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The SECOND EPISTLE to TIMOTHY.
#25.
"Vessels unto honour, or dishonour."
The will of the Lord exhibited with regard to the voluntary fellowship of
His servant with those who hold evil doctrine (II Tim. 2: 20, 21).
pp. 74 - 78
After having spoken of a specious line of teaching, that was calculated to "overthrow
the faith of some", the apostle turns to that which can never be overthrown, "the
foundation of God". The translation found in the A.V. is not grammatically correct. It
reads:
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure" (II Tim. 2: 19).
The R.V. here reads correctly:
"Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth."
What is this "firm foundation?" In a previous article (No.20 of this series) we
suggested there was a parallel between the teaching of II Tim. 2: 19-21 and
I Cor. 3: 10-15. The space occupied by this comparison is small, but its value as a
means of understanding the apostle's intention here, is great, therefore we have no
hesitation in setting it out again.
I Cor. 3: and 15:
II Tim. 2:
The foundation (19).
The foundation (3: 10, 11).
Gold, silver, wood, etc. (20).
Gold, silver, wood, etc. (3: 12).
The approval, dokimos (15).
The trial, dokimazo (3: 13).
Show (paristemi) the judgment seat (15).
Reward, or suffer loss (3: 14, 15).
Workman that need not be ashamed (15, 21).
Work abides (3: 13, 14).
The Lord knoweth them that are His (19).
He himself shall be saved (3: 15).
Resurrection misplaced (18).
Resurrection doubted (15: 12).
We are left in no doubt, in I Cor. 3:, as to the foundation intended there, it is Christ,
"for other foundation can no man lay". Neither should we have doubt when we read
II Tim. 2: 19. Yet many wise and good men have entertained many varied ideas on this
point. Perhaps the most insidious is that which confuses the foundation with the
superstructure and, relying upon the A.V. of I Tim. 3: 15, speaks of the foundation
as though it could be the Church. If we rest satisfied with the A.V. rendering of
I Tim. 3: 15 we may be found among those who maintain that "the church is the pillar
and ground of truth" but if we go beneath the surface we shall find sufficient evidence to
revise such an idea. First of all, this Church of I Tim. 3: 15 is not conceived of as the
spiritual, universal church, but is called "the house of God", concerning which Timothy
was exhorted and instructed as to how he should behave himself when present in it, and
this fifteenth verse is at the conclusion of a section entirely devoted to a local church,
probably held in the house of a bishop (I Tim. 3: 1-5). Now it is unbelievable that such