2 Timothy 2 Commentary
A leader’s job is to train other leaders. “Entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” A pastor trains trainers of trainers. There is little pride in teaching endlessly the same people. Pews must change occupants as learners vacant them to become trainers themselves.
They must be reliable! A leader is stuck when reliability is an issue among his flock. That could be the first lesson!
You would expect Paul to invite Timothy to a banquet! Instead, Paul invites Timothy to more suffering! Verse 12 explains it.
Then 3 interesting items. First: The military is a place of “commands” and obedience. Personal opinions aren’t allowed. Intelligence is vested in the commander.
Second: The athlete has his eyes on the prize. It motivates him. But there are rules. You don’t want to be disqualified!
Third: A farmer works for a harvest. He cannot wait for it! But it is hard work! He is sure of a decent return on investment.
Christianity has all these components woven into its design. The LORD makes it clear to the saint. How you work for a prize, or how you invest for a handsome return, or how you interact with the Commander’s orders, without a reward for obedience, is a mystery only God resolves.
The military scenario gives you zero options; only obedience counts. Loyalty is everything. As an athlete, you have room to compete for a small or a big prize. You may even pull out of it altogether. As a farmer, you are an investor. You reap what you sow. Your level of investment matters. Hard work becomes important.
Verse 8 mentions “Jesus Christ” while verse 10 mentions “Christ Jesus”. Fine details are important. Jesus Christ is a man whose ancestry can be traced to David. He dies and rises back to life and attains immortality.
Christ Jesus is the special entity called the Messiah – superhuman by all standards. How Jesus combines all these complex definitions is for God to resolve!
Verse 10 talks about the elect. It is a concept tightly connected to “Predestination”. In the next verse, Paul underlines his thoughts with a series of “if” statements – if we die with Him; if we endure with Him; or if we don’t disown Him. One end comes with a human decision while the other end is “election” without any initial human input. The Holy Spirit explains all these concepts without raising any dust!
The “if” statements repeat the thought that your input determines the output. Again, how these thoughts come out of the same mouth and in the same chapter is yet another puzzle only the LORD solves. But it is all right!
Timothy must use his tongue wisely! Use it unwisely and you have gangrene to deal with – and it is deadly!
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