them, we are not rightly dividing them. If we run them through a saw and put all of the tops in one pile and all of the bottoms in another pile, we are 'wrongly dividing' the books. In order to be rightly dividing the word of truth, we need to 'separate' it according to the divisions that God already established in His Word. For example, the Bible talks about spiritual things, about physical things and about things which connect the two realities. We are not rightly dividing the word of truth if we do not look for these divisions within the Bible when we 'separate' a 'truth' to use in our own life or to teach others.

There is much more about how we are to be rightly dividing the word of truth in the paper called Dividing and in the This verse in the Study on Truth. Please see them for more details.

We find forms of the word study only in: Proverbs 15:28; Proverbs 24:2; Ecclesiastes 12:12; 1Thessalonians 4:11; 2Timothy 2:15. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'Literally, a setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject; hence, application of mind of books, to arts or science, or to any subject, for the purpose of learning what is not before known. Hammond generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study. Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace. 2. Attention; meditation; contrivance. Just men they seem, and all their study bent to worship God aright and know his works. 3. Any particular branch of learning that is studied. Let your studies be directed by some learned and judicious friend. 4. Subject of attention. The Holy Scriptures, especially the New Testament, are her daily study. 5. A building or an apartment devoted to study or to literary employment. 6. Deep cogitation; perplexity. Little used.
STUDY, v.i. L. 1. to fix the mind closely upon a subject; to muse; to dwell upon in thought. I found a moral first, and then studied for a fable. 2. to apply the mind to books. He studies eight hours in the day. 3. to endeavor diligently. That ye study to be quiet and do your own business. 1 thessaloni and 4'. Thompson Chain Topics provides references for the word Study as: 'Of the Bible Enjoined: De 17:19; Isa 34:16; Joh 5:39; Ac 17:11; Ro 15:4. See Knowledge. See Wisdom; Sought'.

Please see the note for Colossians 2S8 about the word shew. This is the old-English spelling for the word show. The functional definition is: 'To exhibit or present to the view of others'.

Please see the note for Philippians 1:9-11 for links to every place in the Bible where we find forms of the word approve along with links from other commentators and a definition. The functional definition for this word is: 'To entertain a favorable opinion concerning. The Biblical and archaic use conveys a much stronger meaning and is equivalent to its use in legal formalities of today, "to approve a bill"'.

We find forms of the word workman in: Exodus 35:35; Exodus 38:23; Song 7:1; Isaiah 40:19; Isaiah 40:20; Jeremiah 10:3; Jeremiah 10:9; Hosea 8:6; Matthew 10:9-10; 2Timothy 2:15. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'n. work and man. 1. Any man employed in labor, whether in tillage or manufactures. 2. By way of eminence, a skillful artificer or laborer.'. Please also see the notes for Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13; 2Corinthians 4:8-12; Galatians C2-S10 and Philippians 1:1 about the word works. The functional definition for this word is: ' In a general sense, to move, or to move one way and the other; to perform'. Please also see the note for Romans C11S10 about the phrase works are seen of men. Please also see the note for Psalms 119:23 about the phrase according to works. Please also see the note for Philippians 3:2 about the phrase evil workers. Please also see the note for Hebrews 4:12 about the phrase evil heart. Please also see the notes for Romans 8:1-LJC; Galatians C5-S6 and Revelation 19:2-LJC about the phrase judged by works. Please also see the note for Romans C3S27 about the phrase law of works. Please also see the note for 2Corinthians 6:1 about the word workers.

Please see the notes for Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13; 2Corinthians 4:8-12; Galatians C2-S10 and Philippians 1:1 about the word works. Please also see the following notes about works: law of works: Romans C3S27. works are seen of men: Romans C11S10. works: Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13. judged by works: Romans 8:1-LJC; Revelation 19:2-LJC. The functional definition is: 'In a general sense, to move, or to move one way and the other; to perform; as in popular language it is said, a mill or machine works well'.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:19 about the word need. Please also see the note for Romans C13S8 for links, and a note, for every place in the Bible where we find the phrase must needs. The functional definition, of the word need, is: 'to be in want'. However, within our sentence, when God says that His workman...needs, we can be positive that God will supply that shame unless the workman eliminated the need before God supplies it.

We find forms of the word rightly in: Genesis 27:36; Luke 7:43; Luke 20:21; 2Timothy 2:15. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'adv. 1. According to justice; according to the divine will or moral rectitude; as duty rightly performed. 2. Properly; fitly; suitably; as a person rightly named. 3. According to truth or fact; not erroneously. He has rightly conjectured. 4. Honestly; uprightly. 5. Exactly. Thou didst not rightly see.'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Study. Heb 4:11; 2Pe 1:10,15; 3:14 (Gr) approved. Ac 2:22; Ro 14:18; 16:10; 2Co 5:9; 10:18; Ga 1:10; 1Th 2:4 exp: 2Co 7:11; 13:7. a workman. Mt 13:52; 2Co 3:6; 6:3-4; 1Ti 4:6,12-16 rightly. Mt 13:52; Mr 4:33; Lu 12:42; Joh 21:15-17; Ac 20:27; 1Co 2:6; 3:1-2; 2Co 4:2; 1Th 5:14; Heb 5:11-14'.

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C2-S13 (Verse 16) Treat profane and vain babblings differently than the word of truth.

But shun profane and vain babblings:
for they will increase unto more ungodliness..

This sentence starts with But, which means it is related to the subject of the prior sentence while it goes in a different direction. Please see the note above for more of the details related to this sentence. This sentence has a colon in it which divides it into two equivalent sections. The second section starts with for and it tells us why we are to shun profane and vain babblings. This section also provides us with a general principal of wisdom. We should shun anything that will increase unto more ungodliness.

