In today's passage Paul issues warnings about quarreling with those who disagree with the gospel message. He will say of those who are erring in the truth that they have been taken captive by Satan and are doing his will, but even so Timothy is to behave toward them in a Christlike manner in the hope that they will repent.
It's annoying when someone who knows little to nothing about the Scriptures tries to debate us about the Scriptures, isn't it? Paul finds it annoying too, so he understands the temptation Timothy might face to become rude and angry in those situations. But quarreling won't accomplish anything worthwhile. It has the potential to harm our reputations, plus it alienates the very people who need to come to the Lord. Paul tells Timothy (and us) how to deal with those who oppose the truth.
"Keep reminding God's people about these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.'" (2 Timothy 2:14-19) Paul has previously told Timothy to point out false teaching for what it is, but that's different than getting caught up in endless arguments with those who are promoting false teaching. Timothy can't convince anyone of the truth who doesn't want to be convinced of the truth, and it's a waste of time and energy to engage in quarrels over doctrine. Timothy has the right to tell the church, "The teachings of Hymenaeus and Philetus are incorrect and ungodly. We are not going to allow them to come into our assemblies and spread their lies." But when he runs into these men on the street and they start trying to convince him of their point of view, he also has the right to simply walk away. In fact, that's the best way to handle it. It won't bring honor to the Lord or to the Lord's church if people in the city see Timothy arguing on the street corner.
Sad as it is, in every age there have been those who wanted nothing to do with the truth. Since the beginning, there have been people out of every generation who reject the one true God. There have, thankfully, also been people who love and want to live for the one true God. Paul likens the human race to household containers, some of which are used for honorable purposes and some which are used to dispose of unclean materials. "In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use." (2 Timothy 2:20) Households have containers that are used for "clean" purposes. Containers like this are things such as cooking pots and plates and cups. Households must also have containers that are used for "unclean" purposes, which until modern times would have included containers such as chamber pots and slop jars. In this metaphor, those who love the Lord and live according to His will are like the "clean" containers that are fit for honorable use. Those who reject the Lord and prefer to live in sin are like the "unclean" containers that no one would ever dream of eating from. Would we wash up a chamber pot and serve soup from it? Of course not! Would we take a slop jar and make a floral centerpiece out of it for our dining room tables? That would turn our dinner guests off their food for sure. In the same way, a person who is unclean can't be used by the Lord until he or she repents, which brings us to Paul's next point below.
"Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." (2 Timothy 2:21) This strikes me as one of the most beautiful metaphors for redemption in the word of God. When we lived in sin and apart from fellowship with God, we were nasty old chamber pots and slop jars. We were dirty and unfit for honorable use. But now that we are the redeemed of the Lord, we are like the finest china in the house or like an ornate gold water goblet. We have been transformed and are now useful to the Master.
Timothy is not to quarrel with those who are still "unclean" vessels, but instead he is to maintain a character that is irreproachable. His godly behavior will have far more effect on the ungodly than arguments will. He must keep in mind that those who are opposed to the Lord are serving Satan, though they may not realize it. These opponents are not the real enemy; the real enemy is the devil who has taken them captive to do his will. In order to release these people from captivity, Timothy must interact with them in a Christlike way so they will be attracted to Christ and not instead turned off by the way a Christian behaves toward them. "Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:22-26)
No comments:
Post a Comment