2 Timothy 2:14-15

Summary retelling of 2 Timothy 2:14-15

Paul then tells Timothy to remind the people in Ephesus about what he had told Timothy in the prior section of the letter.  Paul instructs Timothy to not quarrel over words because quarreling over words simply ruins community.  We should be most concerned about presenting ourselves to God – not one another.  We are to be concerned about making sure that we are not ashamed of our faith and that we are correctly handling the teaching that Jesus gave to us.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul tells Timothy to remind others.  Essentially, Paul is telling Timothy to continue to teach.  The job of teaching is never done.  There are always new people being brought into the fold who need to hear for the first time.  There are always current people who are sliding backwards into the world who need to be reminded.  There are always people who are standing firm who need to be reminded of the reason as to why they should remain firm in their faith.  Teaching is an absolutely fundamental part of being a spiritual leader.

Do you have any opportunities where you can teach – even on a small scale?  Do you have any means of developing your teaching skills?

Second Thought:

We are not to quarrel over words.  This is a teaching that we need to be careful about how we interpret.  Paul is not saying that it is bad to talk about what we believe.  He’s not saying that we should be accepting of just any old way of talking about God.  He’s saying that we shouldn’t be willing to argue over just anything.  As they say, there is more than one way to skin a cat.  There are often several legitimate ways to solve an issue.  Often it is more important to find an answer that works and get past the issue than it is to find the absolute best answer before doing anything.  We can often lose so much valuable momentum because we talk about an issue for too long before getting to work on it.

Why is it important to talk through things?  When have you experienced people who are willing to talk through things at far too great of a depth?  How have you felt in those times?

Third Thought:

Paul reminds Timothy that what is important for a spiritual leader is not so much that we always make the perfect decision but that we represent God well in the decisions that we do make.  We need to make sure that when we speak and act that we are doing it in a way that brings glory to God and teaches people correctly about Jesus.  Although he doesn’t say it in so many words, Paul is encouraging Timothy to know that if Timothy is concerned about representing God well, then the Holy Spirit will take care of making sure that the decisions that are made will work out for God’s glory.

Is it easy to put things into God’s hands and trust?  What is easier for you – focusing on the outcomes of your actions or focusing on how your actions represent God?  Which of those two things do you think God wants us to focus upon the most?

Passage for Tomorrow: 2 Timothy 2:16-19