We find forms of the word shun only in: Acts 20:27 and our current sentence. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to avoid; to keep clear of; not to fall on or come in contact with; as, to shun rocks and shoals in navigation. In shunning Scylla, take care to avoid to avoid Charybdis. 2. to avoid; not to mix or associate with; as, to shun evil company. 3. to avoid; not to practice; as, to shun vice. 4. to avoid; to escape; as, to shun a blow. 5. to avoid; to decline; to neglect. I have not shunned to declare the whole counsel of God. Acts 20'. These things that do not require you to think (amusement) are what Paul contrasts to the word of truth and he tells us to shun them.

Variations of the word profane appear 52 times in the Bible. It means 'to pervert the use of something holy'. People using the Lord's name to swear by when they lie is profane. But science falsely so called (1Timothy 6:20) is also equated with the profane. (The reader would benefit from a proper Word Study of this word.) please see the note for 1Timothy 1:8-11 about the word profane.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C15S1 and Galatians C2-S16 about the word vain. The functional definition is: 'Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance'. The word vain in this sentence is best matched with the whited sepulchers of Matthew 23:27. That is, things that look good so long as you don't look too close or too deeply.

We find forms of the word babbling in: Proverbs 23:29; 1Timothy 6:20; 2Timothy 2:16. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'ppr. Talking idly; telling secrets. 2. Uttering a succession of murmuring sounds; as a babbling stream.3. In hunting, babbling is when the hounds are too busy after they have found a good scent.
BAB'BLING, n. Foolish talk. 1 Tim.vi.'. This word comes from the word Babel Where the Lord confused the language of men and they could not understand each other. Just as someone talking to you in a language that you do not understand is foolishness, so also is babbling foolishness.

Please see the note for Colossians 2:18-29 about the word increase. The functional definition is: 'To become greater in bulk or quantity; to grow; to augment'.

Please see the notes for Romans 4:5 and 2Peter 2:9-LJC about the word ungodly . The functional definition of the word ungodly is: 'A lost person whose lifestyle shows that they are lost and have nothing to do with obeying and trusting God'. The functional definition of the word unrighteous is: 'not righteous' which is not 'doing the right thing, as defined by God, the right way and at the right time with the right purpose'. In addition, we have other Biblical categories of people which get confused with these two categories. For example, the just are saved and live lives which prove their salvation. the ungodly are lost and live lives which prove that they are lost. the unjust claim to be saved but live lives which seem to prove that they are lost. We are to deal with the unjust by telling them that their lives seem to prove that they are lost but we are not to judge them as lost because that is the providence of our Lord.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'shun. 2Ti 2:14; 1Ti 4:7; 6:20; Tit 1:14; 3:9 for. 2Ti 3:13; Ezr 10:10; Ho 12:1; 1Co 5:6; 15:33; 2Th 2:7-8; Tit 1:11; Heb 12:15; 2Pe 2:2,18; Re 13:3,14'.

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C2-S14 (Verse 17-18) Some actions and words have spiritual effects.

Equivalent Section: the spiritual effect of their words.

And their word will eat as doth a canker:.

Equivalent Section: the physical effect of their words.

First Step: Identify the source of doctrinal error.

of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;.

Second Step: Identify the two-part doctrinal error.

Who concerning the truth have erred,
saying that the resurrection is past already;.

Third Step: Identify the results of doctrinal error.

and overthrow the faith of some..

What the Bible calls a canker is similat to what we call a cancer today. This sentence starts with And, which means it is added to the prior sentence. That is, in addition to profane and vain babblings causing an increase unto more ungodliness, they will also eat as doth a canker. Some cancers cause a slow death and some cause a relatively quick death but (almost) all rob people of all desire to live before they cause a painful death. We naturally want to fight these errors and prove them wrong. However, we are told to not fight but to shun them, as we are also told in Proverbs 9.

In the second section of this sentence Paul names two people and their doctrinal error. We could search historical documents trying to find out about them but they are a type of person found in all churches. God has Paul name them so there is no doubt about their being real people. They first were convinced of an error and then they overthrew the faith of others by teaching their error. The whole argument about the resurrection was going for years between the Sadducees and Pharisees and should have been ended with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, some people keep dragging up old traditional religious errors and claiming that we 'abandoned the old better ways and need to return to them'. Some 'old ways' need to remain dead. Toavoid these problems we need to verify that any doctrine we accept is literally said in at least two places in the Bible. We also need to check the fruit of a doctrine and shun anything that excuses sin or excuses people lessening their personal relationship with God. (Formalizing our personal relationship by switching to ceremonies or skipping church or not tithing other ways of avoiding personal responsibilities).

Notice that Paul says that these people had overthrow the faith of some. We saw in 1:5 that Timothy started with unfeigned faith. Then in 1:13 we saw that Timothy needed to Hold fast the form of sound words in order to keep his unfeigned faith. Now we read that the faith of some has been overthrown by people who convinced them to put their trust in the false words of religion instead of the sound words of the word of God.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S2; 1Corinthians C11S37 and Hebrews 13:10 about the word eat. The functional definition is: 'Besides the common use of this word, it is employed symbolically for to 'consume, destroy:' they "eat up my people as they eat bread." Ps 14:4; cf. Pr 30:14; Hab 3:14; 2Ti 2:17. Also for receiving, digesting, and delighting in God's words'.

We find forms of the word canker only in: our current sentence and James 5:3. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'A disease incident to trees, which causes the bark to rot and fall. 2. A popular name of certain small eroding ulcers in the mouth, particularly of children. they are generally covered with a whitish slough. 3. A virulent, corroding ulcer; or anything that corrodes, corrupts or destroys. Sacrilege may prove an eating canker. And their word will eat as doth a canker. Tim. 2. 4. An eating, corroding, virulent humor; corrosion. 5. A kind of rose, the dog rose. 6. In farriery, a running thrush of the worst kind; a disease in horses feet, discharging a fetid matter from the cleft in the middle of the frog.
CANKER, v.i. to grow corrupt; to decay, or waste away by means of any noxious cause; to grow rusty, or to be oxydized, as a metal'. The Morrish Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'The word of those who err from the truth eats like a 'gangrene' which consumes the flesh. Such teaching saps the vitals of Christianity. 2Ti 2:17'. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines this word as: 'a gangrene or mortification which gradually spreads over the whole body (2Ti 2:17). In Jas 5:3 "cankered" means "rusted" (R.V.) or tarnished'. The functional definition for this word is: 'A gangrene or mortification which gradually spreads over the whole body (2Ti 2:17). Think of it as similar to cancer'.

