2 Timothy 2:25

Contextual Overview

²²Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²² Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²²Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²²Whip and spur as fast as you can from anything that makes you act like a young stud with only one thing on his mind. A real stud can be ridden and used in any situation without lust grabbing ahold. This is done by living the right way, being faithful, loving others, and exhibiting peace in all you are and do. Ride with other cowboys who ride in a manner worthy of the Lord's service. ²² But keep yourself from those desires of the flesh which are strong when the body is young, and go after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those whose prayers go up to the Lord from a clean heart. ²² But youthful lusts flee, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with those that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. ²² Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ²² Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²² Flee also youthful desires; but follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace with them that call upon the Lord, out of a pure heart.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

In: Matthew 11:29, Galatians 6:1, 1 Timothy 6:11, 1 Peter 3:15

instructing: Jeremiah 13:15-17, Jeremiah 26:12-15, John 5:34, Acts 22:1 - Acts 23:11

if: Jeremiah 31:18, Jeremiah 31:19, Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Ezekiel 36:31, Zechariah 12:10, Acts 5:21, Acts 11:18, James 1:17, 1 John 5:16

peradventure: Acts 8:22, 1 Timothy 2:4

repentance: 2 Timothy 3:7, Matthew 21:32, Mark 1:3, Mark 1:4, Mark 1:15, Acts 2:38, Acts 20:21, Titus 1:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 32:20 - peradventure Exodus 32:30 - peradventure Deuteronomy 29:4 - General Deuteronomy 34:5 - So Moses Joshua 7:19 - My son Nehemiah 8:13 - to understand the words of the law Psalms 25:15 - out Psalms 80:7 - we shall Isaiah 61:1 - to proclaim Jeremiah 36:3 - may be Ezekiel 12:3 - it may Ezekiel 44:23 - General Daniel 11:33 - understand Joel 2:14 - Who Malachi 2:7 - the priest's Matthew 3:2 - Repent Matthew 4:17 - Repent Matthew 5:5 - the meek Matthew 9:13 - but Matthew 11:20 - because Matthew 12:19 - General Matthew 13:15 - and should be Mark 4:12 - be converted Mark 6:12 - preached Luke 5:32 - General Luke 8:29 - caught Luke 15:15 - he went John 6:65 - that no John 8:32 - and the John 17:17 - word Acts 3:19 - Repent Acts 5:31 - to give Acts 18:6 - they Acts 26:20 - repent Romans 7:23 - and 1 Corinthians 13:4 - suffereth 2 Corinthians 2:11 - General 2 Corinthians 7:10 - repentance Ephesians 1:17 - in the knowledge Ephesians 4:2 - lowliness Colossians 1:28 - teaching 1 Thessalonians 2:7 - we 1 Thessalonians 5:14 - be 1 Timothy 3:3 - no 1 Timothy 5:1 - entreat 2 Timothy 2:2 - who 2 Timothy 3:16 - for instruction 2 Timothy 4:2 - all Titus 1:7 - no Titus 1:9 - to convince Titus 3:2 - no Hebrews 6:1 - repentance Hebrews 6:4 - it is Hebrews 6:6 - to renew James 1:20 - General James 3:13 - with meekness 1 Peter 3:4 - a meek Revelation 2:22 - except

Cross-References

Genesis 2:10
A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.

Genesis 2:10
A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.

Genesis 2:10
Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers.

Genesis 2:10
Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; and from there it divided and became four rivers.

Genesis 2:10
And out of Eden there went foorth a flood to water the garden, and from thence it was deuided, and became into foure heades.

Genesis 2:10
A river flowed from Eden and watered the garden. The river then separated and became four smaller rivers.

Genesis 2:10
A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers.

Genesis 2:10
And a ryuer yede out fro the place of likyng to moyste paradis, which ryuer is departid fro thennus in to foure heedis.

Genesis 2:10
And a riuer went out of Eden to water the garden, and from thence it was parted, and became into foure heads.

Genesis 2:10
And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves,.... To the truth; resist it and deny it; or contradict some other tenets and principles of theirs, or the Scriptures, which they themselves allowed to be the word of God, and the rule of faith and practice, and so are self-convinced and self-condemned. These are to be instructed, being ignorant, and in a tender and gentle manner, though very perverse and obstinate.

