Workmen Approved and Their Opponents (2 Tim 2:14-26)

What would you say is the work of God? God’s work was first known when He formed creation and its creatures, and declared it very good. But his creatures turned to sin. In our rebellion we bring about curse rather than blessing. Death and its sting are our destiny. We yearn for eternity and find ourselves returned to dust.

What is God’s work in a fallen world like this? How do we know if it’s going well? And who are the people who get to participate in this work? Christian friends, how do you and I participate in God’s work for a fallen world?

What is God doing post-cross in our world today? How do we participate in His work? In this section of 2 Timothy, we see that Paul has a fixed idea about what God’s work looks like. It is important for us to know this as we do not want to live in this world without knowing what our life is for. More importantly, we want to know what it means to be an approved worker for this work, real opponents of this work, and what it looks like for us to participate in this work. 

(A) Strive to be workmen approved (2 Tim 2:14-16a)

The passage begins with a reference to a group of people, the elect (2 Tim 2:10), who are taught by faithful men (2 Tim 2:2). This comes in the context of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy. Amidst suffering, Timothy is to remind the saints about the most important things – Jesus Christ and His gospel; the teaching that needs to be passed on from generation to generation. He is to ensure that the gospel does not flame out in his generation, and this comes by raising gospel teachers.

Timothy is to keep reminding these men about these important things and make sure the gospel doesn’t die with him. He is to make sure that the people of God know the gospel and always have teachers that know and teach this. Such men are to keep a single-minded focus on the word of God, and not enter quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. This is how God’s work is known!

The work of God has everything to do with the word of God. This has been God’s emphasis throughout Scripture. We must remember that this priority of God’s word is the theme of God’s action in all of history. By His word, He made the world, blessed it, and brought judgment when it fell into sin. By His word, He called out Abraham from a pagan land and His Word made a people. By His Word, He instructed His people to bind His words between the frontlets of their eyes and pass it on from generation to generation. It is always God’s Word that triggers a new era of activity. God’s decisive work in the Old Testament never takes place independently of God’s Word. 

This Book has nothing else, but for its theme, the work of God in His Word.

And so it makes sense that the apostle John describes Jesus as the “Word of God made flesh” in his gospel. He could have been described as many things — the King of Kings, Lord of Lords —  yet He was described as God’s Word, for everything essential to our redemption and godliness has always come to us through the Word of God.

This helps us to understand Paul’s warning in 2 Timothy 2:14 to not quarrel about words. Paul seeks to remind Timothy (and us) that what we do understand about God comes through His Word. We are not to engage in words that does not connect with God and His purposes through His word. We are not to talk about God and the Bible in ways that are devoid of spiritual content and reality. Don’t quarrel about words in a manner that separates God’s Word from the reality of God redemptive work for a fallen world. 

This is a warning to some of us who fall into the category of those who enjoy Christian books with great appetite and Christian sermons with fervour. We are not to do theology apart from God. Our learning is not for learning’s sake without worship. We are not to learn content without conviction. 

While many Christians might profess that God’s work is essential, do we really recognise its emphasis within the vast domain of “meaningful Christian things”?

Instead, Timothy is to do two things, one positive and one negative.

Positively, Timothy is to handle God’s word of truth in a manner that approves himself before God (2 Tim 2:15)! This is a manner that does not warrant shame, for it does not impose, deviate, or distract from the truth of God’s word. It gives us a picture of faithful Bible teaching. Such teaching does not impose something foreign to the text on the text. It does not seek to entertain, humour, or make interesting.

Yes, we ought to read it in its context because context gives us intent, and intent holds interpretation in a certain direction. We should not miss the broader intention of what’s being communicated. This is how we know that we are handling the word of truth rightly. Paul seems to insist that there is an approved and unapproved or rejected work. Shouldn’t this make us expect more of the Scriptures when it is taught to us? Faithful Bible teaching should not be measured based on how insightful/funny or unfunny the teacher is, but should be based on what is there. 