Hymenaeus is only named here and in 1Timothy 1:20. Philetus is only named here.

Please see the note for Romans 1:1 about the word concern. The functional definition is: 'Pertaining to; regarding; having relation to'. We also find this word, in this book, in: 2Timothy 3:8.

Please see the note for Hebrews 9:7-10 about the word error. The functional definition is: ' A wandering or deviation from the truth; a mistake in judgment, by which men assent to or believe what is not true'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C10S2 about the word overthrown. That note has links to every place in the Bible where We find this word. The functional definition is: 'To turn upside down'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'their word. Na 3:15; Jas 5:3 canker. or, gangrene. Hymenaeus. 1Ti 1:20 General references. exp: Le 13:7,35; De 20:18; Ga 5:9.
concerning. Mt 22:29; 1Ti 1:19; 6:10,21; Heb 3:10; Jas 5:19 that. 1Co 15:12; Col 3:1 exp: Mr 15:32.voverthrow. 2Ti 2:14; Mt 15:13; Lu 8:13; 22:31-32; Ac 5:39; 1Co 11:19; 1Jo 2:19vGeneral references. exp: De 20:18; 1Ti 5:15'.

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C2-S15 (Verse 19) No matter what errors are taught, our foundation is sure because it is backed by God.

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure,
having this seal,
The Lord knoweth them that are his..

This section started back in C2-S10 where we were told that It is a faithful saying because the saying was based upon the character of God. That saying was that God rewards faithful obedient children and punishes others. Since C2-S10 Paul has given two sets of examples and this sentence is the second half of the second example. We were told that God rewards those who study...the word of truth (and obey it) while God also punishes those people who follow profane and vain babblings which oppose the word of truth. Then we were told that God punishes people (Hymenaeus and Philetus) who teach doctrinal error and He also punishes their followers. Now we are told that God rewards those people who trust His foundation. So we see that God punishes people who teach or follow doctrinal error weather they are lost or saved and He rewards people who obey His word of truth (which only saved people do). We also see that those people who teach and follow doctrinal error persecute those people who teach and follow God's truth.

Now (in this sentence) Paul is telling us that those people who teach and follow God's truth have a signed and sealed legal assurance that is based upon the character of God Himself. We know that this assurance is a legal one that will hold up in God's Court because it is the Lord Who knoweth them that are his and God uses His role as Lord for legal matters such as our judgment. Further, a seal is used in legal matters and God sealed His word of truth (Isaiah 8:16; Daniel 12:4).

Moving on, the foundation of our legal assurance is Jesus Christ and our personal relationship with Him (Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:19-22) which results in our doing righteous acts (Proverbs 10:25; Luke 6:46-49; 1Corinthians 3:9-11; Hebrews 6:1-2) in obedience to His word of truth. God has sealed His Son (John 3:33-36; John 6:27) and has sealed our personal salvation (2Corinthians 1:21-22; Ephesians 1:12-14; 4:30) and we already saw that God sealed His word of truth. Notice that all of these things that God sealed and what Paul is saying in this section match. This section ties our assurance of salvation and eternal reward to our studying God's word of truth and our rightly dividing the word of truth which results in our obeying it instead of obeying saved men who teach doctrinal error.

One of the reasons that people end up doubting their personal salvation is because they doubt God's word of truth or they do not obey it and have the righteous acts which are part of our seal. If God's seal (the Holy Spirit) can't keep a book secure then how can He keep your soul secure? Notice that all religions that preach losing salvation also have abandoned the KJV-1611. This sentence tells us that The Lord knoweth them that are his and He also knoweth His word of truth, which is the foundation of our salvation. Either He can preserve both or He can't. Please also see the This sentence in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for more details.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C3S12 about the word foundation. The functional definition is: 'The basis of an edifice; that part of a building which lies on the ground; usually a wall of stone which supports the edifice'.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S5 and 1Corinthians C15S1 about the word stand. Please see the note for Galatians C5S1 about the phrase stand fast. The functional definition is: 'To be on its foundation; not to be overthrown or demolished'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C9S5 about the word seal. The functional definition is: 'A piece of metal or other hard substance, usually round or oval, on which is ingraved some image or device, and sometimes a legend or inscription. this is used by individuals, corporate bodies and states, for making impressions on wax upon instruments of writing, as an evidence of their authenticity'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'their word. Na 3:15; Jas 5:3 canker. or, gangrene. Hymenaeus. 1Ti 1:20
concerning. Mt 22:29; 1Ti 1:19; 6:10,21; Heb 3:10; Jas 5:19 that. 1Co 15:12; Col 3:1 exp: Mr 15:32. overthrow. 2Ti 2:14; Mt 15:13; Lu 8:13; 22:31-32; Ac 5:39; 1Co 11:19; 1Jo 2:19'.

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C2-S16 (Verse 19) Put up or shut up.

And,
Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity..

Because this sentence and the prior sentence are in the same verse, they both have the same note in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. As pointed out there, not all saved people meet the Biblical requirements to be in Christ and have Christ in them. In the Bible, let is not used for something that is optional but it is used for something that God has allowed and expects us to follow. That is, let is used for a command from God.

Lots of People 'claim' the rewards of being Biblical Christians, but it is not what we 'claim' but what God determines at the judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10 2Corinthians 5:10-11) which determines what we receive. This sentence is very clear. If you are going to 'claim' to be a Biblical Christian (and receive the rewards of such) then you had better 'stop your sinning'. In the Bible, iniquity is ongoing repeated sin as opposed to messing up once in a while or some sin that God has just revealed to you for correction. 1John 1 deals with sins of the saved and it clearly says that God cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That means that He helps us to 'stop our sinning' as part of forgiving us our sins. Someone who refuses to depart from iniquity and 'stop their sinning' does not meet the Biblical requirements to be called a Christian and they are disobeying this direct commandment from God through Paul.

