2. Timotheus 2:12 Kommentar

INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 2 In this chapter the apostle continues his exhortations to Timothy, with respect both to his office and his conversation, and closes with the character of a minister of the Gospel. The apostle having exhorted Timothy, in the former chapter, to abide by the Gospel, notwithstanding whatsoever he might suffer for it, here points out to him that grace and strength in Christ, which he would have him have recourse unto, to enable him to discharge his duty, 2Ti 2:1 and that the Gospel might continue, he advises him to take care of a succession, and to commit the Gospel preached by him to others, whose qualifications for it are faithfulness and aptitude to teach, 2Ti 2:2 and in order to animate him to labour diligently in the Gospel, and suffer cheerfully for it, he observes to him that he was a soldier, and must endure hardships, and not indulge to the ease and pleasures of life; was a runner in a race, and therefore must strive before he received the crown; and was as an husbandman that must first labour before he partakes of the fruit: which things he would have him seriously consider; and desires that the Lord would give him understanding in them, Ti2 2:3, and then with the same view, to encourage him to suffer for the Gospel of Christ, he puts him in mind of the incarnation and resurrection of Christ, as a summary of the Gospel, and a specimen of what he had heard of him, Ti2 2:8 and instances in his own sufferings for it, the nature, use, and end of them, by way of example and imitation, Ti2 2:9, and for the same purpose mentions several useful sayings and pithy sentences, as true and, to be depended on, Ti2 2:11 which he would have Timothy put his hearers in mind of, and especially those to whom he committed the Gospel to preach; charging them, in a solemn manner, not to strive about words, which is not only unprofitable, but hurtful, Ti2 2:14 and with respect to himself, he exhorts him to diligence and study, in interpreting and explaining the word of God, that so he might be approved unto God, and not be ashamed before men, Ti2 2:15 and on the contrary, to avoid false doctrines, as being profane, empty, and mere babble; and as tending to greater impiety; and as being dangerous and threatening, like the spreading canker; of which he gives instances in Hymenaeus and Philetus, Ti2 2:16 whose error was, that the resurrection was already past; and succeeded in the spreading of it, to the subversion of the faith of some, Ti2 2:18. However, for the comfort of real believers, it is observed, that notwithstanding such errors, and the success of them, the foundation stands sure; God has a certain knowledge of his own people, and will keep them; and therefore it becomes such who either call on the name, or are called by the name of Christ, to depart from such evil doctrines, Ti2 2:19 and that such things happening in the world, and in churches, should not be thought strange, the apostle illustrates the case by a simile of a great house, which has vessels of all sorts in it, and for different uses and purposes, Ti2 2:21. Wherefore, to conclude his exhortations to Timothy, he advises him to flee those lusts which are incident to youth; to follow things that are good, and to avoid foolish and unlearned questions, which tend to strife, Ti2 2:22 which leads him on to give the character of a servant of the Lord, or a preacher of the Gospel; that he must not strive, but be gentle, patient, and meek, in instructing adversaries; for which he should have an aptness; and is encouraged to act this part, from the consideration of success under a divine blessing; namely, bringing such persons to repentance, and to own the truth, and the recovery of them out of the snare of the devil, Ti2 2:24.

If we suffer,.... With him, with Christ, as in Rom 8:17 all the elect suffered with Christ when he suffered; they suffered in him the whole penalty of the law, all the righteousness, strictness, and severity of it; and they are partakers of the benefits of his sufferings, as peace, pardon, righteousness, redemption, and everlasting salvation. And such being called by grace, and having made a profession of Christ, they suffer shame and reproach, loss of credit and reputation, and sometimes loss of goods, and corporeal punishment, and even death itself: but though they do, and if they should, they may be satisfied of the truth of this, we shall also reign with him; they reign with him now in the kingdom of grace; grace reigns in their hearts, where Christ, the King of glory, has entered, and has set up his throne, and where he dwells by faith, they being made kings and priests unto God by him; and they shall reign with him in his kingdom here on earth, for the space of a thousand years; and they shall reign with him in glory to all eternity: this is certain, for this kingdom is prepared for them, it is given to them, they are called unto it, and have both a right unto, and meetness for it; see Rom 8:17, if we deny him, he also will deny us: there is a denying of Christ in words; so it is denied by the Jews that Christ is come in the flesh, and that Jesus is the Messiah; and some that have bore the Christian name, though very unworthily, have denied his true deity, his real humanity, proper sonship, and the efficacy of his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, for pardon, justification, and atonement: and there is a denying of him in works; so some that profess to know him, and do own him in his person and offices, yet in works deny him; their conversation is not becoming their profession of him; they have the form of godliness, but deny the power of it: there is a secret and silent denying of him, when men are ashamed of him, and do not confess him; and there is an open denying of him, by such who set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh throughout the earth; there is a partial denying of Christ, which was Peter's case, though his faith in him, and love to him, were not lost; and there is a total denying of him, a thorough apostasy, and from which there is no recovery; and if there be any such apostates among those who have named the name of Christ, he will deny them, he will not own them for his another day; he will set them at his left hand; he will declare he knows them not, and will banish them from his presence for evermore. This is another branch of the faithful saying; this will certainly be the case; Christ himself has said it, Mat 10:33.

Knowing, then, that "God is not mocked," we ought to walk worthy of His commandment and glory. In like manner should the deacons be blameless before the face of His righteousness, as being the servants of God and Christ, and not of men. They must not be slanderers, double-tongued, or lovers of money, but temperate in all things, compassionate, industrious, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all. If we please Him in this present world, we shall receive also the future world, according as He has promised to us that He will raise us again from the dead, and that if we live worthily of Him, "we shall also reign together with Him," provided only we believe.

