2 Timothy 2:24
What does 2 Timothy 2:24 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Timothy 2:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Timothy 2:24 means
The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but gentle to all, able to teach, and patient under provocation. Ministry is not a combative sport; it is shepherding. Gentleness does not mean softness on truth but kindness in manner. “Able to teach” points to skill in explaining and persuading, not merely asserting. “Forbearing” indicates endurance when wronged or misunderstood, refusing to retaliate. This posture reflects Christ’s meekness and opens doors for truth to be heard. Timothy’s authority must be exercised with restraint and clarity, aiming to win people, not arguments. Such character is itself an apologetic, displaying the gospel’s transforming power in the teacher’s demeanor.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For it is not right for the Lord's servant to make trouble, but he is to be gentle to all, ready in teaching, putting up with wrong,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and a servant of the Lord it behoveth not to strive, but to be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient under evil,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But the servant of the Lord must not wrangle: but be mild toward all men, apt to teach, patient,
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And a bondman of [the] Lord ought not to contend, but be gentle towards all; apt to teach; forbearing;
Context
After warning against foolish controversies (v.23), Paul describes the manner suited to God’s servant. This positive profile contrasts with the contentious spirit that false teaching often breeds. The next verse (v.25) will add how correction is to be performed—with meekness—and will locate the ultimate hope for change in God’s gift of repentance. Verse 26 will then reveal the true condition of opponents—as captives of the devil—clarifying the stakes of gentle, patient instruction.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 34:5
So Moses the servant of Jehovah died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Jehovah.
- Jude 1:3
Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.
- Titus 1:9
holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict the gainsayers.
- James 1:19
Ye knowthis, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
- Colossians 3:13
forbearing one another, and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:
- Titus 3:2
to speak evil of no man, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all meekness toward all men.
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