Please see the notes for 1Corinthians C1S1 and Philippians 2:9-11 about the word name. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S4 about the phrase the name. That note has links to every place in the New Testament where the phrase in the name. occurs along with links to where similar phrases occur in the New Testament. The functional definition is: 'by way of the power associated with the name'. Our current sentence is the only place in 2Timothy where We find this word. Please also see the note for 1Peter 4:14-LJC about the phrase name of Christ.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 12:8 about the word depart. The functional definition is: 'To go or move from'.

Please see the note for James 3:6 about the word iniquity. It has links to every place in the New Testament where We find this word along with the full definition from Webster's 1828 and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'ongoing lifestyle sins'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the foundation. Pr 10:25; Isa 14:32; 28:16; Mt 7:25; Lu 6:48; 1Co 3:10-11; Eph 2:20; 1Ti 6:19; Heb 11:10; Re 21:14 standeth. Mt 24:24; Mr 13:22; Ro 8:31-35; 9:11; Heb 6:18-19; 1Jo 2:19 sure. or, steady. Ps 112:6; 125:1-2 exp: Ps 19:7. having. Hag 2:23; Zec 3:9; 4:7-9; Eph 4:30 exp: Re 7:2. The Lord. Nu 16:5; Ps 1:6; 37:18,28; Na 1:7; Mt 7:23; Lu 13:27; Joh 10:14,27-30; 13:18; Ro 8:28; 11:2; 1Co 8:3; Ga 4:9; Re 17:8 Let. Nu 6:27; Ps 97:10; Isa 63:19; 65:15; Mt 28:19; Ac 9:14; 11:26; 15:17; Ro 15:9,20; 1Co 1:2; Eph 3:15; Re 2:13; 3:8; 22:4 depart. Job 28:28; Ps 34:14; 37:27; Pr 3:7; Ro 12:9; 2Co 7:1; Eph 4:17-22; 5:1-11; Col 3:5-8; Tit 2:11-14; 1Pe 1:13-19; 2Pe 1:4-10; 3:14; 1Jo 3:7-10 exp: Pr 13:19'.

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C2-S17 (Verse 20) Paul's illustration for the judgment that saved will receive.

First Step is to determine the quality of a vessel.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver,
but also of wood and of earth;.

Second Step is to determine the use of a vessel based upon its quality.

and some to honour,
and some to dishonour..

This sentence is closely paralleled with 1Corinthians C3S13.

Paul is giving an illustration that made more sense to people in his day because vessels were far more expensive than they are today because each was hand made in Paul's day. vessels of gold and of silver were used for food by those who could afford them because they did not allow bacteria to grow within the vessel itself. In fact, silver is used to kill bacteria (corrupting infections).

In Paul's day, vessels of...wood and of earth were used for dirty jobs such as being chamber pots. They could not be sealed perfectly, if they had any sealing at all. Thus, they collected bacteria within the structure of the vessel and could not be cleaned well enough to be fit for use where a clean vessel was required. (Notice that we still have the theme of a seal and the major job of a seal is to keep out corruption.)

Paul is giving this illustration as the basis of what he will say in the next sentence. Those people who refused to be purified of corrupting sin (bacteria) will only be used for 'dirty jobs' in eternity (and will doubt their salvation because their seal. is not reliable). Those people that allow God to clean the corruption of sin out of their lives will be used for 'clean jobs' in eternity (bosses). We determine the type of position we will have for eternity by how much we allow God to clean sin out of our lives now.

Please see the note for 1:16-17 about the word house. The functional definition is: 'a building or shed intended or used as a habitation or shelter for animals of any kind; but appropriately, a building or edifice for the habitation of man; a dwelling place, mansion or abode for any of the human species'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:7 about the word vessel. The functional definition is: 'Something to contain another thing'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C3S13 about the word gold. The functional definition is: 'A precious metal of a bright yellow color, and the most ductile and malleable of all the metals. It is the heaviest metal except platina; and being a very dense, fixed substance, and not liable to be injured by air, it is well fitted to be used as coin, or a representative of commodities in commerce It is the most valuable item mentioned in this sentence'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C3S13 about the word silver. The functional definition is: 'A metal of a white color and lively brilliancy. It has neither taste nor smell. It is less valuable than gold but more valuable than other things mentioned here'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C3S13 about the word wood. That note has links to every place in the New Testament where We find this word. In general, it is used to indicate something of little value. The functional definition is: 'The substance of trees'.

Please see the notes for 2Corinthians 5:1 and Philippians 2:9-11 about the word earth. The functional definition is: 'The physical soil of this planet. It is also used for things carnal in contrast with things heavenly'.

Please see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word dishonour. Please see the note for Romans C12S8 about the word honour. The functional definition is: 'The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation. A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country. Matt.13'. In addition, this word is used for financial support given to someone in honor of their work for the Lord.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'in a. 1Co 3:9,16-17; Eph 2:22; 1Ti 3:15; Heb 3:2-6; 1Pe 2:5 vessels. Ex 27:3; Ezr 1:6; 6:5; La 4:2; Da 5:2; 2Co 4:7 and some to honour. Ro 9:21-23'.

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C2-S18 (Verse 21) God gives a conditional promise through Paul.

If a man therefore purge himself from these,
he shall be a vessel unto honour,
sanctified,
and meet for the master's use,
and prepared unto every good work..

Paul gives several aspects of a promise that is conditional. Once again we see that God says we must meet His condition in order to receive the promise that people like to 'claim' while they refuse to meet God's condition. Notice also that God's Word says If a man therefore purge himself from these. This says that we must do the work (a man...purge himself). Yet other places (like 1John 1) says that God does the purge/purify action. Once more we need the true Biblical definition of faith to understand this. God gave us a free will and will not take it away. When we act in faith we obey God's command to prove that He has our free will permission to act in our life. Without that, Satan would accuse God of taking away our free will with His 'overwhelming grace' like sin takes away our free will. After our act of obedience gives God permission to work in our life, He does all of the true work and gives us credit for His work. That is how a man...purges himself even though it is God Who does all of the actual work.

