2 Timothy 2:6-10

 

2 Tim 2:6 (KJB)

The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

 

Husbandman - Farmer or one who tills the soil

First - Before

 

In an agrarian sense, the farmer must labor in the growing and nurturing of the crops because not only will he be able to sell some of those crops, but he and his family will also share of the harvest for their own usage. This has a very tremendous spiritual lesson for us. Whenever a teacher prepares a lesson or a pastor prepares a sermon to give to the church, the teacher is always the first one who has the privilege of learning the great truths out of the Bible. (1 Tim 4:16 KJV) Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. In 1 Timothy, we saw that Paul gave Timothy a serious warning that he needed to pay close attention to his teachings because the souls of himself and his hearers depended upon what was preached. If a false teaching is brought, then the people hearing will go astray and the teacher who brings the false teaching will continue to build upon it until it mushrooms into a false belief system. This is why it is absolutely important for the teacher to test the fruit of their teachings, to make sure they are in line with the rest of Scripture. If the farmer samples his fruit and finds it is bad or does not tastes good, he will not sell it nor even give any of it to his family. Likewise, the teacher must be careful of their teachings and if they find out they have held a certain doctrine which is incorrect, then they must reject it and start all over, rather than trying to justify the false teaching.

 

2 Tim 2:7 (KJB)

Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

 

Consider - Take note of, understand, or think over

Understanding - Comprehension or insight

 

Paul is now telling Timothy that he must consider what he is being told. This is not a suggestion to Timothy nor is it a suggestion to us. The word in the Greek behind “consider” is in the Imperative mood making it a command. Any time that we publish any type of Gospel teaching, we must be careful that it is in the truth and this is why we are commanded to consider or understand these things because there should be nothing but truth coming out of our mouths or pens. Then as Timothy or us, begin to consider or understand these things, then the Lord Himself will begin to add more understanding to us and this way in all our ways we will be walking the Christian walk and not only talking it. It will begin to increase our understanding of Scripture and our knowledge of God. The more we understand the Scriptures, the less likely we are to become apostate.

 

2 Tim 2:8 (KJB)

Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

 

(1 Cor 15:4 KJV) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: The gospel which Paul claimed as his own was according to the Scriptures. Paul’s Gospel was not his own creation nor was it his own teachings. (2 Cor 5:20 KJV) Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. Paul spoke of the true Christian as being an ambassador. Now we are ambassadors for the Kingdom of Heaven. The ambassador does not bring his own message nor does he make any policy. He merely represents his government to another government. For example, the American Ambassador to Peru represents the government of the United States to the country of Peru. Now we are in the same type of calling. We are to represent the Kingdom of Heaven to this world and we are not to make up our own systems or teachings. We teach the Bible as it is written without fanciful interpretations. This is why Paul was asserting in this verse that Jesus was a true Hebrew in the lineage of King David and he was also attesting to the fact that Jesus had died on the cross and was raised according to the true Gospel as we read in 1 Corinthians 15:4 above. The resurrection of Jesus is what separates true Christianity from all the dead religions of the world because all the founders are dead and in their graves.

 

2 Tim 2:9 (KJB)

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

 

Suffer trouble - Suffer hardship or endure affliction

Evil doer - Malefactor or criminal

 

Since one of the main tenets of the true Gospel is the resurrection of Christ, Paul was seen as a malefactor for bringing the true Gospel wherever he went. The word in the Greek for “evil doer” is the same word describing the two thieves who were crucified with Christ. Paul literally states that because of the Gospel, he is seen as no better than a criminal who should be crucified and put to death. Therefore, because he was seen in that light, he had suffered many hardships and some brought him close to death. He knew one great principle and that is even though he was in prison several times and was unable to go out until released, he knew that the word of God was not bound. The word was carried from person to person in ancient times and that is how the word of God spread throughout the Roman Empire. (Phil 4:22 KJV) All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household. The Gospel was even present in the household of the Roman Emperor. Just because we may be in a position of inability to go long distances with the Gospel, we may be bound but the Gospel never is. God will guide the dissemination of His Word and will always make a way to send it forth. Those who visited Paul would come away with the Gospel and then they would become ambassadors for the truth.

 

2 Tim 2:10 (KJB)

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

 

Here is Paul’s missionary heart. He had suffered many things over the years of his ministry and he was happy to endure these hardships because he did it for the elect of God. There were those who have become saved already but there were many elect who were not saved yet and had to hear the true Gospel and when it was their time, they would become saved. It is the same in our day, that there are still elect in the world who have not become saved yet and the Gospel must get to them so they may hear and God will grant them salvation at the appointed time. This should be the same mindset of every Christian, that they are willing to suffer hardship to be able to get the Gospel to those elect who have not come into the kingdom yet. Since only God knows who the elect are, it is our responsibility to send forth the Gospel to the entire world. (Mat 22:14 KJV) For many are called, but few are chosen. This is why a verse like Matthew 22:14 takes on new meaning when we know that when there is a Gospel call, many may be under the hearing of the Gospel but out of that many will be the few who are the chosen or the elect of God. Paul knew the word of God can never be bound and that is why he had no qualms about going through what he did because everything he suffered worked out for the furtherance of the Gospel. (Phil 1:12 KJV) But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

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