2Ti 2:7 | KingComments | STEP | . It appears to me that the examples in the previous verses are in plain language. Nevertheless Paul points out emphatically to Timothy that he has to bear in mind what he just said. “Consider” means to grasp with the mind, to ponder on it, to think it over. Paul admonishes Timothy here in the sense of an order. He wants Timothy to understand the true meaning of the examples he used by considering them. This attitude is of course important when reading the whole Word of God. You obtain insight from the Lord if you consider His Word. You will learn to understand His thoughts. Here you see, like often in the Scripture, the connection between what you should do and what the Lord does. The more you ponder the Scripture and consider them in your heart, the more the activity of the Holy Spirit grows to clarify the teaching of it. If you are restfully and peacefully engaged in His Word in God’s presence, the Lord will come to you and give you understanding. Not by using your intellect – although it is not separated from it – but by the working of the Holy Spirit you dig into the Divine matters and understand them. . With all considering what the Scripture says, it is important that you “remember Jesus Christ”. It is all about Him, He is the center of all God’s thoughts. Understanding in everything is first of all understanding in Who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. Paul also helps you on the way by mentioning two main points of the truth that are connected to Christ (cf. ). In the first place you ought to remember Him as “risen from the dead”. What do you think of when you consider Him as the One Who is risen from the dead? Then you think of God, Who is able to establish something completely new by His creating and life giving power. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the proof and the beginning of it. God has got nothing to do with the world, sin and death. On that He must bring judgment. What Christ has done opens a new world with new people where everything is in accordance with God and where Christ is the Center. There is another thing that you should remember in connection to Jesus Christ and that is that He is “descendant of David”. That determines you that God is faithful to the promises He made to His people Israel. He will fulfill all those promises. In the future Israel will live again in the land that God has given them. In that land the Lord Jesus will be seated as the true Son of David, as the promised Messiah on the throne of His father David in the city of His father David. Then from Jerusalem He will rule the world in peace and righteousness. Again, as ‘risen from the dead’ He is now the living Lord in heaven. He lives there to always intercede for you before God ( ; ). He knows how difficult it is to remain faithful to God’s Word as a loner. Regarding the phrase ‘descendant of David’ you may remember that suffering will come to an end when He comes to reign. Then the things on earth will be like they are in heaven: totally in accordance with God. By remembering Him in this way it will strengthen you to live to His honor in these last days. What Paul says doesn’t deviate from what he calls “my gospel”. That means that he has proclaimed this in his preaching of the gospel and he himself has kept it in remembrance. That is why he has persevered up till now and has not given up. Therefore he is also still powerful in the faith and is able to encourage Timothy by that. What he writes now applies to all ages, also to now and also to you. . On the basis of the preaching of the gospel and his commitment to it he endures these things. He is no criminal, he has not committed any punishable offence. Paul receives the same treatment as the two crucified people next to the Lord Jesus, who are also called criminals ( ). It makes clear what society thinks of them and of him. People bracket them in the same category as such people. Above all he is here in the footstep of his Master Who “was numbered with the transgressors” ( ). He was so impressed by the gospel that he would do anything for it. He may be imprisoned, but the Word of God cannot possibly be imprisoned. His faith in its power is maintained unbroken. The power of God’s Word cannot possibly be limited or abolished by anything from man. Its advancement will move on. It will convince hearts and consciences and will deliver people from spiritual imprisonment. The Word of God will conquer any adversary. Man is like grass that fades, but the Word of God lasts forever, it remains to eternity ( ; ). If an instrument is being hindered to actively spread the gospel by imprisonment or death, God will deploy new instruments. Are you deployable? . Despite the fact that Paul is deactivated regarding the preaching, he is not deactivated regarding his involvement. His imprisonment and suffering are a part of it. Paul knows that God is using his imprisonment and hardships to reach and bless “those who are chosen”. That’s why he is happy to put up with it. He doesn’t think of his own pain and hardships, but he thinks of those who are chosen. For their sake he