Notice also that this condition has a therefore in it. People try to clean up their lives and fail (even saved ones) because they do not know of (or ignore) this therefore. Wanting to be clean in this world is not enough. We have to be motivated by eternal rewards in order to remember that God is watching even when no other person sees our sin.

Now that we have dealt with the condition we can deal with the promises. First of all, the promise of being a vessel unto honour is a promise of eternal reward based upon the prior sentence. Next, someone who is sanctified is 'Made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services' (Webster's 1828 ) in this life and for eternity. The phrase meet for the master's use means he can be used any way that the master (Lord) wants. Some people disqualify themselves for some jobs, as we saw in the prior sentence. This master's use is talking about here in this life and also in eternity. Finally, prepared unto every good work means that God will enable (prepare) us for every good work that He decides to use us in.

Finally, we need to consider the phrase from these. Many people will consider the word these to refer to the gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth. However, those items are neither good nor evil. They were used as illustrations in the analogy of the prior sentence. No, what we are to purge ourselves from are the sinful things mentioned earlier within our chapter. That is: entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, strive unlawfully, denying Him, striving about words to no profit, wrongly dividing the word of truth, profane and vain babblings, doctrinal error taught by religious leaders and iniquity.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C5S7 about the word purge. That note has the full definition from Webster's 1828 along with links to every place in the New Testament where We find this word. The functional definition is: 'To cleanse or purify by separating and carrying off whatever is impure, heterogeneous, foreign or superfluous; as, to purge the body by evacuation'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 4:7 about the word vessel. The functional definition is: 'Something to contain another thing'.

Please see the note for Jude 1:1 which has links to every verse in the New Testament which uses a form of the word sanctified along with the definition from Webster's 1828 and with identifying several things which are sanctified. The functional definition is: 'set aside from sin and for the use of God'. Please also see the notes for 2Thessalonians 2:13-LJC; Hebrews 12:2-LJC about the phrase salvation through sanctification.

Please see the note for Romans C1S15 about the word meet. The functional definition is: 'come together and match in every area'.

Please see the notes for Romans C7S16; Romans C11S26 and 2Corinthians 5:10 about the word good. Please see the note for Romans C11S26 about the word goodness. Please see the note for Mark 2:28-LJC about the phrase Good Friday. In the Bible, good is defined as: 'what comes from God'.

Please see the notes for Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13; 2Corinthians 4:8-12; Galatians C2-S10 and Philippians 1:1 about the word works. Please also see the following notes about works: law of works: Romans C3S27. works are seen of men: Romans C11S10. works: Romans C9S8; 1Corinthians C3S13. judged by works: Romans 8:1-LJC; Revelation 19:2-LJC. The functional definition is: 'In a general sense, to move, or to move one way and the other; to perform; as in popular language it is said, a mill or machine works well'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'purge. Ps 119:9; Isa 1:25; 52:11; Jer 15:19; Mal 3:3; 1Co 5:7; 2Co 7:1; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:3 a vessel. 2Ti 2:20; 1Pe 1:7 exp: Ho 8:8. meet. Ac 9:15 prepared. 2Ti 3:17; Eph 2:10; Tit 3:1,8,14'.

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C2-S19 (Verse 22) A pure heart versus a non-pure heart.

Equivalent Section: How to deal with a non-pure heart.

Flee also youthful lusts:.

Equivalent Section: How to have with a pure heart.

but follow righteousness,
faith,
charity,
peace,
with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart..

This sentence is divided into two equivalent, but polar opposite, sections by a colon followed by a but. The first section seems clear on its own but takes on additional meaning when we realize that it is the polar opposite of the other section of this sentence. Thus, rage and anger and pride and everything that goes against peace are youthful lusts. Likewise, being selfish and self-centered goes against charity and these things are definitely associated with youth and those who refuse to 'grow up' while they age. Further, how often have we heard that them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart are 'boring'? While I could go on with each of the things mentioned by Paul (along with their opposites), many others could probably do a better job. However, the main thing to consider in this sentence is the command to flee. Don't even consider how you could 'win the lost' or anything else that would compromise this command in any way. Many good people have been overcome by sin when they disobeyed this command for 'good reasons'.

Please see the note for Luke 8:34 about the words flee / fled. The word fled is the past-tense form of the word flee. Webster's 1828 defines the word flee as: 'to run with rapidity, as from danger; to attempt to escape; to hasten from danger or expected evil. the enemy fled at the first fire. Arise, take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt. Matt. 2. 2. to depart; to leave; to hasten away. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4. 3. to avoid; to keep at a distance from. Flee fornication; flee from idolatry. 1Cor. 6:10. Toflee the question or from the question, in legislation, is said of a legislator who, when a question is to be put to the house, leaves his seat to avoid the dilemma of voting against his conscience, or giving an unpopular vote. In the phrases in which this verb appears to be transitive, there is really an ellipsis'.

Please see the note for Mark 10:20 about the word youth. The functional definition for this word is: 'The part of life that succeeds to childhood. In a general sense, youth denotes the whole early part of life, from infancy to manhood; but it is not unusual to divide the stages of life into infancy, childhood, youth, and manhood'.

Please also see the note for Romans 13:14 for links to place in the Bible where the word lust is used along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . The functional definition is: 'Longing desire; eagerness to possess or enjoy; as the lust of gain. Concupiscence; carnal appetite; unlawful desire of carnal pleasure'.

Please see the notes for Romans C1S10 and Galatians C2-S16 about the word righteous / righteousness. Please see the note for Ephesians 4:7-LJC about the righteousness of the Law. Please see the notes for Romans C3S7 and Romans C1S16 about the word unrighteousness. Please see the note for Philippians 1:9-11 about the fruit of righteousness. Please see the note for Romans C4S7 about the phrase imputeth righteousness. Please see the note for Romans C2S5 about obeying unrighteousness. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 2:22; 3:16 and 4:8. The functional definition is: 'Doing the right thing the right way and at the right time with all defined by God'.