But "whosoever shall be ashamed of Me in the presence of men, of him will I too be ashamed," says He, "in the presence of my Father who is in the heavens."

Accordingly, I beseech you, let us so perform all our actions that we may not fail to obtain such glory as this. To obtain it is by no means difficult, if we desire it, or arduous, if we apply ourselves to it. For, "If we endure, we shall also reign." What is the meaning of "If we endure"? If we patiently bear tribulations and persecutions; if we walk the narrow path. The narrow path is unattractive by nature but becomes easy when we choose to follow it, because of our hope for the future.

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him," not absolutely, we shall reign, but "if we suffer," showing that it is not enough to die once, (the blessed man himself died daily,) but there was need of much patient endurance; and especially Timothy had need of it. For tell me not, he says, of your first sufferings, but that you continue to suffer. Then on the other side he exhorts him, not from the good, but from the evil. For if wicked men were to partake of the same things, this would be no consolation. And if having endured they were to reign with Him, but not having endured were not indeed to reign with Him, but were to suffer no worse evil, though this were terrible, yet it would not be enough to affect most men with concern. Wherefore he speaks of something more dreadful still. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. So then there is a retribution not of good things only, but of the contrary. And consider What it is probable that he will suffer, who is denied in that kingdom. "Whosoever shall deny Me, him will I also deny." (Matt. x. 33.) And the retribution is not equal, though it seems so expressed. For we who deny Him are men, but He who denies us is God; and how great is the distance between God and man, it is needless to say. Besides, we injure ourselves; Him we cannot injure.

In him therefore is our hope of eternal life, and in him also is the pattern of our patience. “If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him,” since, as the apostle says, “those who claim that they remain in Christ ought themselves to walk just as Christ walked.” Otherwise we are appearing under the likeness of a false profession if we do not follow the commands of him in whose name we glory. And these would indeed not be burdensome to us and would free us from all dangers, if we would only love what he commands us to love.

If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. For if we have died with Christ, (by which I mean death both through baptism and through sufferings, this indeed being the sensible one,) we shall also reign with him." For no one, Paul says, who has shared in sorrows with others can be deprived of good things and prosperity: let alone Christ, who is goodness and kindness itself. If we deny him, he also will deny us. Then also fear them who are evil. But consider what is likely to happen to one who is denied by Christ.

It is not enough to give oneself over to some death once, but forever. "I die daily," says the apostle (1 Cor. 15:31). So, one must endure much in order that we may be deemed worthy of reigning with Christ as well. The Apostle confirms his word also from the opposite side. For the recompense will be not only for good relations with the Lord, but also for the opposite of that. "Whoever denies Me," He says, "I will also deny him" (Matt. 10:33). Think about what the one who has denied Christ will have to endure!

Then he treats of the glory the saints merit by an ignominious death: ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so to enter into his glory (Luke 24:26); hence he says, if we suffer, i.e., patiently, our afflictions and reproaches, we shall also reign with him, i.e., we shall enter the kingdom along with him: blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matt 5:10). If we deny him, he will also deny us: he shows what will follow as punishment. But there are two ways in which a person can sin against faith: first, by denying it openly; second, by rejecting it inwardly. In regard to the first he says, if we deny, namely, before others, he will deny us in the judgment: amen, I say to you, I know you not (Matt 25:12). To deny is not to know them to be members of his flock.

He exhorts Timothy to constancy, fidelity, and courage; and to acquit himself as a true soldier of Jesus Christ; and patiently expect the fruit of his labors, Ti2 2:1-7. What the apostle's doctrine was relative to Christ, Ti2 2:8. He mentions his own sufferings and consolations, Ti2 2:9-13. What Timothy is to preach, how he is to acquit himself, and what he is to shun, Ti2 2:14-16. Of Hymeneus and Philetus, and their errors, Ti2 2:17, Ti2 2:18. Of the foundation of God, and its security, Ti2 2:19. The simile of a great house and its utensils, Ti2 2:20, Ti2 2:21. Timothy is to avoid youthful lusts, and foolish and unlearned questions, Ti2 2:22, Ti2 2:23. How he is to act in reference to false teachers, Ti2 2:24-26.

If we suffer - with him - These are other parts of the true doctrine, which the apostle mentions above.

EXHORTATIONS; TO FAITHFULNESS AS A GOOD SOLDIER OF CHRIST; ERRORS TO BE SHUNNED; THE LORD'S SURE FOUNDATION; THE RIGHT SPIRIT FOR A SERVANT OF CHRIST. (2Ti. 2:1-26) Thou therefore--following my example (Ti2 1:8, Ti2 1:12), and that of ONESIPHORUS (Ti2 1:16-18), and shunning that of those who forsook me (Ti2 1:15). my son--Children ought to imitate their father. be strong--literally, "be invested with power." Have power, and show thyself to have it; implying an abiding state of power. in the grace--the element IN which the believer's strength has place. Compare Ti2 1:7, "God hath given us the spirit of power."

suffer--rather, as the Greek is the same as in Ti2 2:10, "If we endure (with Him)" (Rom 8:17). reign with him--The peculiar privilege of the elect Church now suffering with Christ, then to reign with Him (see on Co1 6:2). Reigning is something more than mere salvation (Rom 5:17; Rev 3:21; Rev 5:10; Rev 20:4-5). deny--with the mouth. As "believe" with the heart follows, Ti2 2:12. Compare the opposite, "confess with thy mouth" and "believe in thine heart" (Rom 10:9-10). he also will deny us-- (Mat 10:33).