2 Timothy 2:20-22
New American Standard Bible
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and (A)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from (B)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, (C)prepared for every good work. 22 Now (D)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, (E)faith, love, and peace with those who (F)call on the Lord (G)from a pure heart.
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2 Timothy 2:20-22
The Voice
20 Look, in the mansions of the rich and powerful you will find everything from silver and gold serving bowls to wooden containers and clay jars; some are used for special occasions—where honor is important—others are used for more mundane tasks. 21 So tell them, if they will clean up their lives and purify themselves from dishonorable teachings that lead people astray, then they can become honorable vessels, consecrated and useful to the Master, made ready for every good work He has in store.
22 Timothy, run away from youthful desires. Instead, direct your passion to chasing after righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord with pure hearts.
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2 Timothy 2:20-26
The Message
20-21 In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
22-26 Run away from childish indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
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2 Timothy 2:20-22
New English Translation
20 Now in a wealthy home[a] there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.[b] 21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior,[c] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others[d] who call on the Lord from a pure heart.[e]
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- 2 Timothy 2:20 tn Grk “a great house.”
- 2 Timothy 2:20 tn Grk “for dishonor,” probably referring to vessels used for refuse or excrement.
- 2 Timothy 2:21 tn Grk “from these,” alluding to the errors and deeds of the false teachers described in vv. 14-19.
- 2 Timothy 2:22 tn Grk “and peace, with those.”
- 2 Timothy 2:22 sn In company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart alludes to the value of the community of believers for the development of Christian virtues.
2 Timothy 2:20-22
New Living Translation
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
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2 Timothy 2:20-26
New American Standard Bible
20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and (A)some are for honor while others are for dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from (B)these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, (C)prepared for every good work. 22 Now (D)flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, (E)faith, love, and peace with those who (F)call on the Lord (G)from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant (H)speculations, knowing that they (I)produce [a]quarrels. 24 (J)The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, (K)skillful in teaching, patient when wronged, 25 (L)with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, (M)if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to (N)the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from (O)the snare of the devil, having been (P)held captive [b]by him to do his will.
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- 2 Timothy 2:23 Lit fightings
- 2 Timothy 2:26 Or by him, to do His will
2 Timothy 2:20-26
The Voice
20 Look, in the mansions of the rich and powerful you will find everything from silver and gold serving bowls to wooden containers and clay jars; some are used for special occasions—where honor is important—others are used for more mundane tasks. 21 So tell them, if they will clean up their lives and purify themselves from dishonorable teachings that lead people astray, then they can become honorable vessels, consecrated and useful to the Master, made ready for every good work He has in store.
22 Timothy, run away from youthful desires. Instead, direct your passion to chasing after righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord with pure hearts. 23 Excuse yourself from any conversations that turn into foolish and uninformed debates because you know they only provoke fights. 24 As the Lord’s slave, you shouldn’t exhaust yourself in bickering; instead, be gentle—no matter who you are dealing with—ready and able to teach, tolerant without resentment, 25 gently instructing those who stand up against you. Besides, the time may come when God grants them a change of heart[a] so that they can arrive at the full knowledge of truth. 26 And if they come to their senses, they can escape the devil’s snare and walk freed from his captivity and evil bidding.
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- 2:25 Literally, repentance
2 Timothy 2:20-26
The Message
20-21 In a well-furnished kitchen there are not only crystal goblets and silver platters, but waste cans and compost buckets—some containers used to serve fine meals, others to take out the garbage. Become the kind of container God can use to present any and every kind of gift to his guests for their blessing.
22-26 Run away from childish indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
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2 Timothy 2:20-26
New English Translation
20 Now in a wealthy home[a] there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also ones made of wood and of clay, and some are for honorable use, but others for ignoble use.[b] 21 So if someone cleanses himself of such behavior,[c] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others[d] who call on the Lord from a pure heart.[e] 23 But reject foolish and ignorant[f] controversies, because you know they breed infighting.[g] 24 And the Lord’s slave[h] must not engage in heated disputes[i] but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, 25 correcting[j] opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth[k] 26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive[l] to do his will.[m]
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- 2 Timothy 2:20 tn Grk “a great house.”
- 2 Timothy 2:20 tn Grk “for dishonor,” probably referring to vessels used for refuse or excrement.
- 2 Timothy 2:21 tn Grk “from these,” alluding to the errors and deeds of the false teachers described in vv. 14-19.
- 2 Timothy 2:22 tn Grk “and peace, with those.”
- 2 Timothy 2:22 sn In company with others who call on the Lord from a pure heart alludes to the value of the community of believers for the development of Christian virtues.
- 2 Timothy 2:23 tn Or “uninstructed,” “silly.”
- 2 Timothy 2:23 tn Or “fights,” although this could suggest weapons and blows, whereas in the present context this is not the primary focus. Although “quarrel” is frequently used here (NAB, NIV, NRSV) it may be understood to refer to a relatively minor disagreement.
- 2 Timothy 2:24 tn Traditionally, “servant” or “bondservant.” Though δοῦλος (doulos) is normally translated “servant,” the word does not bear the connotation of a free individual serving another. BDAG notes that “‘servant’ for ‘slave’ is largely confined to Biblical transl. and early American times…in normal usage at the present time the two words are carefully distinguished” (BDAG 260 s.v.). One good translation is “bondservant” (sometimes found in the ASV for δοῦλος) in that it often indicates one who sells himself into slavery to another. But as this is archaic, few today understand its force. Also, many slaves in the Roman world became slaves through Rome’s subjugation of conquered nations, kidnapping, or by being born into slave households. sn Undoubtedly the background for the concept of being the Lord’s slave or servant is to be found in the Old Testament scriptures. For a Jew this concept did not connote drudgery, but honor and privilege. It was used of national Israel at times (Isa 43:10), but was especially associated with famous OT personalities, including such great men as Moses (Josh 14:7), David (Ps 89:3; cf. 2 Sam 7:5, 8) and Elijah (2 Kgs 10:10); all these men were “servants (or slaves) of the Lord.”
- 2 Timothy 2:24 tn Grk “must not fight” or “must not quarrel.” The Greek verb is related to the noun translated “infighting” in v. 23.
- 2 Timothy 2:25 sn Correcting is the word for “child-training” or “discipline.” It is often positive (training, educating) but here denotes the negative side (correcting, disciplining).
- 2 Timothy 2:25 tn Grk “repentance unto knowledge of the truth.”
- 2 Timothy 2:26 tn Grk “having been captured by him.”
- 2 Timothy 2:26 tn Grk “for that one’s will,” referring to the devil, but with a different pronoun than in the previous phrase “by him.” Some have construed “for his will” with the earlier verb and referred the pronoun to God: “come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap (though they have been captured by him) in order to do His will.” In Classical Greek the shift in pronouns would suggest this, but in Koine Greek this change is not significant. The more natural sense is a reference to the devil’s will.
2 Timothy 2:20-26
New Living Translation
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.
23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.
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