Handle Accurately the Word

APPROVED UNTO GOD:
HANDLING ACCURATELY THE WORD OF TRUTH:
"A TRUSTWORTHY STATEMENT"
2 Timothy 2:11-13

"The Faithful"

"The Unfaithful"

THE
CONTEXT

DIED
LIVE

ENDURE
REIGN

DENY
DENY

FAITHLESS
FAITHFUL

The Goal: Accurately Handle (interpret) 2Timothy 2:11-13

What is the most important "tool" the diligent student has at his or her disposal to facilitate accurate handling of the word of truth?

Context

Reading the text with careful attention to the text that is before and after - paying closest attention to the immediate verses but also attempting to understand the emphasis of the book as a whole (key words) as well as the purpose for writing the book

What other "tool" do we all have access to aid accurate interpretation?

We can all co mpare Scripture with Scripture

Note:
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is the best source of cross references - better than the marginal references in your Bible - they are more "relevant" and usually in greater number, but they must be read in context

What should the diligent student "diligently" avoid as he or she begins to study a specific passage, the interpretation of which might be difficult or controversial?

Avoid commentaries (this includes your "study Bible" notes) so you are not biased. Once you have read someone else's interpretation, you will have a certain degree of bias.

How would you characterize the two contrasting groups of people in 2 Timothy (click)?
Faithful and Unfaithful

Who are the faithful men?

Paul
Timothy
Onesiphorus
Luke

Who are the unfaithful men (specifically named)?

Phygelus & Hermogenes

Hymenaeus & Philetus

Demas

How does the "trustworthy statement" correlate with the theme of "faithful and unfaithful" men that runs through the letter?

1st two lines describe faithful

2nd two lines describe unfaithful

Now let's establish the context of
2 Timothy 2:11-13

What is the main theme of the section just before the "trustworthy statement" according to? (2Ti 2:2)

Entrusting the gospel to faithful men

What do we learn from metaphor of a soldier? (2Ti 2:3-4)

Suffer hardship
Don't entangle with everyday affairs
Please Jesus

What do we learn from metaphor of a athlete? (2Ti 2:5)

Compete according to the rules
Win the prize

What do we learn from metaphor of a farmer? (2Ti 2:6)
Hard work
Receive our share of the crops

How can we practically understand what Paul is saying? (2Ti 2:7)

Our Part: consider what Paul says
God's Part: Will give us understanding

What is Timothy to constantly be mindful of (2Ti 2:8)?

Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead, descendant of David

Explanatory Note: Remembering is a great "faith booster" when the times are difficult. When your trust in God is threatened, retreat and remember. Then let remembrance lead you into praise.

What is Paul experiencing because of the gospel (2Ti 2:9)?

Suffers hardship: imprisonment as criminal

What does Paul remind Timothy of in order to encourage him to endure hardship (2Ti 2:9)?

Word of God (gospel) not imprisoned

What motivates Paul to endure even imprisonment (2Ti 2:10)?

That the chosen may obtain salvation

What will it "cost" to fulfill the goal of entrusting the gospel to faithful men? (2Ti 2:8-10)
Suffering
Endurance

What instructions immediate follow the trustworthy statement?
Remind of these things - not wrangle about words = useless & leads to ruin of hearers

Explanatory note: Don't wrangle about matters that don't profit the main msg of the gospel and could take focus off the goal of our responsibility

What should we focus on? (2Ti 2:15)
Be diligent to handle accurately the Word
Study of God's Word takes effort! Don't forget!

What should we avoid?
(2Ti 2:16-17 2:18)
Avoid worldly & empty chatter

Why avoid?
(2Ti 2:16-17 2:18)

Resurrection speculation upset faith

What should we cleanse ourselves from and why?
(2Ti 2:20-21)

From vessels of dishonor from those who espouse worldly & empty chatter and false teaching so that we might be vessels of honor - sanctified, useful, prepared for good deeds

How can we remain in a state of readiness or prepared for every good work? (2Ti 2:22-23)

Flee youthful lusts

Pursuing +R, faith, love, peace

Refuse foolish & ignorant speculations

How are we to behave as bondservants? (2Ti 2:24-26)

Not quarrel, be kind, able to teach, patient when wronged, gently correcting those who oppose

What is the main theme of the instructions (context) following this trustworthy statement?

Remain faithful to task - responsibility to the gospel

This trustworthy statement is placed in midst of instructions & warnings about how to be faithful or unfaithful.

It is into this context that Paul records a trustworthy statement. Let's look at that in the next column.