Faithful Bible teaching endeavours to bring forth the truth of God’s word in all of its power, as it was with the prophets of old. The prophets were primarily given to God’s people to speak God’s word and bring it out to people. This responsibility finds itself assumed by pastors and teachers in the New Testament. Their responsibility is not to bring about something new or fresh. Their responsibility is to simply bring God’s people the truth of God’s word, with all of the power, conviction, and emotional content therein. For example, passages on sin and judgment shouldn’t have to be sweetened with smiles. Passages on salvation should sound like glory and the best news ever known.

Negatively, Timothy is to avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness (2 Tim 2:16). Perhaps something of the Greek philosophical tradition is in view, where philosophers hypothesise ad nauseam on life and ethics to no end. Perhaps he had in mind some rabbinical traditions that sought to extrapolate multiple meanings from a text with a twist of novelty. Whatever he had in mind, it was surely the sort of irreverence that untethered the truth of God’s word from its original meaning.

Friends, this means that we should pray that our pastors would be faithful to the world and excise unnecessary content that distracts us from the truth of God’s word in their preaching. For they will one day stand before the Word of God Himself to give an account for the truth with which they were entrusted. We should pray that our Sunday mornings are full of prayerful dependence, that God’s word would go forth in clarity and power. 

Do you know your pastors well enough to know what they did before they became pastors? They come from training, experiences that shaped their convictions, ministries that formed them. This also means that some of us, perhaps, God may lead into full-time ministry, and we have no ides who it may be. But we are all being formed in one way or another. It is also so important, that we should pray that our brothers and sisters are well formed by God’s word. We should invest in the next generation, as these brothers and sisters who are well formed could one day be called by God into particular vocations, where they will teach other brothers and sisters. 

If God calls you, pray and be absolutely sure that what comes out of your mouth is only God’s word and nothing else. This is why it is a high calling. 

Pray also for the young people around you, that they will be serious, sober-minded, clear-thinking, Bible-committed individuals. that your brothers and sisters would be entirely sold out for the truth of God’s word. Pray especially that young men will be stirred to a whole hearted commitment to God’s word and nothing else. 

We are to think of Isaiah’s words: The self-sufficient Creator God does not need anything human hands can offer, yet He pays regard to those who are humble and tremble at His Word (c.f. Is 66:1-2).

(B) Being mindful of opponents to the work (2 tim 2:16b-19)

Paul then calls to mind two characters (2 Tim 2:16b-18). These foils to Timothy–Hymenaeus and Philetus–show us what it means to be workmen unapproved. 

1 Timothy 1:20 tells us that Hymenaeus made a shipwreck of his faith, and was subject to church discipline. Again, Hymenaeus appears, this time with Philetus. They taught that the resurrection had already happened. The Jews have always believed that there would be a final resurrection at the end of all time of the just and the unjust, where God would call everyone to account before Him (c.f. end of Daniel).

In this case, the devious duo were teaching that this final resurrection had already happened because of Jesus’s resurrection. This meant that people no longer had to consider the fact that they had to give an account for their lives at the end of time before the only holy God. Put simply, by teaching that this resurrection had already happened, they taught that there will be no judgment. 

Paul calls such teaching gangrene (2 Tim 2:17). It ignores whole sections of God’s word and opposes the work of God and His word.  It is to be decisively cut off lest the rest of the body be infected. Somehow, Hymenaeus still retained a measure of influence over the church, so the faith of some were being upset. The hope of the Christian today is in Christ’s resurrection as the firstfruits of what we will know at the end of time, where we will stand before the only Holy God, and account for our lives by pointing to our dependence on Christ.

We have to reckon with this today too. There will be a final judgement. Do you know the true hope that is to be found only in Jesus? Have you trusted in Jesus?

In the face of such opposition, Paul comforts and encourages Timothy with two references (2 Tim 2:19).

The first reference comes from Num 16:5, where a rebellion from the tribe of Korah was stirred up against Moses and Aaron. These people despised the fact that God’s Word was coming from Moses and Aaron, and sought to turn the people against the two. But God intervened. He showed that Moses and Aaron by bringing them near to Him, and bringing judgment on Korah. Paul reminds Timothy of his lineage: God will defend and vindicate those who are His, and those who are faithful to His word. 