endures everything. In this way, too, he resembles his Lord. The Lord Jesus has also endured all things for the sake of those who are chosen. In His atoning work for each of those who are chosen He is of course unique. Regarding this no one is able to follow Him or share it with Him. You are indeed able to share in His commitment and suffering that was caused by men. That is a privilege. Paul’s heart goes out to all who will be saved by the preaching of the gospel. The more are saved, the greater is the glory of the Lord Jesus ( ). God has people in mind whom He wants to save. In His counsel He has also decided that they will be saved. You didn’t know that before the gospel reached you and you came to faith. You have also no idea whom God has taken into His counsel to be saved. That is totally God’s business and not yours. What you are to keep in mind is that God wants all people to be saved. Therefore the gospel is to be preached to all people. God’s love goes out to all people ( ). That’s how it should also be with us ( ). That those who are chosen will accept it is another encouragement to endure all adversary and rejection. It is because of them. It is presented here as if it depends on your commitment that those who are chosen will indeed be saved. After that salvation an eternal glory follows. That is also the part of those who are chosen. Paul is not satisfied with less than that. Are you? . For the fourth time Paul points out that it is a trustworthy statement ( ). In the next letter he repeats it one more time ( ). It refers to what he just has said, you can count on it. It also applies to what follows after that. He confirms again that the Word remains, although he is not able to continue his service. You find everything in it that you need to find out how God wants you to live and what His plans with you, the church, Israel and the world are. The starting point is that you died with Christ. You ought not to take the word “if” as a doubt or insecurity, but in the sense of ‘because it is so’. Because it is so that you have “died with Him”, then living for yourself has ended, a life that you lived without considering God. You have acknowledged that you have lived in sin as a sinner and that God had to throw you into hell for that. The answer of God to that confession was His gospel. Therein He made known to you that Christ has gone through the judgment and that He judged you in Him. When Christ died, you died with Him. But Christ did not remain in death. He rose. And therefore you also rose and live. Only you do not live for yourself anymore, but for Him ( ). If that would mean that you like Christ would have to die the martyr’s death, then like Christ you will still live and do so with Him. . To die the martyr’s death is not for everyone. Surely, everyone who testifies of the Lord Jesus will experience a form of suffering. In return for enduring that, you will reign with Him. The coming kingdom is connected here with suffering (cf. ; ; ). Having some insight in that great future where you will reign together with the Lord Jesus, gives strength today to endure slander and rejection. Reigning soon with Him is a reward for enduring now. You know and see that reigning with Him still doesn’t occur yet. Our task now is not to reign but to endure. Earlier Paul already told that to the Corinthians too, who also wanted to take some advance on reigning in the millennial kingdom of peace because they didn’t want to endure slander ( ). The Lord Jesus has given the perfect example when He was being abused and said to Pilate: “But as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” ( ). After having used several times a positive ‘if’ with the corresponding promise, from several times a negative ‘if’ follows with a corresponding result. To “deny” Christ means to deny against better judgment to know Him. That happens when people confess to be in connection with Christ but deny that connection before other people. A clear example you have in the denial by Peter ( ). Of Peter we know that he is a believer, for he has confessed this sin and the Lord has forgiven him. This sin can be committed by any believer. If that happens the Lord has to deny that believer, as He had to deny Peter too. From the moment that Peter denied the Lord Jesus, the Lord said to His Father that He did not know Peter. That doesn’t mean that the Lord did not keep an eye on Peter and didn’t bring him to repentance ( ). But until the moment of repentance the Lord denied before His Father that He knew Peter. This denial by the Lord also implies that Peter lost the blessing and reward that he received if he had not denied the Lord. The denying of the Lord has therefore a consequence for today and for the future. Also people who only confess with their lips that they know the Lord, addressing Him as “Lord, Lord” ( ), will find themselves in situations that they deny Him. The Lord will deny them too, but the consequences will then be endlessly worse. They will be denied by Him forever ( ). Now read 2 Timothy 2:7-12 again. Reflection: What do you learn here about the Lord Jesus and your relation to Him?