If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him

What "death" is Paul referring to? spiritual or physical? Let's use context and cross references to arrive at our interpretation.

Explanatory Note:
"If" is what is referred to as a "first class condition" which indicates the information that follows is assumed to be fact. The truth of what is assumed is determined by the context. One can usually substitute the word "since" or "in view of the fact" for "if" when it is a first class condition, e.g., "since we died with Him..." Remember the contrasts in 2 Timothy between faithful and unfaithful.

What kind of death does (Ro 6:4-10) refer to - spiritual or physical?

Spiritual death = identification with Christ's death, burial, resurrection

This became a reality at salvation.

When He died on the Cross, we died with Him to the power of sin

What kind of death does (2Cor 5:6-8) refer to - spiritual or physical?
Physical death -

What kind of death could this verse signify - spiritual or physical?

This death could be either spiritual or physical

What kind of death is Paul facing? 2Ti 4:6
Paul was soon to be martyred

What does Col 3:3-4 teach that helps understand "live with Him"?

1) When we died with Him spiritually our life was hidden with Christ in God - our life is secure no matter what we suffer now

2) Christ is now our life

3) Christ is our life in the future - "then you also will be revealed with Him in glory"

So "live with Him" can refer to our present earthly life as well as our life to come.

If we endure we shall also reign with Him

Explanatory Note:
"Endure" is in the present tense
which speaks of continuous action and reflects one's lifestyle. The Greek verb endure means to abide under or to bear up courageously under suffering.

What does 2 Timothy 2:10 teach about enduring?

Paul was convinced of the power of the gospel ("word of God is not imprisoned") and was willing to accept suffering even as a prisoner if that is what he had to do to see the chosen (elect) obtain salvation.

What does Hebrews 10:32-39 teach about enduring?

32 Endure great conflict of sufferings

The Hebrew readers had need of endurance (noun form of "endure"), so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

If we shrink back God has no pleasure in us and the result is destruction (v38-39)

What does James 1:12 teach about enduring trials?

He will be blessed
Will be approved
Receive crown of life

Why does this man
endure?

Because he loves God

Who should we take as our example of suffering and patience in (James 5:10-11)

1) Prophets spoke in name of Lord

2) Job

What is the reward for enduring?

Blessed

What encouraging truth can we be assured of when we suffer?

Lord is full of compassion and mercy

How should we endure according to Hebrews 12:1-3?

Eyes fixed on Jesus
(cf remember Jesus Christ 2Ti2:8)

Look toward Him Who has run the race - Jesus the Author & Finisher, endured the cross, despised the shame

Why did he endure and despise?

For the joy set before

What was
His joy?

Set down at right hand of throne of God (pleasing to His Father)

What else are we to think about carefully and completely as we run?

Consider Jesus - endured hostility by sinners against Him

Why should we keep thinking about the endurance of Jesus?

So that we may not grow weary and lose heart

WE SHALL REIGN

What does Rev 3:21 teach about who will reign?

Overcomers will sit with Jesus on His throne

Who is an overcomer? 1Jn5:4-5

One born of by faith.

Believes Jesus = Son

What does Rev 5:9-10 teach about how and where we will reign?

We will reign as...

-- Kings (KJV)
-- Priests

Where?
-- Upon the earth

What does Rev 20:4-6 teach about this reign - who, their state, how long?

Souls beheaded
1st resurrection

(1C15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming)

Blessed - how?

1) 2nd death has no power

2) Priests

3) 1000 years

What does 1 Cor 6:2-3 imply?

Believers will judge the world and angels

Who else will reign with Christ Mt 19:28?

12 disciples will reign with Him

Who else will reign with Christ according to Daniel 7:27?

OT Saints

When do OT saints arise (resurrection) and reign with Christ Da 12:13?

At end of the age

What do we learn about our reign with Christ from Rev 22:5?

Context = new heaven and new earth, after the 1000 year reign

Saints reign forever

If we deny Him, He also will deny us

Explanatory Note:
"Deny" = arneomai = literally means "to say no", to say one does not know about or is in any way related to some person or some thing, to strongly repudiate or disown. Here in 2 Timothy 2:12 deny is in the future tense and can be more clearly rendered "If in the future we deny Him"

What is Jesus' warning about denying Him in Mt 10:33?

If we deny Jesus now

He will deny him before His Father

What does Paul teach about those who deny God? (Titus 1:16)

They profess to know God, but by their deeds they (continually) deny Him

Being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed.

