2 Timothy 2:20 - Exposition

Now for but, A.V.; unto for to, A.V. (twice). Now in a great house, etc. "Now" is hardly the right conjunction. It should rather be "howbeit." The object of the figure of the various vessels in the "great house" is to show that, though every one that names the Name of the Lord ought to depart from unrighteousness, yet we must not be surprised if it is not so, and if there are found in the Church some professing Christians whose practice is quite inconsistent with their profession. Perhaps even the vilest members of the visible Church perform some useful function, howbeit they do not mean it. With this mention of the vessels, compare the enumeration in 1 Corinthians 3:12 . Of earth ( ὀστράκινα ); only here and 2 Corinthians 4:7 , where it is also applied to σκεύη , "earthen vessels;" as it is in the LXX ., e.g. Le 6:28; and to ἄγγος ( Numbers 5:17 ). ὄστρακον "a tile." (For the same figure, see Romans 9:22 , Romans 9:23 .)