Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20121007.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
2 Timothy: God's Directives For Church Leaders Amid Hardships
Part VII: Responding Well To False Teachers Amid Ministry Hardships, 2 Timothy 2:14-4:8
B. Responding Well To False Teachers By Having An Upright Circle Of Fellowship
(2 Timothy 2:17-22)
  1. Introduction
    1. Not only must a Church leader or any believer who disciples others have an upright teaching ministry as we learned in 2 Timothy 2:14-16, he must exhibit care regarding his circle of fellowship, for those with whom one mingles affect his thinking, and that in turn either harms or reinforces his beliefs and his life.
    2. Paul presented this truth in 2 Timothy 2:17-22, and we view it for our insight and edification (as follows):
  2. Responding Well To False Teachers By Having An Upright Circle Of Fellowship, 2 Timothy 2:17-22.
    1. Paul noted that the godless teachings he had commanded Timothy to avoid in 2 Timothy 2:16 would spread like infectious "gangrene" (NIV, ESV) spreads in the body, leading even to death, 2 Tim. 2:17a.
    2. The Apostle then illustrated this truth in recalling the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus, teachers who had "deviated, departed, missed the mark" (astocheo, Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Engl. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 117) in teaching that the resurrection was now past, "causing to fall, overturn, destroy" (anatrepo, Ibid., p. 62) the Christian faith of some in the Christian Church, 2 Timothy 2:17b-18.
    3. Opposite such unsettling tragedy, Paul referred to God's corrective measures in such matters, 2 Tim. 2:19:
      1. First, he cited Numbers 16:5 LXX, writing, "The Lord knows those who are His," words by Moses as Korah led a rebellion against God's truth, Num. 16:1-4; U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966, ftn. to 2 Tim. 2:19.
      2. Second, Paul alluded to Numbers 16:26 in writing, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19b ESV) where Moses warned the rest of the people of Israel to part company with Korah and his rebellious followers to avoid being destroyed in their judgment, Ibid.
      3. These directives act as God's "seal" to His "firm foundation." This claim is explained by the context of Numbers 16: there, God protected the rest of the nation Israel that had not followed Korah's sin by having them separate from Korah's people so they would not die. Likewise, God thus works today to protect true believers from apostates as they part from such evil men and their teachings, 2 Tim . 2:19a.
    4. Continuing with this thought, Paul explained that in a large house there are both vessels of gold and silver and of wood and clay, some for honorable and others for dishonorable uses, 2 Timothy 2:20. So it is in the visible Church today as it was in ancient Israel in the wilderness in Moses' era: there are not only true believers, there are also apostates, Wm. Hendriksen, Expos. of the Pastoral Epistles (NTC), 1974, p. 270.
    5. Thus, if a believer cleanses himself from such unclean vessels, that is, if he parts from apostates who bear evil teachings like the innocent people in ancient Israel parted from Korah's company, he will be a vessel set apart for holy use unto the Lord, prepared for every good work, 2 Timothy 2:21; Ibid., p. 270-271.
    6. Applied to Timothy, he was to perform two self-protective directives in ministry, 2 Timothy 2:22a,b:
      1. First, Timothy was negatively to "flee for safety" (pheugo, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 863) from sins that hindered God's use of him in the teaching ministry, sins that rose from "youthful" (neoterikos, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 539), errant "strong yearnings" (epithumia, Ibid., p. 293; Ibid., Hendriksen, p. 272). Scripture elsewhere defines such yearnings in three groups -- (a) sinful pleasures (errant lusts for food, drink, unbiblical sex, etc., Rom. 1:24; Rev. 18:14, etc.; Ibid.), (b) power (Gal. 5:16, 24; 2 Peter 2:10, 18; Jude 16, 18; Ibid.) and (c) possessions (1 Tim. 6:9 in the context; Ibid.), 2 Tim. 2:22a.
      2. Second, Timothy was positively to "seek after" (dioko, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 200) righteousness, faith, love and peace in the company [fellowship] of (the preposition meta with the genitive case, Ibid., Arndt & Gingrich, p. 509-511) those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart, 2 Timothy 2:22b.
      3. In summary, then, to guard his teaching from corrupted doctrines, Timothy was to part company with apostate teachers, parting also from ungodly lusts typical especially of the gnostic false teachers, and to fellowship with godly believers with upright lives and doctrine!
Lesson: To aid in keeping his teaching sound, a discipler must guard his mind and heart by parting company with apostates and errant lusts and views and associate with the upright in life and doctrine.

Application: May we keep a pure heart and fellowship to guard an upright teaching ministry for Christ.