2 TIMOTHY 2:22-26 - GENTLY GUIDE TO GODLINESS

2 TIMOTHY 2:22-26

GENTLY GUIDE TO GODLINESS

2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Susie: Youthful lusts are not limited to sexual impurity but to any passion that draws one away from the pursuit of godly purity.

2 Timothy 2:22 (Phillips)Turn your back on the turbulent desires of youth and give your positive attention to goodness, faith, love and peace in company with all those who approach God in sincerity.

2 Timothy 2:22 (MSG)      Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.

Susan: Rather than being distracted by the temptations of this world, be in relentless pursuit of all things that bring pleasure to the heart of God. Continually submit to being refined by the Holy Spirit’s fire.

Susie: Timothy was the leader of the believers at Ephesus and was called to pursue godliness alongside them as well as be an example to them.

2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

Susan: Paul warns Timothy for the third time not to be antagonistic with false teachers because it would just fuel their fire.

2 Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Susie: Rather than engage in superfluous debates over false and sometimes silly teachings, Timothy was to gently admonish the believers to stick with the truth of the gospel and the scriptures. Even though we are prepared to defend the truth, we must always keep a proper attitude of humility.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear

Susan: Timothy and those he trained to follow him were proficient in the art of teaching as gifted to them by the Holy Spirit.

Susie: Rather than being argumentative, condescending, or condemning toward false teachers and those they were leading astray, Timothy was to use his gift of teaching to lead them to the truth in the hope that the Lord would draw them into right relationship with Himself. Even the non-believer who heard the gospel message could be led to belief by the Holy Spirit. This should always be our hope and prayer for those who oppose the message of salvation, that they may be brought to repentance and believe.

2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Susan: It is as if these people were hypnotized, mesmerized, under Satan’s evil spell. God, through Timothy’s teaching, would help them see the enemy for who he really is. Then Jesus would enable them to break free of the devils web of deception.

2 Timothy 2:26 (Phillips) They may come to their senses and be rescued from the power of the devil by the servant of the Lord and set to work for God’s purposes.

QUESTIONS

1.        What attributes should we pursue?

2.        Rather than endlessly debating with false teachers, what should we continue to teach?

3. What is the proper attitude for a preacher/teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

4.        What is the main goal of teaching others about the truth of Jesus?