2 Timothy 2:1-18

SECTION 2. Paul Exhorts Timothy To Be A Good And Faithful ‘Workman’ And To Remember Jesus Christ, Risen From The Dead And Of The Seed of David, Who Has Obtained Salvation For His Own (2 Timothy 2:1-18 ).

In this passage Paul now seeks to bolster Timothy’s faith and courage, pointing him to his hidden resources, and calling on him to serve faithfully and truly, remembering the One Whom they proclaim. At the same time he must remember that Paul himself suffers as his commitment to Christ requires, so that Timothy must also himself be prepared for the same possibility. Meanwhile he is to concentrate on the truth of the Gospel and be a careful student of the word, avoiding being sidetracked into useless discussions.

We should note that Timothy’s timidity can be rather overdone by commentators. Any normal young Christian man who bore Timothy’s responsibilities would have needed this kind of encouragement, however strong their faith. And we should note that Paul is equally concerned that he not be caught up in the false teaching. But there is no real suggestion that he was in danger of being so. Paul is simply seeking to prevent any possible problems in the future by dealing with them before they can occur. He would not want Timothy to fall short because he himself had failed to give the positive guidance that was necessary in the present.

The passage is in the form of a chiasmus as follows:

Overall Analysis.

a You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1).

b And the things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).

c Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus:

No soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of this life,

That he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.

And if also a man contends in the games,

He is not crowned, unless he has contended within the rules.

The husbandmen who does the work

Must be the first to partake of the fruits.

Consider what I say; for the Lord will give you understanding in all things (2 Timothy 2:3-7).

d Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel (2 Timothy 2:8).

e In which I suffer hardship resulting in being put in bonds, as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound (2 Timothy 2:9).

f Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10).

g Faithful is the saying (2 Timothy 2:11 a)

f For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him, if we endure, we will also reign with Him (2ti 11-12a).

e If we deny Him, He also will deny us, if we are faithless, He abides faithful, for He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:12-13).

d Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they do not strive about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear (2 Timothy 2:14).

c Give diligence to present yourself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

b But shun profane babblings, for they will proceed further in ungodliness, and their word will eat as a gangrene does, of whom are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who concerning the truth have erred (2 Timothy 2:16-17).

a Saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some (2 Timothy 2:18).

Note that in ‘a’ Timothy is to be empowered (endynamited) in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, enjoying His present resurrection power (Philippians 3:10), in contrast in the parallel to those who say that the resurrection is past already and those whose faith has been overthrown. In ‘b’ Timothy is to commit ‘the things which you have heard from me among many witnesses’, to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also, while in the parallel he is to shun the false teachings of others. In ‘c’ he is to be a good soldier of Christ Jesus and a hardworking vinedresser, and in the parallel he is to be a workman who does not need to be ashamed. In ‘d’ Timothy is to remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, and of the seed of David, in accordance with Paul’s message, and in the parallel he is to put others in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they do not strive about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear. In ‘e’ Paul describes his suffering hardship resulting in his being put in bonds, as a criminal, because he refuses to deny his Lord, and in the parallel if we do deny Him, He also will deny us, although if we are ‘faithless’, and yet truly His, then He abides faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. In ‘f’ Paul endures all things for the elect’s sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory, while in the parallel if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him, if we endure, we will also reign with Him. In both cases endurance is required. Central in ‘g’ is the ‘faithfulness’ of the saying that follows.

The passage now splits up into smaller sections.