A Favorite Verse: 2 Timothy 2:4

I have the privilege to visit many congregations and present the work of the CRA. These presentations always conclude with a question-and-answer period. In my travels, perhaps the most unexpected question I have been asked is, “What is your favorite Bible verse?” 

My favorite Bible verse keeps company with my favorite song: it depends on my mood and circumstances. Nevertheless, I quickly responded, “Second Timothy 2:4,” where Paul writes, “No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” This response, not surprisingly, was met with puzzled looks. After all, 2 Timothy 2:4 is not a verse that leaps to the forefront when one lists their Bible favorites. 

It is my firm conviction that the Scriptures have practical value. We are not in the business of teaching and preaching the Word so that individuals can answer trivia questions about obscure Bible characters. We preach the whole counsel of God, as Paul testified to the Ephesian elders, to prepare people to live godly lives. From a practical standpoint, this verse is immensely valuable, as it teaches three important aspects of the Christian life. 

The Picture. “No one engaged in warfare.” This phrase paints a clear picture: We are at war. We are engaged in a spiritual battle for the souls of mankind, and this battle has eternal consequences. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. It’s obvious, as one examines our churches and culture, that the devil is serious in his efforts to destroy men’s souls. The book of Ephesians provides valuable insights into the impressive arsenal Satan utilizes in this battle. 

First, he tries to diminish the role of the church. In Ephesians 3:3, Paul states that he received the gospel message by revelation. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul miraculously received his knowledge of the mystery. He continues in verse 4 to state that the Ephesians will understand this mystery by reading. Then, in verse 10, Paul states that now the manifold wisdom of God will be made known by the church. In other words, the world will learn the mystery of the gospel only through the church reciting the message. Ephesians 3 makes it clear that if the church doesn’t tell the world the good news, then the world won’t hear. Satan, knowing this, does everything he can to diminish the role of the church. 

Next, Satan strives to destroy the unity of the church. In the early verses of Ephesians 4, Paul presents the seven ones upon which unity is established: body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism, God, and Father. George Faull once said that denominationalism is the result of a misunderstanding of at least one of these seven. When we survey the religious landscape, it’s clear that the devil has corrupted every one of these seven items. Satan knows that the more fractured the church, the less effective she will be in winning lost souls. 

Satan also works to discourage spiritual growth. In Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul describes the gifts Christ gave to His church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and elders. Ultimately, the purpose of these gifts is the spiritual growth of each member of the body of Christ. The Lord expects us to grow in grace and knowledge, to no longer be children but to grow up in the faith. 

Satan also attempts to disconnect spirituality from reality. The devil would have us believe that the spiritual truths taught in the Word have no bearing on our daily lives. Nothing is further from the truth. In Ephesians 4, Paul makes it clear that we are not to walk as the Gentiles walk. This Gentile walk is characterized by a lack of understanding, ignorance, and spiritual blindness. In sharp contrast, Jesus is in the life-transforming business, and those who call Him Lord are expected to walk differently than they did before. 

Satan knows well that nothing nullifies the Christian witness faster than failing to act as one professes. Proverbs 25:26 says, “A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well.” If we are going to be effective in taking the gospel to a lost world, we must conduct ourselves consistently with the truths we confess. 

One last device of the devil is to demolish the family. The family, as God designed it, is the best vehicle to teach the fundamentals of the faith. Not only that, but it is crucial for a stable society. It is no accident that as our culture has rejected God’s plan for family, our culture has moved further from the biblical values upon which it was founded. 

Next month, we’ll look at the other two practical aspects of my favorite verse. 

To Be Continued