‏ 2 Timothy 2:7

Understanding In Everything

2Tim 2:7. It appears to me that the examples in the previous verses are in plain language. Nevertheless Paul points out emphatically to Timothy that he has to bear in mind what he just said. “Consider” means to grasp with the mind, to ponder on it, to think it over. Paul admonishes Timothy here in the sense of an order. He wants Timothy to understand the true meaning of the examples he used by considering them. This attitude is of course important when reading the whole Word of God. You obtain insight from the Lord if you consider His Word. You will learn to understand His thoughts.

Here you see, like often in the Scripture, the connection between what you should do and what the Lord does. The more you ponder the Scripture and consider them in your heart, the more the activity of the Holy Spirit grows to clarify the teaching of it. If you are restfully and peacefully engaged in His Word in God’s presence, the Lord will come to you and give you understanding. Not by using your intellect – although it is not separated from it – but by the working of the Holy Spirit you dig into the Divine matters and understand them.

2Tim 2:8. With all considering what the Scripture says, it is important that you “remember Jesus Christ”. It is all about Him, He is the center of all God’s thoughts. Understanding in everything is first of all understanding in Who Jesus Christ is and what He has done.

Paul also helps you on the way by mentioning two main points of the truth that are connected to Christ (cf. Rom 1:3). In the first place you ought to remember Him as “risen from the dead”. What do you think of when you consider Him as the One Who is risen from the dead? Then you think of God, Who is able to establish something completely new by His creating and life giving power. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the proof and the beginning of it. God has got nothing to do with the world, sin and death. On that He must bring judgment. What Christ has done opens a new world with new people where everything is in accordance with God and where Christ is the Center.

There is another thing that you should remember in connection to Jesus Christ and that is that He is “descendant of David”. That determines you that God is faithful to the promises He made to His people Israel. He will fulfill all those promises. In the future Israel will live again in the land that God has given them. In that land the Lord Jesus will be seated as the true Son of David, as the promised Messiah on the throne of His father David in the city of His father David. Then from Jerusalem He will rule the world in peace and righteousness.

Again, as ‘risen from the dead’ He is now the living Lord in heaven. He lives there to always intercede for you before God (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25). He knows how difficult it is to remain faithful to God’s Word as a loner. Regarding the phrase ‘descendant of David’ you may remember that suffering will come to an end when He comes to reign. Then the things on earth will be like they are in heaven: totally in accordance with God. By remembering Him in this way it will strengthen you to live to His honor in these last days.

What Paul says doesn’t deviate from what he calls “my gospel”. That means that he has proclaimed this in his preaching of the gospel and he himself has kept it in remembrance. That is why he has persevered up till now and has not given up. Therefore he is also still powerful in the faith and is able to encourage Timothy by that. What he writes now applies to all ages, also to now and also to you.

2Tim 2:9. On the basis of the preaching of the gospel and his commitment to it he endures these things. He is no criminal, he has not committed any punishable offence. Paul receives the same treatment as the two crucified people next to the Lord Jesus, who are also called criminals (Lk 23:32 ; 39). It makes clear what society thinks of them and of him. People bracket them in the same category as such people. Above all he is here in the footstep of his Master Who “was numbered with the transgressors” (Isa 53:12).

He was so impressed by the gospel that he would do anything for it. He may be imprisoned, but the Word of God cannot possibly be imprisoned. His faith in its power is maintained unbroken. The power of God’s Word cannot possibly be limited or abolished by anything from man. Its advancement will move on. It will convince hearts and consciences and will deliver people from spiritual imprisonment. The Word of God will conquer any adversary.

Man is like grass that fades, but the Word of God lasts forever, it remains to eternity (Isa 40:6-8; 1Pet 1:24-25). If an instrument is being hindered to actively spread the gospel by imprisonment or death, God will deploy new instruments. Are you deployable?

2Tim 2:10. Despite the fact that Paul is deactivated regarding the preaching, he is not deactivated regarding his involvement. His imprisonment and suffering are a part of it. Paul knows that God is using his imprisonment and hardships to reach and bless “those who are chosen”. That’s why he is happy to put up with it. He doesn’t think of his own pain and hardships, but he thinks of those who are chosen. For their sake he endures everything.

In this way, too, he resembles his Lord. The Lord Jesus has also endured all things for the sake of those who are chosen. In His atoning work for each of those who are chosen He is of course unique. Regarding this no one is able to follow Him or share it with Him. You are indeed able to share in His commitment and suffering that was caused by men. That is a privilege.

