2 Timothy 2:20, 21 Noble Purposes

2 Timothy 2:20, 21 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work

These verses are a little difficult but if we think of the church of God as being like a large house with a solid foundation (as stated in the previous verse) then those within it can be thought of as articles for various purposes in that house. Just as in a house articles are made of different materials (gold, silver, wood, clay) all depending on what exactly they are used for so in God's church different ones have different qualities and different purposes under God. Some are for noble use, some, sadly, for ignoble. Here Timothy is exhorted to avoid those who are clearly made for ignoble purposes - people who go in for godless chatter or who have begun to wander away from the truth. Timothy is to cleanse himself from such in order that he may be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. What is striking here is that Paul is saying that distinctions need to be made even within the church membership, otherwise if ignoble people get in they can soon pull down the whole edifice unless great care is taken. Wise pastors will learn to disentangle themselves and their churches from vessels of ignoble purpose.

1 Timothy 1:15 Christ Came

1 Timothy 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst.

This is one of the greatest evangelistic texts in the New Testament. It is the first of the five trustworthy sayings of the pastoral letters (the others are in 1 Timothy 3:1 and 4:9, 2 Timothy 2:11 and Titus 3:8) and one of two where Paul says that it deserves full acceptance (1 Timothy 4:9 is the other). The heart of the verse simply says that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. In preaching the verse you would perhaps begin with the name Christ Jesus, explaining what this name points to - the God man, the Messiah who saves. Perhaps the next point should focus on his coming into the world (this is the part that makes the text an appropriate one for an Advent message). Finally, there is why he came - to save sinners. Alternatively, one could begin with sinners, showing that we are all such, and work back to the coming and the fact that he is Christ Jesus. The final phrase of whom I am the worst is a little difficult in that Paul says it of himself. It is understandable that he should and is the zenith or rather nadir of his self-description, being preceded by the admission that he is the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9) and the least of all the saints (Ephesians 3:8). How to apply that to others is problematic. If Paul is the worst sinner then I am not, but may be Paul was only the worst to that point. At the very least it teaches us not to have too high an opinion of ourselves. It certainly points us to the greatness of Christ and his salvation.

1 Timothy 1:5, 6 Good consciences

1 Timothy 1:5, 6 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk.
After the briefest introduction, Paul tells Timothy in this first letter that he must command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer, etc. He says that the goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Far from wanting to pull others down in a spirit of rivalry, Paul assures Timothy his command is motivated by love. To prove it he explains that this love is rooted in three things - a pure heart ... a good conscience and a sincere faith. The phrases are synonymous. The conscience is the heart and faith resides in the heart or conscience. The terms pure, good and sincere are very similar. The point then is that this is a love springing from a heart that wants only what is holy and true. If our hearts were purer, our consciences better, our faith more sincere we would love more and we would have a greater care for believers and a stronger resistance to false teachers. Paul observes (6) that the false teachers have departed from or fallen short of a pure heart, a good conscience, a sincere faith and so lack love. The emptiness that follows they endeavour to fill with meaningless words. They have a lot to say about the Bible, especially the law, but it is has no real meaning. Preachers must preach with a good conscience out of love for those they address. The moment you abandon pursuing these you no longer have anything of substance to impart. "Such, indeed is all preaching where Jesus Christ is not held forth" (Adam Clarke). These false teachers probably dealt in pretended distinctions in the law, traditions and ceremonies, endless genealogies and far-fetched additions to the law. Such teaching is of no use to anyone to lead them to Christ. Good pastors avoid meaningless talk and oppose those who turn to it.