CHAPTER 2

(A.D. 66)

A GOOD SOLDIER

¹Thou therefore, my son, be strong (one carries this out by ever making the Cross the Object of Faith) in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus. (The Source of Grace is the Lord, but the means is the Cross.)

²And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses (the integrity of the mighty deposit of Truth), the same commit thou to Faithful men (refers to others called of God, who would Preach this great Gospel), who shall be able to teach others also. (While many turned away from Paul, the evidence here is that some didnt; they were Faithful.)

³You therefore endure hardness (take your part in suffering hardship if called upon to do so), as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (The Roman Legionnaires suffered hardship in the service of the Emperor. Why not the Christian in the service of the King of kings?)

⁴No man who wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life (a soldier has one thing on his mind, and that is to carry out his duty; the Christian is to have the same motive, the same spirit, and the same consecration; hence, the Apostle using the word soldier); that he may please Him Who has chosen him to be a soldier. (We are to please Christ, not men.)

⁵And if a man also strive for masteries (now presents the manner in which the Believer strives), yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (It is the preparation for the contest that is in question, not the contest itself. What is the Apostle saying?)

⁶The husbandman who labors (the sowing of seed in order that a crop may ultimately be harvested) must be first partaker of the fruits. (If he doesnt strive lawfully, which means to walk after the Spirit which leads to the Cross, there arent going to be any fruits.)

⁷Consider what I say (refers to the fact that what Paul is saying is actually the Word of the Lord); and the Lord give you understanding in all things. (The Holy Spirit will always help the sincere seeker understand the tenor of the Word of God.)

⁸Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David (the Incarnation) was raised from the dead (out from among the dead) according to my Gospel (that which was given to him by the Lord [Gal. 1:11-12]):

SUFFERING

⁹Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds (proclaims the fact that it was because of his Preaching of the Gospel that Paul had suffered severe trouble); but the Word of God is not bound. (This presents the fact that the Gospel, as it had been given to Paul, had been preserved by that Apostle in that he could pass it on undiluted and uncompromised.)

¹⁰Therefore I endure all things for the elects sakes (refers to all who have accepted Christ, whether Jews or Gentiles), that they may also obtain the Salvation which is in Christ Jesus with Eternal Glory. (If the Message of the Cross was diluted in any way, there would be no Eternal Glory. We should vividly remember that.)

¹¹It is a Faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him(refers to Christ as our Substitute dying on the Cross, with our Faith placing us in the position of dying with Him [Rom. 6:3-8]), we shall also live with Him(the Greek says, We shall live by means of Him; our living with Him, which speaks of Resurrection Life and thus speaks of perpetual victory, is attained only by us understanding that we have been planted together [Christ and the Believer] in the likeness of His Death; in other words, it was all done at the Cross!):

¹²If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him(the suffering has to do with fighting the good fight of Faith; to reign means to reign as a king, so the stakes are very high!): if we deny Him, He also will deny us (refers to denying what He did for us at the Cross):

¹³If we believe not (believe what He did at the Cross), yet He abides Faithful (despite the unbelief of many, He will be Faithful to Redeem all who come to Him in Faith): He cannot deny Himself. (Heaven will never change the Plan of Redemption and Victory, which is the Cross.)

INSTRUCTIONS

¹⁴Of these things put them in remembrance (has special reference to the issues of life and death set out in the previous three Verses), charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit (if the Cross is abandoned, Christ shall profit you nothing [Gal. 5:2]), but to the subverting of the hearers (refers to overthrowing their Faith).

¹⁵Study to show yourself approved unto God (refers to a workman who has been put to the test and, meeting these specifications, has won the approval of the one who has subjected him to the test), a workman who needs not to be ashamed (Faith placed exclusively in the Cross will never bring shame; faith placed elsewhere will, without fail, bring shame), rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (If one doesnt properly understand the Cross, one cannot rightly divide the Word of Truth.)

¹⁶But shun profane and vain babblings (this means no false doctrine leaves its victims as they were found, but rather worse, much worse!): for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (If the Preacher is teaching anything other than the Cross of Christ, it is construed by the Holy Spirit as no more than vain babblings, and is guaranteed to increase ungodliness more and more. In fact, it cannot be any other way!)

¹⁷And their word will eat as does a canker (false doctrine, which constitutes anything other than the Cross, will ultimately corrupt the whole): of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus (as is obvious, Paul is here marking them, which caused divisions and offences contrary to sound Doctrine [Rom. 16:17]; if we as Preachers are to be true to the Gospel, we must do the same);

¹⁸Who concerning the Truth have erred (there is only one Truth, and that is Jesus Christ and Him Crucified [I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2]), saying that the Resurrection is past already (this is very similar to some modern Christians who claim there will be no Rapture, especially considering that the Rapture and the Resurrection are one and the same); and overthrow the Faith of some. (The Death and Resurrection of Christ have made everything possible, including the coming Resurrection of all Saints. To be confused about Christs Atoning Work is to be confused about everything.)

¹⁹Nevertheless the Foundation of God stands sure (proclaims the truth that this foundation is secure, despite the fact that some make shipwreck of their Faith), having this seal, The Lord knows them who are His. (This seal guarantees the security of the Church and the purity of the Church. The two go together. The purity of the Church is indispensable to its security.) And, Let every one who names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity. (One can depart from iniquity, only as one makes the Cross the Object of his Faith, which then gives him Holy Spirit Power.)

²⁰But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth (presents the Apostle using metaphors); and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (This refers to the fact that there is no such thing as sinless perfection this side of the Resurrection. There are problems in every Christian life, which only the Cross can cure.)

²¹If a man therefore purge himself from these (he can only do so by ever making the Cross the Object of his Faith, which will then give him Holy Spirit Power that alone can accomplish the task; the purging cannot come about by any other manner), he shall be a ves sel unto honour, Sanctified, and meet (qualified) for the Masters use, and prepared unto every good work.

²²Flee also youthful lusts (refers to the evil attracted to one when they are young, which is then very difficult to free ones self from when they are older): but follow Righteousness, Faith, Charity (Love), Peace, with them who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (attributes of the Spirit, which He Alone can produce within our hearts and lives, and He does according to our Faith anchored firmly in the Cross).

²³But foolish and unlearned questions avoid (if its not Christ and Him Crucified, forget it!), knowing that they do gender strifes. (This proclaims agitation, and much ado about nothing.)

²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not strive (pertains to being drawn aside into endless discussions which serve no purpose, and can only conclude in strife!); but be gentle unto all men(Fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5:22]), apt to teach (teach correct Doctrine), patient (show patience to those who do not easily and quickly understand that which is being taught),

²⁵In meekness instructing those who oppose themselves (refers to those who place themselves in opposition to the true servant of the Lord and to True Doctrine); if God peradventure will give them Repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth (hoping those in error will repent and come to the Truth, and we might quickly say, The Truth of the Cross);

²⁶And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the Devil (if one is placing his Faith and Hope in anything other than Christ and the Cross, he has been snared by the Devil, which is serious indeed!), who are taken captive by him at his will. (Unless the Believer makes the Cross the Object of his Faith, which then gives him the help of the Holy Spirit, he is helpless against Satan, who will make him his captive, i.e., in bondage to sin [Gal. 5:1].)