July 20, 2022
When considering the end of your career, it’s wise to draw up a succession plan, not leaving your successor to his or her own devices but providing careful, specific instructions. In 2 Timothy 2, the apostle Paul does just that, reminding his protégé Timothy what it means to be a worker approved by God. Alistair Begg examines three illustrations Paul gave to Timothy as a way to remember his humble position and great responsibilities.
14Remind them of these things, and ycharge them before God2 znot to quarrel about words, awhich does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved,3 a worker bwho has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16But cavoid dirreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are eHymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have swerved from the truth, fsaying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: g“The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone hwho names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20Now in ia great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, jsome for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21Therefore, kif anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,4 he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, lready for every good work.
22So mflee nyouthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with othose who call on the Lord pfrom a pure heart. 23Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant qcontroversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24And rthe Lord's servant5 must not be quarrelsome but skind to everyone, table to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25correcting his opponents uwith gentleness. God vmay perhaps grant them repentance wleading to a knowledge of the truth, 26and they may come to their senses and escape from xthe snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
Copyright © 2024, Alistair Begg. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.