Staying True to One’s Calling - Lectionary Reflection for Pentecost 18C/Proper 23 (2 Timothy 2)

2 Timothy 2:3-15 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

³ Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. ⁵ And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. ⁶ It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in all things.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, ⁹ for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. ¹⁰ Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. ¹¹ The saying is sure:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
¹² if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
¹³ if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
he cannot deny himself.

¹⁴ Remind them of this, and warn them before the Lord that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. ¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

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                This second letter written by a seasoned pastor to a younger pastor (Paul and Timothy by name) continues with a word of encouragement. The message is one of endurance. That message includes a call to stay true to one’s calling. Just like a soldier keeps focused on the job, which means not getting involved in things outside one’s calling (don’t get caught up in the things of this world). Instead, do what is necessary to please the enlisting officers. That is true despite the possibility of suffering, something that the younger pastor and flock might be enduring. Be a good soldier.

                That word about being a good soldier is the first of three examples of staying true to one’s calling. Besides the soldier, Paul (once again for brevity’s sake I refer to the author as Paul though that remains disputed) points to the athlete who won’t receive a crown if they don’t compete according to the rules. In other words, you can’t win the race if you get disqualified. So, once again, stay true to the calling (follow the rules). I realize following rules isn’t always easy for some of us (including me). Nevertheless, that is the word of wisdom shared with Timothy and his flock. Finally, there is this word about a farmer, suggesting that the one who does the work should get the first share of the crop. That too makes sense.

                Each of these examples serves as an introduction to this reminder that the way of Jesus can involve suffering. If Timothy needs any reminders of this possibility Paul points to his own chains, chains that came as a result of his calling to preach the Gospel of Jesus, the one who was raised from the dead and is a descendant of David. In other words, the one whom God proclaimed messiah. So, while Paul might be chained like a criminal, the same is not true of the Word of God. So, why is Paul willing to endure this suffering?  He answers: “I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10). This is his calling—making the Word of God known so the elect might receive salvation that comes to them in Christ Jesus and leads to eternal glory.

The question here then concerns the identity of the elect. There is in the minds of some the idea that God chooses some for salvation and others are sentenced to perdition (hell)— “double predestination.” That is a possible interpretation, but not one I would choose. Might we rather simply see this as a word about Paul’s willingness to suffer on behalf of those who are part of the community of the faithful? Karl Barth’s definition of election might suffice here as well. For Barth, Christ is the one in whom God chooses to share grace with us. Whatever the meaning here, Paul makes it clear that he is willing to suffer for those who are in Christ so that they might experience salvation in Christ, thereby receiving eternal glory. Thus, he is staying true to his calling.

Paul reinforces this message by drawing on a poetic word that could be an early Christian hymn. This hymn offers a summary of the faith. So, “if we share in dying, we shall also share in living.” Of course, we all die, but the larger message is a promise of resurrection. It could also reflect that message found in Romans 6 concerning our identification with Christ in baptism—  “we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). The cross and resurrection of Jesus are central to Paul’s message, and that focus is present here. Death will come, but the good news is that to be in Christ is to have the firm promise of resurrection in Christ.

Not only might we share in the resurrection, but if we endure—stay faithful to our calling—we will reign with Christ. But, if we deny Christ, then Christ will deny us. Nevertheless, even if we are unfaithful God remains faithful. That’s because God cannot deny Godself. Taken together the hymn, according to Christopher Hutson, “supports the charge for Timothy to entrust the gospel to trustworthy people and ‘share in suffering’ (2:3). Timothy is to ‘share in suffering’ with Paul (2:9-10), which was in turn a sharing in the suffering of Christ” [Christopher Hutson, First and Second Timothy and Titus, p. 180]. Such is the reality for those who follow Christ. Even as he suffered it’s likely his followers will suffer as well. So stay true to your calling by enduring to the end.

Having offered the hymn as a reminder of the way of Christ, Paul tells Timothy to remind his flock of this message and “warn them before the Lord that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening” (2 Tim 2:14). This is truly a word worth considering in this age of hyper-communication. It’s so easy to get involved in unending arguments that go nowhere on social media (while I’m a regular user of several forms of social media, I’ve tried to stay away from such arguments). As Paul puts it, this wrangling over words “does no good but only ruins those who are listening.” There is a lot of truth in this!  

Finally, Paul offers one more admonition to his younger colleague: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). To one called by the church to lead, this is a reminder that the way we present ourselves to the world is a reflection on the God we’re called to serve. So, do your work in a way that you need not be ashamed of who you are and how you act in public and private. That’s no easy task, especially in this age. Nevertheless, who we are as a person reflects on the faith we proclaim. So, as you live according to the way of Jesus, then the final admonition is a call to rightly explain the “word of truth.” In other words, be diligent in your preaching and teaching. This is a central part of the calling. That means making sure that what you share is the “word of truth” and not one of those words that people wrangle over. That is, make sure you avoid words that ruin rather than empower and enlighten people! That doesn’t mean staying clear of being prophetic, but make sure your word is in line with the ways of God and not simply your own political or cultural bent.  

As any of us who have served in pastoral ministry know, this is not an easy task. The number of clergy who start on the path and decide to do something else is growing. It’s understandable. But for those who persist, here is a word of encouragement and guidance to take note of. Remember that even when we are unfaithful, God is always faithful for God cannot deny Godself!