2 Timothy 2:15-16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:14-18

Having thus encouraged Timothy to suffer, he comes in the next place to direct him in his work. I. He must make it his business to edify those who were under his charge, to put them in remembrance of those things which they did already know; for this is the work of ministers; not to tell people that which they never knew before, but to put them in mind of that which they do know, charging them that they strive not about words. Observe, Those that are disposed to strive commonly strive about... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15-18

2:15-18 Put out every effort to present yourself to God as one who has stood the test, as a workman who has no need to be ashamed, as one who rightly handles the word of truth. Avoid these godless chatterings, for the people who engage in them only progress further and further into ungodliness, and their talk eats its way into the Church like an ulcerous gangrene. Amongst such people are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who, as far as the truth is concerned, have lost the way, when... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15-18

Amongst the false teachers Paul numbers especially Hymenaeus and Philetus. Who these men were we do not know. But we get a brief glimpse of their teaching in at least one of its aspects. They said that the resurrection had already happened. This of course does not refer to the Resurrection of Jesus; it refers to the resurrection of the Christian after death. We do know two false views of the resurrection of the Christian which had some influence in the early Church. (i) It was claimed that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:15

Study to show thyself approved unto God ,.... The Alexandrian copy reads, "to Christ"; see Romans 16:10 . Not unto men, as pleasing them; for such who study to please men, are not the servants of Christ; and sometimes those that are approved to and by men, are disapproved of by God and Christ: but unto God, showing all fidelity and uprightness; speaking out the Gospel openly, and freely, with all sincerity, as in the sight of God; commending themselves to him, and to every man's... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:16

But shun profane and vain babblings ,.... The ministry of false teachers is mere babbling; a voice, and nothing else, as the man said of his nightingale; a sound of words, but no solid matter in them; great swelling words of vanity, like large bubbles of water, look big, and make a great noise, but have nothing in them; contain nothing but vain, empty, idle, and trifling stuff; what is unprofitable and unedifying, yea, what is profane, contrary to the nature and perfections of God, and not... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15

Study to show thyself approved unto God - Endeavour so to cultivate and improve thy heart and mind, that thou mayest not be a reproach to him from whom thou professest to receive thy commission. Rightly dividing the word of truth - It is generally supposed that the apostle alludes here to the care taken to divide the sacrifices under the law; the priests studied, in dividing the victim down the spine, to do it so scrupulously that one half of the spinal marrow should be found on each... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:16

Shun profane and vain babblings - This is the character he gives of the preaching of the false teachers. Whatever was not agreeable to the doctrine of truth was, in the sight of God, empty and profane babbling; engendering nothing but ungodliness, and daily increasing in that. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15

Verse 15 15Study to shew thyself to be approved by God Since all disputes about doctrine arise from this source, that men are desirous to make a boast of ingenuity before the world, Paul here applies the best and most excellent remedy, when he commands Timothy to keep his eyes fixed on God; as if he had said; “Some aim at the applause of a crowded assembly, but do thou study to approve thyself and thy ministry to God.” And indeed there is nothing that tends more to check a foolish eagerness for... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:16

Verse 16 16But avoid profane and unmeaning noises My opinion as to the import of these words has been stated in my commentary on the last chapter of the First Epistle to Timothy; and my readers will find it there. (176) For they will grow to greater ungodliness. That he may more effectually deter Timothy from that profane and noisy talkativeness, he states that it is a sort of labyrinth, or rather a deep whirlpool, from which they cannot go out, but into which men plunge themselves more and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:14-26

Conduct in view of heresy appearing in the Church. I. METHOD OF THE HERETICS . "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear." The method of the heretics called for solemn warning from Timothy. Its essential character was word fighting. It dealt with the form, and not with the reality; and so it came to be controversial. The word is not unimportant, but it has... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:14-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15-18

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Timothy 2:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:14-26

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