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remembering the words of the Apostle Paul in another context, `for if I yet pleased men, I
should not be the servant of Christ' (Gal. 1: 10).
Paul continues:
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, love (charity), peace, with
them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (II Tim. 2: 22).
We have seen that the word translated `lust' is sometimes used with a good meaning
in the Scriptures (see Luke 22: 15; Phil. 1: 23; I Tim. 3: 1). It denotes any strong
feeling or wish, either bad or good. Inasmuch as strong inclinations can be fraught with
danger, specially during the impetuosity of youth, Timothy is exhorted to avoid such and
exhibit the fruit of the Spirit that alone could make him outstanding as a leader for the
Lord.
Again he is warned to avoid those who quibble and cause quarrels, thus breaking the
unity of the Spirit:
"The Lord's servant must not strive (fight), but be gentle towards all, apt to teach,
forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves" (2: 24, 25, R.V.).
How difficult it is to be gentle and meek yet inflexible where God's truth is
concerned! How often opposition stirs the very worst in us and we hit back in the
strength of the sinful old nature and spoil our witness! Only by consciously and
continually drawing upon the Lord's inexhaustible grace can we yield `no, not for an
hour' (Gal. 2: 5), yet avoid fighting and anger which so often has disfigured controversies
in doctrine. Those who oppose may be temporarily in the devil's snare, and they need
that change of mind (repentance) to the acknowledging of the truth, so that they may
recover themselves out of it (verse 26). The Lord's servant should remember he follows
One Who did not strive or cry, but rather enlightened and instructed (Matt. 12: 19).
Graphic words are used in the closing verses of the chapter. The word ananepho,
`recover themselves', literally means `that they may return to soberness' (R.V. margin) as
though they have been duped, intoxicated and paralyzed by the devil. Let us never forget
that all around us the great battle for the domination of man's mind goes on unceasingly,
for whoever controls this controls the whole personality. The unsaved are walking
according to the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2: 2) and only God's saving power
can break this terrible bondage and bring liberty. The believer who has already been
freed can become enslaved again if he gives place to the devil and it is these things that
Paul has in mind when he warns Timothy of this possibility.
We must be careful here with the pronouns him and his. To whom do they refer? The
A.V. suggests in both cases (`taken captive by him at his will') the devil is the antecedent.
The R.V. margin reads `by the devil unto the will of God' which we feel is what Paul is
teaching. It is difficult to believe that Satan can capture any believer who is walking
worthy, just whenever he chooses. This would take away all assurance and make
Christian service and witness one of uncertainty and fear. The devil can only touch the
child of God with His permission (as in the case of Job) or the believer can walk in the