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2 Timothy 2:14
by Don Costello 2 Timothy 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. [Amplified Bible] Remind the people of these facts, and solemnly charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, that does no good, but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers. 1. "Of these things put them in remembrance" a. "These things" are the subject of the passage 2 Timothy 2:14-21. Paul lists three of them of which we will attempt to cover in detail. 2. "charging them before the Lord" a. charge [1263 * diamarturomai] [Zodhiates: To bear witness, testify earnestly or repeatedly, or to charge as it were before witnesses, to affirm. b. The word "charge" is used many times in the Old Testament in connection with the commandments of God. It is never used lightly. One can do a word search of it and be struck by the heaviness associated with it. 1). 1 Kings 2:1-3 "Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thy self a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whitherso ever thou turnest thyself." 2). Numbers 27:18-23 "And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, an man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him; And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight. And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of the Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation: And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses." c. before [1799 * enopion] [Zodhiates: In the face of, in the presence of. Marking the manner, and especially the sincerity with which anything is done before God or in the sight of God, meaning God being present and witness, "before God" means God being witness.] 3. "that they strive not about words to no profit" a. Amplified Bible: "to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good" b. strive [3054 * logomacheō; logos-word; machomai-to fight] [To fight over words.] [Thayer: to contend about words, to wrangle about empty and trifling matters.] c. profit [5539 * chresimos] [Thayers: fit for use, useful.] d. We are not to fight over words that won't help anybody grow spiritually. 4. "but to the subverting of the hearers." a. subverting [2692 * katastrophe] [Thayer: overthrow, destruction, metaphorically, of the extinction of a spirit of consecration.] b. This is where we get the English word catastrophe, so in light of that I don't believe the meaning is just to shake up or wound a persons faith. It means to overthrow or destroy it. If our discussion with other Christians is only going to destroy or completely overthrow their faith, we need to keep our mouths shut. c. This is the first on the list of "these things" that Paul was admonishing Timothy to not only be obedient to himself but to pass these commandments on to those under him. My name is Don Costello. Ever since I received Christ in November of 1976 I have had a passion to study and know God's word.My wife Melissa and I have 5 children. My e-mail address is [email protected] I have a blog located at: www.theophilus-loverofgodsword.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |