2 Timothy 2:19 - Meaning and Application

Here we learn where to find comfort about the small errors and false teachings that creep into the church and do real harm.

First, it is a great comfort that the unbelief of people cannot make God’s promise fail. Even if some people’s faith is ruined, the foundation of God stands firm (2 Timothy 2:19). It is impossible for them to fool God’s chosen people. Or this may refer to the truth itself that false teachers attack. All the attacks of darkness against the doctrine of Christ cannot shake it. It stands firm and survives every storm that rises against it.

The prophets and apostles, that is, the teaching of the Old and New Testaments, still stand sure. They are like a seal with two sayings on it, one on each side, as is common with a broad seal. One saying gives us comfort: “The Lord knows those who are his.” He knows them in the sense that he claims them as his own, and he knows them so fully that he will never lose them. Though some people’s faith is overthrown, the Lord is said to know the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6). No one can overthrow the faith of any person God has chosen.

The other saying gives us our duty: “Everyone who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity.” Those who want the comfort of belonging to Christ must also take seriously the duty that goes with it. If Christ’s name is placed on us, we must turn away from evil, or he will not own us. He will say on the great day, “Depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). Whatever errors are brought into the church, the foundation of God stands sure, and his purpose can never be defeated. God has some in the church who truly belong to him, and he knows who they are. And those who profess Christ, who are called by his name, are bound to turn from sin, because Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness (Titus 2:14).

Another comfort is that although some people’s faith is ruined, others keep their integrity and hold it fast (2 Timothy 2:20). In a great house there are not only vessels of gold, and so on. The church of Christ is a great and well-furnished house. Some of its furnishings are very valuable, like silver plate in a house. Some are worth less and are used for ordinary tasks, like wooden or clay vessels. It is the same in the church of God. Some who claim religion are like wooden and clay vessels, vessels of dishonor. But not all are like that. There are also vessels of gold and silver, vessels of honor, made holy and fit for the Master’s use.

When we are discouraged by the badness of some, we should encourage ourselves by the goodness of others. We should also make sure that we ourselves are vessels of honor. We must clear ourselves from these corrupt opinions so that we may be made holy for our Master’s use. In the church, there are vessels of honor and vessels of dishonor, vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath (Romans 9:22, Romans 9:23). Some bring shame on the church by their false beliefs and wicked lives. Others bring honor and credit to it by their example. A person must cleanse himself from these things before he can be a vessel of honor, or useful to his Master.

Every vessel must be fit for its master’s use. Everyone in the church whom God approves must be set apart for his service and ready for that service. Holiness in the heart prepares us for every good work. The tree must first be made good, and then the fruit will be good.