The importance of ministers cultivating a peaceful and forbearing spirit. I. THE TRUE TEMPER OF THE MINISTER OF CHRIST . 1 . Negatively. "The servant of the Lord must not strive." This does not mean that 2 . Positively. II. THE BENEFITS THAT WILL ACCRUE FROM SUCH METHODS OF INSTRUCTION . "If God peradventure will give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having... read more
Correcting them for instructing those, A.V.; peradventure God for God peradventure, A.V.; may for will, A.V.; unto the knowledge for to the acknowledging, A.V. Correcting ( παιδεύοντα ), παιδεύειν means properly to "educate," "bring up," or "train" a child. Hence sometimes the idea of teaching predominates, sometimes that of correcting or chastising. Here the context shows that the idea of teaching is pre-dominant—partly because the word suggests something... read more
And the servant of the Lord - Referring here primarily to the Christian minister, but applicable to all Christians; for all profess to be the servants of the Lord.Must not strive - He may calmly inquire after truth; he may discuss points of morals, or theology, if he will do it with a proper spirit; he may “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints” Jude 1:3; but he may not do that which is here mentioned as strife. The Greek word - μάχεσθαι machesthai - commonly denotes,... read more
In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves - That is, those who embrace error, and array themselves against the truth. We are not to become angry with such persons, and denounce them at once as heretics. We are not to hold them up to public reproach and scorn; but we are to set about the business of patiently “instructing them.” Their grand difficulty, it is supposed in this direction, is, that they are ignorant of the truth. Our business with them is, “calmly to show them what the... read more
2 Timothy 2:23-25. But foolish and unlearned questions Or unimportant subjects of inquiry and debate; avoid, knowing that they gender strifes Or contentions in the church; and certainly it is a most important part of the duty of a Christian minister to guard against all occasions of offence and mischief. For the servant of the Lord must not strive Or contend eagerly and passionately, as do the vain wranglers spoken of in the preceding verse; but be gentle Or mild, forbearing, and... read more
2:14-4:5 AN APPROVED WORKER AND FALSE TEACHERSTeach essentials; avoid quarrels (2:14-26)Paul repeats the advice of his previous letter that Timothy should not waste time discussing fanciful theories (cf. 1 Timothy 1:3-11; 1 Timothy 4:6-10). Christian teachers build up their hearers by presenting the truth of God clearly and honestly, not by allowing the imagination to control their preaching (14-16).Foolish speculation and self-invented theories were what caused Hymenaeus and Philetus to depart... read more
servant . App-190 .:2. strive. Greek. machomai. See Acts 1:26 . gentle. See 1 Thessalonians 2:2 . unto. App-104 . apt to teach. 1 Timothy 3:2 . patient. Literally enduring evil. Greek. anexikakos Only here. read more
meekness . See 1 Corinthians 4:21 . instructing. Greek. peideuo, which means to train a child, and so to chastise, chasten. Compare Acts 22:3 . 2 Corinthians 6:9 . Hebrews 12:6 . those that , &c. = the opposers. Greek. antidiatithemi . Only here. if . . . peradventure = lest at any time. Greek. a pots. will = should. repentance. App-111 . acknowledging. App-132 . read more
And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,Here was given the antidote for the vain and conceited babblings with which some busied themselves, the same being a very noble and beautiful picture of the kind of personality that should be exhibited by God's preachers. The physician or nurse does not respond to the illness of the patients with blows and threats, but with gentleness, forbearance and understanding. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Timothy 2:24
The Lord ' s servant for the servant of the Lord, A.V.; towards all for unto all men, A.V.; forbearing for patient, A.V. The Lord's servant ( δοῦλον κυρίου ) . So St. Paul repeatedly describes himself ( Romans 1:1 ; Galatians 1:10 ; Philippians 1:1 ; Titus 1:1 ), as do also the apostles James, Peter, Jude, and John ( James 1:1 ; 2 Peter 1:1 ; Jud 2 Peter 1:1 ; Revelation 1:1 ). The term seems, therefore, especially (though not exclusively, Ephesians 6:6 ... read more