Please see the notes for Romans C3S25; 1Corinthians C1S3; 2Corinthians C1S17; Galatians C3S27; Ephesians 6:23-LJC; Philippians 1:25-26 and 2Timothy C1S2 about the word faith. The functional definition is: 'an action word that is based upon a belief in a promise found within the Bible with the action dictated by the Bible and the understanding that our action does not force God to act nor determines when or how God acts but proves that of our own free will we are giving God permission to act in and through our life to do what He promised within His Word'. As explained many times on this site, faith is an action word which Hebrews 11:1 defines as: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11 then goes on to list actions done by the elders but notice that what is in your head and heart (a belief) does not have substance, which can be sensed by others, until a person acts on their belief (faith) and produces works. Further, what is in your head and heart (a belief) can not be separated from you in order to be evidence in court. No, true faith produces works and it is the works which 'belong to' (are the results of) faith which are remembered by God and His workers.

Charity is used 28 times in the New Testament and not used in the Old Testament. 12 of these usages are in 1Corinthians with 1Corinthians 13 having the most references and giving us our basic definition. In fact, the entire chapter is written expressly to teach us about this word. Please see the note for 1Corinthians 8:1 for references to every place in the Bible where forms of the word charity are used. Please also see the note at the start of 1Corinthians 13 about the difference between love and charity. Please also consider everything in that chapter together as God saw fit to devote this entire chapter to the subject of charity. Please see the note for Colossians 3:14 which has an explanation of this word including several Bible references.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C1S3 about the word call. That note has links to notes in every New Testament book where there are links to every place where the particular book uses this word. The functional definition is: 'To command another to help or to cry for help, hence to pray (Ge 4:26)'. Please also see the note for Romans 10:13; 2Thessalonians 3:1-LJC; Ephesians 5:8-LJC and 1John 4:14-LJC about the phrase call upon the Lord. The note for Romans 10:13 has links to every place in the Bible where we find the words call and Lord used together, along with a small note on each reference.

Please see the note for Romans C14S27 about the word pure. We find this word in 1:3 and 2:22. The functional definition is: '100%'.

Please also see the notes for Romans C10S6; 2Corinthians C2S4 and Colossians C2S1. The functional definition is: 'Our heart controls the same things as our soul only where the soul deals with the long term the heart deals with the short term and we control our heart directly while the soul is the accumulated actions of our heart. Both are the way we think (mind), the way we emotionally respond to circumstances (emotions) and the method we use to make decisions (will)'. Please also see the note for Galatians C6S6 about the phrase LORD looketh on the heart. Please also see the note for Ephesians C4S8 about the phrase wicked heart.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 8:1 for links to every sentence in the word of God which use any form of the word charityThe functional definition of charity is: 'Showing God's love to others regardless of who they are. Charity differs from love in that love is shown to people we know'. Please also see the note for Romans 14:15 about the word charitably.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'Flee. Pr 6:5; 1Co 6:18; 10:14; 1Ti 6:11 youthful. Ps 119:9; Ec 11:9-10; 1Pe 2:11 follow. 1Ti 4:12; 6:11; Heb 12:14; 3Jo 1:11 charity. 1Co 14:1 peace. Ro 14:17,19; 15:5-6; 1Co 1:10; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:11 call. 1Ch 29:17-18; Ps 17:1; 66:18-19; Pr 15:8; Ac 9:14; 1Co 1:2; 1Ti 2:8 out. 1Ti 1:5; 4:12'.

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C2-S20 (Verse 23) Additional thing to avoid but not flee.

But foolish and unlearned questions avoid,
knowing that they do gender strifes..

Proverbs 9 tells us He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner... As mentioned earlier, Proverbs 9 provides instructions on how wisdom builds a ministry and many of the thoughts of that Proverb are similar to this chapter. (See the notes of that Study by following the link.) there are just certain people and questions that we are to avoid because there can be nothing positive come from those things. Devils cause people to ask these types of questions to interfere with the work of the Lord. Things that appear only once in the Bible (like why giants were born and reported in Genesis) are not the basis of doctrine. They show how God applied His truth under one set of circumstances. What is important are the truths found in that story which can also be found in other places of the Bible. However, the specific circumstances which only occurred once and which we are not living under now are not things to waste our time on. Questions about things that can not be answered doctrinally, because they only occur once, are the types of foolish and unlearned questions which Paul says to avoid.

Please see the note for Titus 3:3 about the word foolish. The functional definition is: 'Void of understanding or sound judgment; weak in intellect; applied to general character'. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 11:16 about the word fool. Please also see the note for Romans C9S28 about the condemnation of fools. The functional definition is: 'One who is destitute of reason, or the common powers of understanding; an idiot. Some persons are born fools, and are called natural fools; others may become fools by some injury done to the brain'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S25 about the word unlearned. The functional definition is: 'Not learned; ignorant; illiterate; not instructed'. Please also see the note for 1Corinthians 14:31 about the word learn.

Please see the note for Mark 1:27 about the word question. The functional definition for this word is: 'The act of asking; an interrogatory; as, to examine by question and answer'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 6:20 about the word avoid. The functional definition for this word is: 'To shun; to keep at a distance from; that is, literally, to go or be wide from'.

We find forms of the word gender only in: Leviticus 19:19; Joshua 12:13; Job 21:10; Job 38:29; Galatians 4:24 and 2Timothy 2:23. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'Properly, kind; sort. 2. A sex, male or female. Hence, 3. In grammar, a difference in words to express distinction of sex; usually a difference of termination in nouns, adjectives and participles, to express the distinction of male and female. But although this was the original design of different terminations, yet in the progress of language, other words having no relation to one sex or the other, came to have genders assigned them by custom. Words expressing males are said to be of the masculine gender; those expressing females, of the feminine gender; and in some languages, words expressing things having no sex, are of the neuter or neither gender.
GEN'DER, v.t. to beget; but engender is more generally used.
GEN'DER, v.i. to copulate; to breed. Levit. 19.'. in this sentence, the functional definition for this word is: 'To beget'. in this sentence, we can see that the intended offspring of foolish and unlearned questions is strife.

