Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 26

Paul tells Timothy to Study and Know the Word of God Part 4

2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. KJV

The reality of false teachers who willfully teach and preach error in order to gain a following using the Word of God as a way to make money was not a surprise to the Apostle Paul, however, it was disheartening, depraving, and demoralizing to him. Likewise, his discovery that men (Hymenaeus and Philetus) he had preached the Gospel of Grace with had now turned their backs on our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and went about proclaiming things that were completely false also dismayed the great Apostle, but God the Holy Spirit knew this and so inspired these next great words of truth to comfort the inner man of the Apostle Paul and Brother Timothy (as well as everyone of us true believers today and of every era and generation) that despite the devil's sowing of tares on the earth nothing is being done by him to stop the true Kingdom of God from being built by our Lord Jesus Christ.

So did our Lord Jesus declare to the first disciples this very same truth in the Parable of the Wheat and Tares as it is written, "Jesus then told them this story: The kingdom of heaven is like what happened when a farmer scattered good seed in a field. But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and scattered weed seeds in the field and then left. When the plants came up and began to ripen, the farmer's servants could see the weeds. The servants came and asked, 'Sir, didn't you scatter good seed in your field? Where did these weeds come from?' 'An enemy did this,' he replied. His servants then asked, 'Do you want us to go out and pull up the weeds?' 'No!' he answered. 'You might also pull up the wheat. Leave the weeds alone until harvest time. Then I'll tell my workers to gather the weeds and tie them up and burn them. But I'll have them store the wheat in my barn.'" (Matthew 13:24-30) (Contemporary English Version).

Just like many of us today would not completely understand exactly what message our Lord Jesus Christ is giving with this story, so it was then with the early disciples, so they asked Him to explain the details of this parable to them and this is our Lord Jesus' reply as recorded by the Apostle Matthew, "After Jesus left the crowd and went inside, His disciples came to Him and said, 'Explain to us the story about the weeds in the wheat field.' Jesus answered: The One who scattered the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seeds are the people who belong to the kingdom. The weed seeds are those who belong to the evil one, and the one who scattered them is the devil. The harvest is the end of time, and angels are the ones who bring in the harvest. Weeds are gathered and burned. That's how it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everyone who does wrong or causes others to sin. Then He will throw them into a flaming furnace, where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain. But everyone who has done right will shine like the sun in their Father's kingdom. If you have ears, pay attention!" (Matthew 13:36-43) (Contemporary English Version).

Therefore, God the Holy Spirit (just as our Lord Jesus did above with the first disciples) declares these words of truth through the Apostle Paul, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2 Timothy 2:19) (KJV). That is, despite these weeds running around (some on a small scale and some with huge followings) spreading lies concerning God and His Word, God's truth cannot be silenced or stopped and this English word 'nevertheless' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word mentoi meaning indeed though, that is, however: - also, but, howbeit, nevertheless, yet. In other words, yet the solid foundation of God and truth of God and the reliability of God and the faithfulness of God and His Word will never be destroyed by the devil or any of his weeds. The solid foundation of God the Father and His Holy Word is sure, stedfast, and strong and will never be broken, bent, or breached by any of the devils spiritual lies that are in many visible churches like the teachings of the satanic spiritualist, mediums, psychics, wiccans, witches, wizards, sorcerers, or any other thing detailed for us in Deuteronomy 18:9-12 as we documented in the last study/commentary.

The English word 'seal' Paul uses in this verse is translated by the Greek word sphragis meaning a signet (as fencing in or protecting from misappropriation); by implication the stamp impressed (as a mark of privacy, or genuineness), literally or figuratively: - seal. The English word 'knoweth' is translated by the Greek word ginōskō is a prolonged form of a primary verb; meaning to 'know' (absolutely). In other words, God the Father has placed His mark, His stamp, His seal upon those of us who truly belong to Him by regeneration, resurrection, and rebirth just as Paul wrote with these words to the Ephesian believers, "Christ also brought you the truth, which is the good news about how you can be saved. You put your faith in Christ and were given the promised Holy Spirit to show that you belong to God." (Ephesians 1:13) (Contemporary English Version). The English word 'depart' is translated by the Greek word aphistēmi meaning to desist, desert, etc.: - depart, draw (fall) away, refrain, withdraw self. The English word 'iniquity' is translated by the Greek word adikia meaning moral wrongfulness (of charater, life or act). In other words, the new birth is the greatest miracle there is and it immediately gives the reborn sinner a passionate love for our Lord Jesus Christ and a desire to glorify Him here on the earth by the new lives He has given to each one of us His adopted sons and daughters, therefore, we should seek to honor Him not because of fear, but because we love Him as He said Himself with these words, "Jesus said to His disciples: If you love Me, you will do as I command." (John 14:15) (Contemporary English Version).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say regarding this verse, "It may be a great comfort to us that the unbelief of men cannot make the promise of God of no effect. Though the faith of some particular persons be overthrown, yet the foundation of God standeth sure (2 Timothy 2:19); it is not possible that they should deceive the elect. Or it may be meant of the truth itself, which they impugn. All the attacks which the powers of darkness have made upon the doctrine of Christ cannot shake it; it stands firm, and weathers all the storms which have been raised against it. The Prophets and Apostles, that is, the doctrines of the Old and New Testament, are still firm; and they have a seal with two mottoes upon it, one on the one side, and the other on the other, as is usual in a broad seal. 1. One expresses our comfort - that the Lord knows those that are His, and those that are not; knows them, that is, He owns them, so knows them that He will never lose them. Though the faith of some be overthrown, yet the Lord is said to know the ways of the righteous, Psalm 1:6. None can overthrow the faith of any whom God hath chosen. 2. Another declares our duty - that every one who names the name of Christ must depart from iniquity. Those who would have the comfort of the privilege must make conscience of the duty. If the name of Christ be called upon us, we must depart from iniquity, else He will not own us; He will say in the great day (Matthew 7:23), Depart from me, I never knew you, you workers of iniquity. Observe, (1.) Whatever errors are introduced into the Church, the foundation of God standeth sure, His purpose can never be defeated. (2.) God hath some in the Church who are His and whom He knows to be His. (3.) Professing Christians name the name of Christ, are called by His name, and therefore are bound to depart from iniquity; for Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, Titus 2:14."

Note: 'This verse of Scripture is and has always been a great comfort to me as I sojourn my way through this earth to my Heavenly home stepping around and over all the spiritual landmines that the devil and his invisible devils and his visible two-legged devils place in my way. When my Lord Jesus Christ showed me these words in His Word, then I better understood that although some people say they belong to God and speak of God and even some of Jesus, yet they are providers of spiritual perversion like wizardry and witchcraft, even inside visible churches, they are not, nor have not fooled my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and in the end He will carefully have His Holy Angels meticulously pluck out every weed/false christian on the earth at His 2nd Coming and upon the death of each of these counterfeit believers before His 2nd Coming."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…