2 Timothy 2:23-26
"But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."
In this portion of Paul’s final letter to Timothy, the apostle exhorts the servant of the LORD to conduct himself with humility, patience, and meekness—especially when dealing with those who oppose the Truth. As is consistently revealed throughout all of God’s inspired Word, it is not human effort or argument that brings sinners to Christ in repentance, but the free and sovereign gift of God’s grace. Therefore, the servant of the LORD must not strive, for salvation is not achieved through contention but granted by the gracious hand of God, Who alone gives repentance unto life by His Holy Spirit through the finished work of the LORD Jesus on the cross.
It is Christ Who delivers from the snare of the devil, opening blinded eyes and bringing His elect out of bondage into the liberty of His truth. Thus, repentance is the fruit of Christ’s finished work, both for and in the elect sinner. By the electing grace of God, the Holy Spirit causes those chosen of Him to rest in Christ and His accomplished work, granting them repentance and faith, and raising them from spiritual death to life by His grace.
"But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes." We cannot, by natural reasoning and debate, bring sinners to repent (have a change of mind and heart) in things pertaining to God, Christ, sin, salvation, grace, or any other Gospel truth. Men ask foolish and ignorant questions because, in their unregenerate state, they cannot discern the things of God. All natural reasoning is sin and cannot bring a spiritually dead sinner to know God in truth. 1 Corinthians 2:14-* “*But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all (men), apt to teach, patient," God’s preacher is not to imagine that by arguing and debating with the unconverted, that he can in any way bring such to know God in truth. Rather, in their dealings with the unconverted, they are to exercise gentleness, patience, and above all, teach them, looking to God alone to accomplish His work, rather than endeavoring to use the wisdom of men’s words. As the apostle Paul declared to the Corinthians***-“my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God,” (1 Corinthians 2:4, 5).*** The message that the Spirit blesses to the converting of the souls of God’s elect redeemed ones is Christ and Him crucified-1 Corinthians 2:1,2.
"In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" ‘Instructing’ literally, "disciplining," instructing with correction, as those who deal in "uninstructive" or "undisciplined questions." Repentance is not a change of mind that comes from man’s will or determination, but God alone. We instruct by preaching and declaring the singular, solitary person and work of Christ, pointing sinners to Him, and looking to God alone to grant repentance, if HE wills. How can we know when He has granted repentance? The Word declares, in ‘acknowledging the truth,’ not a mere acquiescence of the truth, but a bowing to the Truth as it is in Christ, revealed in God’s Word. It means to take sides with God against ourselves.
"and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." No sinner has the free will to choose to free himself. It is God who must deliver, and does deliver those that He has declared righteous by the satisfactory death of His Son. He does in time grant repentance and cause them to be recovered out of the bondage of their sin and Satan, Christ having promised that He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it. So complete was His work accomplished for them that He must in His time bring them irresistibly to Himself.