Please see the note for Romans C15S25 about the word strive. Please see the notes for Romans C13S16 and Galatians C5S20 about the word strife. The note for Romans 13:13 has links to every place in the New Testament where we find the word strife along with a definition and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'Exertion or contention for superiority; contest of emulation, either by intellectual or physical efforts'. Our current sentence is the only place in 1Timothy where We find this word.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'General references. 2Ti 2:14,16; 1Ti 1:4; 4:7; 6:4-5; Tit 3:9'.

Home Start of Chapter

C2-S21 (Verse 24-26) Four steps to take in order to minister which are based upon what was taught in this chapter.

First Step: Avoid even the appearance of fighting.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive;.

Second Step: Keep attitudes which reveal control by Christ.

but be gentle unto all men,
apt to teach,
patient,
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;.

Third Step: Wait for God to work in their life.

if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;.

Fourth Step: Show them how to get God's help to recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.

And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,
who are taken captive by him at his will..

These four steps are hard to do and prove impossible to do without lots of prayer and seeking of God's control by the minister. Our flesh and the world and the devil all work to get us to react in a way other than how we are instructed in this sentence. Many times (when we finally find someone actually willing to listen) the phone will ring or someone will interrupt with something that they believe is an emergency. If that doesn't happen the person themselves will keep getting distracted from the main point or acting in ways to make us angry. The key to this entire sentence is to keep in mind what Paul says about these people: they oppose themselves and we are trying to help them overcome that problem. That requires the preacher to stay In meekness, which means having the power to overcome the other person but not using that power personally while allowing God to control that power. Many times people have said 'I just wanted to slap them!!' but didn't do so because it was the wrong thing to do.

in this sentence Paul warns us to not strive, which is 'to struggle in a dispute'. As it has been said many times, 'The battle is the Lord's' and so long as we try to fight in our own strength, God will not get involved. After getting ourselves out of the way, we need to let God work through us by having the attitudes listed in Paul's Second Step. Third we need to remember that it is not guaranteed (peradventure) that God will work but we are still to look for God to turn them (give them repentance) to His truth.

Finally, (in the Fourth Step) we are to remember that they may recover themselves, or they may not. However, they must do the steps of faith, not us and that often involves them 'falling down' a lot just like a baby 'falls down' a lot while learning to walk. Further, we need to remember that they are caught in the snare of the devil and it is hard to get free from a snare and not all people succeed. When they do get free we need to remind them that they were taken captive by him at his will and teach them how to avoid the devil's snare so that they don't end up in a worse place than they were in. We also need to warn those who are not in a snare of the devil that such things exist and are to be avoided.

Please see the notes for Romans C14S4; 1Corinthians C7S27 and Ephesians C6S4 about the word servant. The functional definition is: 'A person, male or female, that attends another for the purpose of performing menial offices for him, or who is employed by another for such offices or for other labor, and is subject to his command'. Our current sentence is the only place in 2Timothy where We find this word.

Please see the note for 2:5 about the word strive. Please also see the note for Romans 15:30-32 which has links to everywhere that the Bible uses the word strive along with the definition from Webster's 1828 . The functional definition is: 'to endeavor with earnestness; to labor hard'.

Please also see the note for Galatians 5:22-23 for links to every verse in the Bible which uses any form of the word gentle along with a definition and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'Softness in manners'.

Please also see the note for 1Timothy 3:2 for links to every place in the Bible where we find the word apt. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines it as: 'Fit; suitable; as, he used very apt metaphors. 2. Having a tendency; liable; used of things; as, wheat on moist land is apt to blast or be winter-killed. 3. Inclined; disposed customarily; used of persons; as, men are too apt to slander others. 4. Ready; quick; used of the mental powers; as, a pupil apt to learn; an opt wit. 5. Qualified; fit. All the men of might, strong and apt for war. 2Kings 24'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 3:2 about the word apt. The functional definition is: ' Fit; suitable'.

Please see the note for Romans 12:10-13 which has links to every verse, in Romans, which uses any form of the word patient along with the Webster's 1828 definition. The functional definition is: 'Having the quality of enduring evils without murmuring or fretfulness; sustaining afflictions of body or mind with fortitude, calmness or Christian submission to the divine will'. Please also see the notes for Romans C5S2 and Colossians C1S3 about the word patience.

Please see the note for Galatians C6S1 about the word meek. That note has links to every place in the Bible where We find this word along with a note on the usage within each verse. That note also has definitions from a couple of different places and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: 'Strength under control of God's Holy Spirit'. Our current sentence is the only place in 2Timothy where We find this word.

Please see the note for Philippians 4:12 about the word instruct. That note has links to every place in the New Testament where We find this word along with a definition and links from other commentators. The functional definition is: ' to teach; to inform the mind; to educate; to impart knowledge to one who was destitute of it'.

Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:8-11 about the word given. Please see the note for 2Corinthians 9:7 about the word giver. Please see the note for 1Corinthians C14S19 and Ephesians C5S2 about the phrase giving of thanks. This is the only place in our epistle where we find the word gift. Please see the note for 1:7 for links to every place where our epistle uses the word give. The functional definition is: ' what one person gives to another without compensation'.

We find forms of the word oppose in: Job 30:21; Acts 18:6; 2Thessalonians 2:4; 2Timothy 2:25. Webster's 1828 defines this word as: 'The change of n into s is unusual. Two different verbs may be used, as in L. fero, tuli. See Pose. 1. to set; against; to put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or countervail, and thus to hinder defeat, destroy or prevent effect; as, to oppose one argument to another. I may without presumption oppose my single opinion to his. 2. to act against; to resist, either by physical means, by arguments or other means. the army opposed the progress of the enemy, but without success. Several members of the house strenuously opposed the bill, but it passed. 3. to check; to resist effectually. the army was not able to oppose the progress of the enemy. 4. to place in front; to set opposite. 5. to act against, as a competitor'.

