August 22, 2010

2 Timothy 2:14-26 (Good News Translation)

Embodying Hope and Encouraging Others in Faith

Introduction

2 Timothy 2:14-26: The author warns Timothy against wasting time in conversations that don't go anywhere. He says that despite the things people say, the Lord's foundation is solid. The author also warns Timothy to avoid the temptations of youth. Instead he should seek community with those who can help him live in God's way.

Today’s Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:15

Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth.

Today’s Reading

¹⁴Remind your people of this, and give them a solemn warning in God's presence not to fight over words. It does no good, but only ruins the people who listen. ¹⁵Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. ¹⁶Keep away from profane and foolish discussions, which only drive people farther away from God. ¹⁷Such teaching is like an open sore that eats away the flesh. Two men who have taught such things are Hymenaeus and Philetus. ¹⁸They have left the way of truth and are upsetting the faith of some believers by saying that our resurrection has already taken place. ¹⁹But the solid foundation that God has laid cannot be shaken; and on it are written these words: “The Lord knows those who are his” and “Those who say that they belong to the Lord must turn away from wrongdoing.” ²⁰In a large house there are dishes and bowls of all kinds: some are made of silver and gold, others of wood and clay; some are for special occasions, others for ordinary use. ²¹Those who make themselves clean from all those evil things, will be used for special purposes, because they are dedicated and useful to their Master, ready to be used for every good deed. ²²Avoid the passions of youth, and strive for righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who with a pure heart call out to the Lord for help. ²³But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments; you know that they end up in quarrels. ²⁴As the Lord's servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher, ²⁵who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth. ²⁶And then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will.

Reflect

One example of the "profane and foolish discussions" mentioned in 2:16 was the teaching of Hymenaeus and Philetus, who said that the dead had already been raised to life. They may have been teaching that new life in Christ was not physical, but only spiritual. This was not in agreement with Paul's teachings about new life. What kinds of conversations feel unproductive to you? How do you discern the difference between a difficult but important conversation and an unproductive one?

Pray

Great communicator, let your Spirit infuse my conversations, that through openness and dialogue, we may experience new insights in faith. Amen.

Prayer Concern

Those engaged in faithful dialogue