If God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth: repentance here designs a repentance of errors in principle, a change of mind upon conviction, and such as issues in a free and ingenuous confession, and acknowledgment of the truth before opposed; and such a repentance is the gift of God: it is he that opens the eyes of the understanding, and works conviction in the mind, and leads into all truth, as it is in Jesus; and induces men to repent of their errors, confess their mistakes, and own the truth; even as repentance of evil practices is not owing to the power of men, nor to the bare influence of means, but to the efficacious grace of God, it being a grant from him. And though this is not certain, that God will give repentance to such contradictors and blasphemers of his Gospel; yet as it is his will, that all his chosen ones should come to repentance, and that some of all sorts should be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth; and seeing these things have been brought about under and by the ministry of the word, it is an encouragement to the ministers of the Gospel to continue their instructions in the manner here directed.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves - That is, those who embrace error, and array themselves against the truth. We are not to become angry with such persons, and denounce them at once as heretics. We are not to hold them up to public reproach and scorn; but we are to set about the business of patiently “instructing them.” Their grand difficulty, it is supposed in this direction, is, that they are ignorant of the truth. Our business with them is, “calmly to show them what the truth is.” If they are angry, we are not to be. If they oppose the truth, we are still calmly to state it to them. If they are slow to see it, we are not to become weary or impatient. Nor, if they do not embrace it at all, are we to become angry with them, and denounce them. We may pity them, but we need not use hard words. This is the apostolic precept about the way of treating those who are in error; and can any one fail to see its beauty and propriety? Let it be remembered, also, that this is not only beautiful and proper in itself; it is the wiseST course, if we would bring others over to our opinions. You are not likely to convince a man that you are right, and that he is wrong, if you first make him angry; nor are you very likely to do it, if you enter into harsh contention. You then put him on his guard; you make him a party, and, from self-respect, or pride, or anger, he will endeavor to defend his own opinions, and will not yield to yours. “Meekness” and “gentleness” are the very best things, if you wish to convince another that he is wrong. With his heart first, and then modestly and kindly show him “what the truth is,” in as few words, and with as unassuming a spirit, as possible, “and you have him.”

If God peradventure will give them repentance, ... - Give them such a view of the error which they have embraced, and such regret for having embraced it, that they shall be willing to admit the truth. After all our care in teaching others the truth, our only dependence is on God for its success. We cannot be absolutely certain that they will see their error; we cannot rely certainly on any power which argument will have; we can only hope that God may show them their error, and enable them to see and embrace the truth; compare Acts 11:18. The word rendered “peradventure,” here - μήποτε mēpote - means, usually, “not even, never;” and then, “that never, lest ever” - the same as “lest perhaps.” It is translated “lest at any time,” Matthew 4:6; Matthew 5:25; Matthew 13:15; Mark 4:12; Luke 21:34; “lest,” Matt, Luke 7:6; Luke 13:29; Luke 15:32; “et al.: lest haply,” Luke 14:12; Acts 5:39. It does not imply that there was any CHance about what is said, but rather that there was uncertainty in the mind of the speaker, and that there was need of caution LesT something should occur; or, that anything was done, or should be done, to prevent something from happening.

It is not used elsewhere in the New Testament in the sense which our translators, and all the critics, so far as I have examined, give to it here - as implying A hope that God would give them repentance, etc. But I may be permitted to suggest another interpretation, which will accord with the uniform meaning of the word in the New Testament, and which will refer the matter to those who had embraced the error, and not to God. It is this: “In meekness instructing ‘those that oppose themselves’ (ἀντιδιατιθεμένους antidiatithemenous) ‘lest’ - μήποτε mēpote - God should give them repentance, and they should recover themselves out of the snare of the devil,” etc. That is, they put themselves in this posture of opposition so that they shall not be brought to repentance, and recover themselves. They do it with a precautionary view that they may not be thus brought to repentance, and be recovered to God. They take this position of opposition to the truth, intending not to be converted; and this is the reason why they are not converted.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 25. Those that oppose — αντιδιατιθεμενους. This seems to refer to those who opposed the apostle's authority; and hence the propriety of the allusion to the rebellion of Korah and his company. See observations at the end of the chapter.

If God peradventure — He was to use every means which he had reason to believe God might bless; and the apostle intimates that, bad as they were, they were not out of the reach of God's mercy.