2 Timothy 2:24-26 - Homilies By T. Croskery

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 been taken captive by the Lord's servant unto the will of God."

1 . A meek and gentle address may bring such errorists to repent of their sin and accept the true doctrine of faith. It is possible to repel them by our harsh reproaches. We ought rather to show them the truth without passion, and enforce it with all the kindly urgency of true affection. The necessity of repentance in such a case marks the essentially sinful character of opposition to the truth.

2 . The servant of the Lord may be the means of recovering out of error as well as sin.