Paul’s heart goes out to all who will be saved by the preaching of the gospel. The more are saved, the greater is the glory of the Lord Jesus (Pro 14:28a). God has people in mind whom He wants to save. In His counsel He has also decided that they will be saved. You didn’t know that before the gospel reached you and you came to faith. You have also no idea whom God has taken into His counsel to be saved. That is totally God’s business and not yours.

What you are to keep in mind is that God wants all people to be saved. Therefore the gospel is to be preached to all people. God’s love goes out to all people (Jn 3:16). That’s how it should also be with us (2Cor 5:14). That those who are chosen will accept it is another encouragement to endure all adversary and rejection. It is because of them. It is presented here as if it depends on your commitment that those who are chosen will indeed be saved. After that salvation an eternal glory follows. That is also the part of those who are chosen. Paul is not satisfied with less than that. Are you?

2Tim 2:11. For the fourth time Paul points out that it is a trustworthy statement (1Tim 1:15 ; 1Tim 3:1 ; 1Tim 4:9). In the next letter he repeats it one more time (Tit 3:8). It refers to what he just has said, you can count on it. It also applies to what follows after that. He confirms again that the Word remains, although he is not able to continue his service. You find everything in it that you need to find out how God wants you to live and what His plans with you, the church, Israel and the world are.

The starting point is that you died with Christ. You ought not to take the word “if” as a doubt or insecurity, but in the sense of ‘because it is so’. Because it is so that you have “died with Him”, then living for yourself has ended, a life that you lived without considering God. You have acknowledged that you have lived in sin as a sinner and that God had to throw you into hell for that. The answer of God to that confession was His gospel. Therein He made known to you that Christ has gone through the judgment and that He judged you in Him. When Christ died, you died with Him.

But Christ did not remain in death. He rose. And therefore you also rose and live. Only you do not live for yourself anymore, but for Him (Gal 2:20). If that would mean that you like Christ would have to die the martyr’s death, then like Christ you will still live and do so with Him.

2Tim 2:12. To die the martyr’s death is not for everyone. Surely, everyone who testifies of the Lord Jesus will experience a form of suffering. In return for enduring that, you will reign with Him. The coming kingdom is connected here with suffering (cf. Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; 2Thes 1:4-5). Having some insight in that great future where you will reign together with the Lord Jesus, gives strength today to endure slander and rejection. Reigning soon with Him is a reward for enduring now.

You know and see that reigning with Him still doesn’t occur yet. Our task now is not to reign but to endure. Earlier Paul already told that to the Corinthians too, who also wanted to take some advance on reigning in the millennial kingdom of peace because they didn’t want to endure slander (1Cor 4:8-13). The Lord Jesus has given the perfect example when He was being abused and said to Pilate: “But as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (Jn 18:36).

After having used several times a positive ‘if’ with the corresponding promise, from 2Tim 2:12b several times a negative ‘if’ follows with a corresponding result. To “deny” Christ means to deny against better judgment to know Him. That happens when people confess to be in connection with Christ but deny that connection before other people.

A clear example you have in the denial by Peter (Mt 26:69-74). Of Peter we know that he is a believer, for he has confessed this sin and the Lord has forgiven him. This sin can be committed by any believer. If that happens the Lord has to deny that believer, as He had to deny Peter too. From the moment that Peter denied the Lord Jesus, the Lord said to His Father that He did not know Peter.

That doesn’t mean that the Lord did not keep an eye on Peter and didn’t bring him to repentance (Lk 22:61). But until the moment of repentance the Lord denied before His Father that He knew Peter. This denial by the Lord also implies that Peter lost the blessing and reward that he received if he had not denied the Lord. The denying of the Lord has therefore a consequence for today and for the future.

Also people who only confess with their lips that they know the Lord, addressing Him as “Lord, Lord” (Mt 7:21), will find themselves in situations that they deny Him. The Lord will deny them too, but the consequences will then be endlessly worse. They will be denied by Him forever (Mt 10:33 ; Mt 7:22-23).

Now read 2 Timothy 2:7-12 again.

Reflection: What do you learn here about the Lord Jesus and your relation to Him?