The second reference comes from Isaiah 26:13. Here, Paul references the passage in Isaiah that talks about the temptation to turn to idols, and how those who name the name of the LORD have no need to fear what’s happening around them.

Think about it. Paul could have said many different things to Timothy. Yet he chose to use Scripture to comfort Timothy to be faithful to Scripture. Do you see the pattern? These are men of God indeed, for they live and die, weep and sorrow, and encourage each other with God’s Word.

If you find yourself unsure today whether you are on God’s side, here’s how you know. Not through your promotion, your fulfilled desires, or your obtained dreams. Instead, the Lord is on your side if you are on His side. How do you know you are on His side? You are humble and contrite, and you depend on His word.

(C) Prioritise growth and godliness in ministry (2 Tim 2:20-26)

With this contrast in mind, Paul calls to mind the metaphor of household objects (2 Tim 2:20). In God’s house, there are tools, instruments, and containers of all kinds. Their material determines their value and use. You would never use a vessel of gold to hold swill. You would never use a vessel of wood to hold the cleanest water. The object is appropriate for its use.

Here’s the question in the metaphor: What is the purpose of your life? 

You have to answer this, for you will prepare yourself according to the purpose you understand for your life. If you believe that your purpose is to bring the work and will of God forward in this world, you will fill your life with nothing but godliness. If you believe the purpose of your life is maximal pleasure, you will shape your life otherwise. 

This choice is put forward to you today. It is a question every one of us reading this passage must account for. What are you cleansing yourself for? Will you clean yourself?  Are you vessel fit for the Holy God and His use? Have you prepared yourself to be holy and consecrated for His use? 

Is there someone in your life who needs to hear the gospel through you? Are there Christians in your life through whom the Word of God needs to go forth? Know this. It will not go forth through you as long as you make your bed with sin. You will not be used by the Master if you do not resolve to put your sin to death. 

Paul has specific instructions, and not just generic wisdom, for Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:22-26. Once again, we see his tenderness for young Timothy. We too, can learn from Paul and be tender and have an eye for the young the older we get.

Paul tells Timothy to flee youthful passions (2 Tim 2:22, c.f. 1 Tim 4:12). His age is not to be a liability in the kingdom of God, but an asset.

“Passions” refer to overriding desire; the sort of desire that emerges and extends over a person. Timothy is not to let idolatry and sinful desires grip his life. He is to avoid letting entertainment and feel-good trends dictate his experiences. He is to flee from the approval of man and the trappings of success.

He is also to flee foolish and ignorant controversies, a repeated theme. He is not to be quarrelsome. He is not to become embroiled in argument. Not every affront needs to be dignified with a response. Not every challenge needs to be engaged front-on with all the rage of the day. Instead, he is to correct with tenderness and gentleness.

Friends, are you in tune with your self-control to the point where you can say that you are in control of your passions. Or do you roll out of bed, feel a certain way, and find the entirety of your day ruled by your feelings? Are you subject to the tyranny of your passions? 

Does what you feel control what you are? Who is in control of you? Your feelings? Do not give in to this lie that your feelings are who you are. You have the ability to do something right in even when you don’t feel like it.

Or have you submitted them to the truth of God’s word that calls forth life where there is otherwise death? Do you know what this looks like? Do you know how to grow in what this looks like?

It looks like a life that pursues righteousness, faith, love and peace along with God’s people. This “pursuit” means intentionality and planning. Think about the situations that frustrate you and tempt you to unfruitful speech. Then think about how you might apply these virtues, by the grace that is there for you in Jesus Christ, to respond differently. Remember that this looks like belonging to a community of faith that works this out with you. Plan to pursue these things. Make it your conviction to be in the grip of these virtues and not our youthful passions. The more we do it, the more we will yearn more and more to know God and His word. For that is how we find ourselves in the grip of these virtues – beholding and becoming more and more like the God who saved us to be a people for His own possession. 

In closing, this text tells us that. we should all rightly aspire to handle the word of truth. Who knows whether our spouse or children will one day go on to teach and instruct others? Who knows whether we might be called to the task? And who knows whether one in the household of faith might be built up by our example, that the glorious gospel of our Jesus Christ would speed forth in full measure