Please see the note for Romans 11:29 for links to every place in the Bible where the word repentance is used. The functional definition is: 'A turning away from the attitudes and actions of sin and turning towards God and accepting His attitudes and actions about sin'.

Please see the note for 1Corinthians 16:18 for links to every verse in the Bible which uses any form of the word acknowledge. The functional definition is: 'To own, avow or admit to be true, by a declaration of assent; as to acknowledge the being of a God'.

We find forms of the word recover occurring 33 times in the Bible and, in the New Testament, in: Mark 16:18; Luke 4:18 and our current sentence. Webster's 1828 dictionary defines this word as: 'to regain; to get or obtain that which was lost; as, to recover stolen goods; to recover a town or territory which an enemy had taken; to recover sight or senses; to recover health or strength after sickness. David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away. 1Sam. 30. 2. to restore from sickness; as, to recover one from leprosy. 2Kings 5. 3. to revive from apparent death; as, to recover a drowned man. 4. to regain by reparation; to repair the loss of, or to repair an injury done by neglect; as, to recover lost time. Good men have lapses and failings to lament and recover. 5. to regain a former state by liberation from capture or possession. That they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil. 2Tim. 2. 6. to gain as a compensation; to obtain in return for injury or debt; as, to recover damages in trespass; to recover debt and cost in a suit at law. 7. to reach; to come to. The forest is not three leagues off; if we recover that, we're sure enough. 8. to obtain title to by judgment in a court of law; as, to recover lands in ejectment or common recovery.
RECOVER, v.i. 1. to regain health after sickness; to grow well; followed by of or from. Go, inquire of Beelzebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover of this disease. 2Kings 1. 2. to regain a former state or condition after misfortune; as, to recover from a state of poverty or depression. 3. to obtain a judgment in law; to succeed in a lawsuit. the plaintiff has recovered in his suit'.

Please see the note for 1Timothy 3:7 about the word snare. That sentence also warns about the snare of the devil. The functional definition is: 'An instrument for catching animals, particularly fowls, by the leg. the baits that Satan uses are things that men like, and which may not always be moral evils in themselves, as riches, honour, etc., but which may end in the loss of the soul'. That note explains that more is involved with this word and that note also has the full definition from Webster's 1828 and links from other commentators.

Please also see the section called Jesus and Devils, in the Study called Significant Gospel Events, for links to every place where Jesus dealt with devils. That note has links to many places in the Gospels where Jesus dealt with devils. Please also see Other Spirits in the Word Study on Spirit. The functional definition is: 'angels who have rejected the rule of God'.

Please see the note for Romans C7S28 about the word captive. That note has the full definition from Webster's 1828 , links to every place in the New Testament where We find this word and a short note on each verse. We find this word within 2Timothy in: 2:26; and 3:6. The functional definition is: 'The state of being a prisoner, or of being in the power of an enemy by force or the fate of war. A state of being under control'.

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge provides Bible references for this sentence as: 'the servant. De 34:5; Jos 1:1; 2Ch 24:6; Da 6:20; 1Ti 6:11; Tit 1:1; 3:2; Jas 1:1 must. Mt 12:19; Ac 15:2; 2Co 10:4; Php 2:3,14; 1Ti 3:3; Tit 1:7; Jas 1:19-20; Jude 1:3 strive. Joh 6:52; Ac 7:26; 23:9; Jas 4:2 (Gr) but. Isa 40:11; 2Co 10:1; Ga 5:22; 1Th 2:7; Tit 3:2; Jas 3:17; 1Pe 3:8 apt. 1Ti 3:2-3; Tit 1:9 patient. or, forbearing. Eph 4:2; Col 3:13 exp: 1Ti 3:3.
In. Mt 11:29; Ga 6:1; 1Ti 6:11; 1Pe 3:15 instructing. Jer 13:15-17; 26:12-15; Joh 5:34; Ac 22:1-23:11 if. Jer 31:18-19,33; Eze 11:19; 36:26,31; Zec 12:10; Ac 5:21; 11:18; Jas 1:17; 1Jo 5:16 exp: Ac 8:22. peradventure. Ac 8:22; 1Ti 2:4 exp: Ge 32:20; Ex 32:30. repentance. 2Ti 3:7; Mt 21:32; Mr 1:3-4,15; Ac 2:38; 20:21; Tit 1:1 exp: 2Co 7:10; Heb 6:1.
recover. Gr. awake. Lu 15:17; 1Co 15:34; Eph 5:14 out. Ps 124:7; Isa 8:15; 28:13; Ac 26:18; 2Co 2:11; Col 1:13; 2Th 2:9-12; 1Ti 3:7; 6:9-10; Re 12:9; 20:2-3 exp: Ps 25:15. who are. Isa 42:6-7; 49:25-26; 53:12; Mt 12:28-29; Lu 11:21; 2Pe 2:18-20v taken captive. Gr. Taken alive. at. Job 1:12; 2:6; Lu 22:31-32; Joh 13:2,27; Ac 5:3; 1Ti 1:20'.

Home Start of Chapter

Interpretive Study of 2Timothy 1-2

Epistle theme: Sound Doctrine Versus Doctrinal Error

God's Way to Study His Word:

Overview of 2Timothy

Epistle theme: Sound Doctrine Versus Doctrinal Error

Chapter Outlines by sentence format.

Chapter 1 The Chapter theme is: Defend Sound Doctrine.

links to sentences in this chapter:

The S and P's of 2Timothy 1

Chapter 2 The Chapter theme is: How to protect yourself from doctrinal error.

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

2Timothy Chapter 1 Sentence-by-Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

2Timothy Chapter 2 Sentence-by-Sentence

links to sentences in this chapter:

Chapter Summary from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

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Chapter 1
The Chapter theme is: Defend Sound Doctrine.

Chapter 2
The Chapter theme is: How to protect yourself from doctrinal error.