WEEK 12 HOOK 2 Timothy 2:14 26 Current Culture: HGTV is a booming network that houses multiple how-to shows that focus on home-and-garden improvement, maintenance and renovation. Shows such as Renovation Raiders, Love It or List It and Rehab Addict all evaluate the integrity of your property and restore what is broken. The host of Rehab Addict is known for looking at the skeleton of a home before she even thinks about paint color or approving it for sale. She assesses then restores. Nothing is wasted. This concept is a catalyst for us as we look at what is it to become a vessel for the Lord. Cleaning out areas of our lives can easily feel like a home repair show. Closets crave organizing, walls need tearing down, and cracks in the foundation need filling. In 2 Timothy 2, Paul talks of an inner assessment that needs to happen. What are some areas of your home you have renovated/remodeled? What was that process like? How did you feel during and after the renovation? What are some ways we can assess our growth as Christians? Who would be the best person in your life to give you guidance on what to improve? Personal Story: Ask the class members if they currently have a mentor who pours into their lives. Have them share how they met their mentor, what their meetings look like and how that relationship has helped strengthen their walk. Share how you have been challenged by a mentor and are better spiritually for it.
WEEK 12 BOOK 2 Timothy 2:14 26 Background: Paul contrasts Timothy and the false teachers: vv. 14 19 contrast Timothy s faithful ministry with the worthless ministry of the opponents; vv. 20 21 provide an illustration; in vv. 22 26 Paul exhorts Timothy not to be drawn into sinful desire and needless controversy, and counsels him on how to handle his opponents. 2 Timothy 2:14 19 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: The Lord knows those who are his, and, Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity. ESV Study Bible: Here Paul shifts to Timothy s role in reminding the congregation. not to quarrel about words. Paul is clearly willing to argue when the gospel is at stake he opposed Peter to his face (Gal. 2:11). What is prohibited here is meaningless argument. does no good. The concern here, as in 1 Timothy, is a teaching that has no positive, practical impact on its adherents (see 2 Tim. 2:16 17). What do believers often quarrel about that which is neither beneficial nor productive? What is considered irreverent babble? What might this include? What is the effect of ungodly talk? What could it do to the church and your class? 2 Timothy 2:20 21 20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. ESV Study Bible: Paul uses an illustration to support his call to depart from iniquity (v. 19). What is dishonorable includes doctrinal and moral error, since both are in view in the letter. Those who depart from such errors and avoid impurity in their lives prepare themselves to be useful to the master and ready for every good work. This is a promise
of blessing in the pursuit of holiness. What would a vessel of gold or silver be used for in a home? What would a vessel of wood or clay be used for in the same home? How are we encouraged to be used for greater uses in this analogy? How are we made honorable for God s greater use? 2 Timothy 2:22 26 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. ESV Study Bible: Passions (Gk. epithymia) in this context refers to sinful desires in general (not only sexual desire), especially those that tend to be characteristic of youth. Paul may hint in vv. 23 25 that one of these would be a tendency to quarrel or be hotheaded. The command to flee what is wrong is combined with the command to pursue what is right (cf. note on 1 Tim. 6:11 12). The pursuit of right is not to be done alone but along with other believers. Connection with the community of faith is essential for both progress in sanctification and perseverance in the faith. Although the fall (Genesis 3) brought about a destructive effect on human reason (see notes on Rom. 1:21; 1:22), salvation brings the ability to begin to see reality. Paul s regular reference to the false teachers lack of knowledge and understanding (e.g., 2 Tim. 2:16, 23; 3:8) points to the fact that they fail to grasp what is really true. What is included in youthful passions from which we should flee? How are we to pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace? Are we to do it alone? How are we to treat others who do quarrel and argue? Why does our conduct matter? What might be the outcome of godly reactions?
Another Perspective: Bible Knowledge Commentary: In a large and varied household are all sorts of containers. Some are made of gold and silver and others of wood and clay. More importantly, some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. Clearly the reference so far is to the faithful and the unfaithful within the church. But Paul then shifted the metaphor slightly to show how one can be an instrument for noble purposes, by cleansing himself from the ignoble vessels. The metaphor is somewhat mixed (one would usually think of cleansing from corruption, not cleansing from the corrupted vessels), but the apostle s point is clear: Timothy was to have nothing to do with the false teachers. In this way he would be a vessel: (1) for noble purposes ( unto honor, timēn), (2) made holy ( set apart ), (3) useful ( serviceable ) to the Master, and (4) prepared to do any good work (cf. 2 Tim. 3:16). What is clean and set apart for special use can easily get contaminated and be rendered unusable through contact with the corrupt. Paul was concerned that Timothy, his choicest disciple, keep himself in a usable condition for the Lord. 1 Class Discussion: Have your class members discuss the types of appliances and tools they use on a daily basis in their homes. List in order the ones that get the dirtiest and ones which stay naturally clean. Ask which items constantly have to be cleaned in order for them to stay useful. Note to your class that Paul wants believers to be unsoiled by the world s filth and used by God greatly. Holman New Testament Commentary: In the first century, the term youth was not confined to the teenage years. In fact, only two phases of life were recognized youth and old age. Many interpreters believe Timothy was in his late thirties or even in his forties when Paul wrote to him. Perhaps young people experience greater temptations toward certain sins which diminish with age, such as haughty independence and selfish ambition. Those seriously committed to Christ must flee anything that smacks of evil or anything that would interfere with faithfulness to God. Fleeing provides only half the equation, however. As we flee from evil, we must pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace. Christianity does not consist merely of prohibitions, but of positive and powerful actions. 2 Class Discussion: Have your class discuss what ambitions and independence they sought after when they were younger. Encourage them to share stories about going on road trips, odd jobs and hobbies their time and money went to. Note that while these experiences are fun, each centers on self. Ask your class how they now use their time and money for others and God. Encourage them to have a lifestyle not centered on self. 1 A. Duane Litfin, 2 Timothy, in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, 2 Ti 2:20 21 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985). 2 Knute Larson, vol. 9, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Holman New Testament Commentary, 288 (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000).
WEEK 12 TOOK 2 Timothy 2:14 26 In Today s World: Just like the home-repair shows we spoke about earlier, we often need a healthy evaluation of our spiritual walk to realign our lives with Christ. Businesses as well have to reevaluate their services based on what is profitable and what is right. Kim Linton, Yahoo Contributor, noted Omni s shocking decision to remove porn from their hotels based on morals not profits: In 1999, Dallas-based Omni Hotels decided to eliminate all porn and adult entertainment from their in-room TV systems. Since making the decision to pull porn from their rooms, Omni has tapped into the lucrative religious market, hosting annual conventions and mega-events for large ministries like evangelist Billy Graham and TD Jakes. Omni spokeswoman Caryn Kboudi told USA Today, It was a moral decision. It had nothing to do with changing in-room-entertainment platforms or declining movie-rental sales related to an uptick in the number of travelers who carry their own entertainment. Kboudi also said the large hotel chain never advertised its porn-free position, We didn t want to create a marketing message around this. This is just who we are. 3 How can we as a class help one another choose holiness and pursue righteousness? What type of a heart does the Lord desire for us to have? Challenge: Ask your class how they entertain sin for temporary gain. Remind your class that to be a vessel set apart for the Lord, they must pray God to remove their desire for sin as well. Charge them to live differently so that they can be used differently by God. 3 Kim Linton, Porn-Free Luxury Hotel Profits from Moral Decision, news.yahoo.com