How does Jude describe those who deny Jesus? (Jude 4)

Crept in unnoticed

Long beforehand marked out for condemnation

Ungodly persons Turn grace of our God > licentiousness

Deny our Master and Lord Jesus Christ

What does John describe those who deny Jesus? (1Jn 2:23)

Whoever denies (present tense) the Son does not have the Father

In sum, what does Paul mean by "if we deny Him"?

Are there not two possibilities - a momentary denial like Peter or a permanent denial like Judas. It is the latter who will be denied by Jesus before the Father and like Judas will be condemned to perdition, away from the presence of the One Whom he denied.

Was Demas' "denial" permanent?

The honest observer will be forced to conclude that ultimately only God knows contingent upon whether he ever repented. If he never repented, he was always an unbeliever or professor and in no case did he "lose his salvation".

What then does "He will deny us" mean?

The most straightforward reading of this verse and one which fits well with the context is that He will deny us stating He does not know us and is not related to us.

Explanatory Note:
Some try to "soften" the gravity of this pithy statement by saying "He will deny us rewards". The text does not say anything about rewards. Chapter 4 is the only mention of rewards in the letter and it states the reward is for those who "have loved (present tense) His appearing"

The Net Bible makes a pertinent observation noting that "It is important to note that the object of Christ’s denial is “us.” The text does not contain an implied object complement (“he will deny us [x]”), which would mean that Christ was withholding something from us." In other words the sentence construction itself weighs against the interpretation "He will deny us rewards".

What did Jesus say in Mt 7:21-23 that conveys a similar somber warning to that found in this trustworthy statement?

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you;DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE (present tense) LAWLESSNESS.'

In light of these sobering statements we need to take heed to Paul's advice to the Corinthians...

"Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you-- unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor 13:5)

Ryrie commenting on this passage writes that "fail the test" means "they failed to pass the test and were not members of the household of faith"

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself

Explanatory Note:
"Are faithless" is in present tense
which speaks of continuous, habitual action and reflects one's lifestyle of continually "not trusting". "Remains" is also in the present tense.

How are two ways one might interpret "if we are faithless"?

(1) Believers who are not walking with the Lord

(2) Unbelievers

How does the fact that that the verb "are faithless" is in the present tense help us interpret this passage?

(1) Since the present tense speaks of continuous or habitual action (as a lifestyle) one could paraphrase the passages as...

"If we continually unfaithful" or "if we habitually demonstrate unfaithfulness"

(2) This tense would support the interpretation that these are professors of faith but who demonstrate by their lifestyle that they are not possessors of genuine saving faith

Now let's look at two of the uses of the verb "are faithless" (apisteo) which is used only 6 times in the NT.

How does Peter use apisteo in (1 Peter 2:8)?

"This precious value (Jesus Christ, our precious Cornerstone), then, is for you who (continually) believe (present tense). But for those who (continually) disbelieve (apisteo in the present tense) "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 8 and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed." (1 Peter 2:7-8)

Clearly Peter uses apisteo to contrast believers with unbelievers

What do you observe from Paul's only other NT use of apisteo in (Romans 3:3)?

"What then? If some did not believe (apisteo), their unbelief (apistia) will not nullify the faithfulness (pistis) of God, will it? (The New Living Translation renders it "True, some of them were unfaithful; but just because they broke their promises, does that mean God will break his promises?") (Romans 3:3)

Paul also clearly uses similar combination of apisteo to describe unbelievers.

What do you learn about God in (Romans 3:3) that parallels 2Ti 2:13?

The disbelief or unfaithfulness of some does not make ineffective the power or force of God's faithfulness - He remains faithful

How would you interpret "if we are faithless" based on the context, and the above observations?

The weight of evidence would seem to support the interpretation that Paul is warning about having a profession of faith but lacking saving faith. This warning would speak to those who had departed in chapter 1, those who have gone astray in chapter 2, those who oppose in chapter 3 and Demas who loved this present world in chapter 4. Were they all lost? Were some saved and others lost? Ultimately only God knows, but if they claimed to be born again and yet spent the rest of their life living like the devil one would have to conclude they were never saved in the first place. Note that this verse is categorically not teaching one can lose their salvation!

What does it mean that "He remains faithful for He cannot deny Himself"?

Nu 23:19 says "19 "God is not a man, that He should lie".

Paul characterizes Him as (literally) the "non-lying God" (Titus 1:2)

He is continually (forever) trustworthy and can be counted upon to keep His word to

Reward the faithful with co-regency

Deny He ever knew those who were continually unfaithful.