2Ti 2 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Tim 2:1-13: 2:1-13 Timothy is again told to be strong and to endure suffering along with Paul (2:1-7 ; see 1:8 ). Timothy’s obedience should be motivated by reflecting on the Good News and on Paul’s example (2:8-13 ). 2:1 Timothy, my dear son (literally Therefore you, my child ): In the Greek, therefore links this phrase back to 1:15-18 and the emphatic you is in contrast to those examples.

Summary for 2Tim 2:1-13: 2:1-13 ^a Timothy is again told to be strong and to endure suffering along with Paul (2:1-7 ^b; see 1:8 ^c). Timothy’s obedience should be motivated by reflecting on the Good News and on Paul’s example (2:8-13 ^d). 2:1 ^e Timothy, my dear son (literally Therefore you, my child): In the Greek, therefore links this phrase back to 1:15-18 ^f and the emphatic you is in contrast to those examples.
2:2 ^g The many reliable witnesses would confirm the validity and veracity of Paul’s teaching (see also 3:10-11 ^h).

• teach these truths (literally entrust these things): This verb is a cognate of deposit (see study notes on 1:12, 14). Timothy’s own guarding of the deposit includes entrusting it to faithful people.
Summary for 2Tim 2:4-7: 2:4-7 ⁱ In rapid-fire sequence, Paul quotes maxims about single-minded struggling and laboring.
Summary for 2Tim 2:8-13: 2:8-13 ^j Paul’s suffering (1:12 ^k) reflects the suffering of Jesus Christ and points to the cross and resurrection as the inner meaning of that Good News (see 1:8 ^l). Paul’s suffering, like Christ’s, was instrumental in bringing salvation to others. Christ gives his approval to those who suffer and endure with him. 2:8 ^m Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead: Cp. Rom 1:3-4 ⁿ. Suffering with Christ should be viewed from the perspective of the resurrection to come.
2:9 ^o like a criminal: Paul was identifying with Jesus’ death (2:11 ^p; Phil 3:10-11 ^q).

• the word of God cannot be chained: Both Paul and the Good News would be victorious through the power of Christ’s resurrection (see 2 Tim 4:17-18 ^r; see also 2 Cor 12:8-10 ^s; Phil 1:12-14 ^t).
2:11 ^u a trustworthy saying: See study notes on 1 Tim 1:15; 2:5-6.
2:13 ^v he remains faithful: This could mean that (1) he allows those who have stumbled an opportunity for repentance; (2) he faithfully judges unbelievers in accord with his unchanging will; (3) he himself is an example of faithfulness for his people to follow; and/or (4) he will faithfully accomplish his purposes in history, to save those who trust in him through the Good News (1:12 ^w; 2:19 ^x). See also Rom 3:3-4 ^y; 1 Cor 10:13 ^z; 1 Jn 1:9 ^aa.
Summary for 2Tim 2:14-26: 2:14-26 ^ab Timothy must insist on the teaching of 2:8-13 ^ac and steer clear of the teaching and conduct of the false teachers. The heresy was probably the same as in 1 Tim 6:20-21 ^ad.
2:15 ^ae who correctly explains (literally who guides along a straight path): The NLT relates this verse to right interpretation of the word of truth. Another possibility is that Timothy should keep to his purpose in teaching the word (see 1 Tim 1:4 ^af) and not turn aside by engaging in the false teachers’ controversies (2 Tim 2:16 ^ag).
2:17 ^ah Hymenaeus was earlier teamed with Alexander (1 Tim 1:20 ^ai); both of them were still wreaking havoc (2 Tim 4:14-15 ^aj).

• Philetus was Hymenaeus’s new accomplice.
2:18 ^ak claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred: Cp. 2 Thes 2:2 ^al. These false teachers might have twisted Paul’s own teaching on the resurrection of the dead (Rom 6:5 ^am; Gal 2:20 ^an; Eph 1:3 ^ao; 2:6 ^ap; 5:14 ^aq; Col 2:12 ^ar; 3:1-4 ^as) by teaching that they already fully participated in the heavenly life, and perhaps that physical resurrection would not occur. They could have concluded from this that one’s conduct in the body (i.e., morality) was irrelevant, since their mortal bodies could have no impact on their eternal spirits. Or, they could have gone the other way, toward world-denying asceticism (1 Tim 4:3 ^at; see Col 2:8 ^au, 16-23 ^av), with the idea that enjoyment of material things is inappropriate for resurrected, spiritual persons. These teachers might have understood from Jesus’ teachings (see Matt 19:10-12 ^aw; 22:30 ^ax) that marriage should be prohibited (1 Tim 4:3 ^ay). Their teachings on the Old Testament law (1 Tim 1:7-11 ^az) might have led to the promotion of certain taboos. Their teachings might have involved an overly aggressive promotion of equality (see 2 Tim 3:6 ^ba; cp. Gal 3:28 ^bb; 1 Tim 2:11-15 ^bc) in the belief that the age to come was already here. Their teaching might have focused exclusively on resurrection power, which would contradict Paul’s message of suffering and the cross (see 2 Tim 1:8 ^bd, 12 ^be; 2:8-13 ^bf; cp. 1 Cor 4:8-13 ^bg; 2 Cor 12:8-10 ^bh). Whatever its exact form, Paul describes their teaching as “worthless, foolish talk” (2 Tim 2:16 ^bi).
2:19 ^bj Paul assures Timothy that the false teaching will not win (see 3:9 ^bk), and he reinforces the call to purity.

• foundation stone: This metaphor emphasizes immunity to destruction (Isa 28:16 ^bl) and might reflect a temple (see also 1 Tim 3:15 ^bm; 1 Cor 3:11 ^bn; Eph 2:20 ^bo; 1 Pet 2:4-7 ^bp; Rev 21:14 ^bq).

• The Lord knows: This quotation alludes to Num 16:5 ^br.

• All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil: See Isa 52:11 ^bs; cp. Num 16:26-27 ^bt; Lev 24:16 ^bu; Ps 6:8 ^bv.
Summary for 2Tim 2:20-21: 2:20-21 ^bw Building on 2:19 ^bx, Paul uses imagery about the utensils in a wealthy home (see Rom 9:21 ^by). Within God’s household one should endeavor to be like a utensil that is cherished rather than one that is treated with contempt.
2:22 ^bz those who call on the Lord: Cp. Ps 99:6 ^ca; Joel 2:32 ^cb; Acts 2:21 ^cc; 9:14 ^cd, 21 ^ce; 22:16 ^cf; Rom 10:12-13 ^cg; 1 Cor 1:2 ^ch.

• with pure hearts: Cp. 1 Tim 1:5 ^ci.
2:24 ^cj A servant of the Lord: See Titus 1:1 ^ck; cp. Isa 42:1-2 ^cl; 50:6 ^cm; 53:7 ^cn; Matt 12:14-21 ^co.

• be able to teach, and be patient: See 1 Tim 3:2-3 ^cp; Titus 3:2 ^cq.
2:25 ^cr Gently instruct: Cp. 1 Cor 4:21 ^cs; 2 Cor 10:1 ^ct; 1 Thes 5:14 ^cu; 2 Thes 3:14-15 ^cv; Titus 3:10-11 ^cw; Jude 1:22-23 ^cx.