![]() All he is saying is that those who, by God’s grace, depart from such doctrinal and moral errors and avoid impurity in their lives prepare themselves to be “useful to the master” and “ready for every good work.” This is God’s promise of blessing to all those who pursue holiness (2 Tim. 13:47–50), it is likely too much to say that Paul intends to convey this meaning here. Taken from the biblical symbolism of a person being a vessel into which God fills. Yet while the idea of the visible church as a mixed body of believers and unbelievers is biblical (Matt. Someone who is or feels completely destroyed, hollow, forsaken, or inadequate. This analogy might prove that believers (fine vessels) and unbelievers (dishonorable vessels) will be in the church until the return of Jesus. Given the choice, we would always rather be the precious vessel than the one made of clay or wood. Clay and wood vessels could be used for such distasteful purposes as disposing of excrement. Those made of precious metals were used for honorable ends such as displaying food at important meals. Rich persons in antiquity had several different plates, bowls, and other vessels in their homes. Separation is sometimes the only way to progress in holiness, which is the apostle’s point in the analogy he uses in today’s passage (2 Tim. Still, Paul knew the health of the church was more important than any one relationship, and so he broke them off when necessary, but only after counseling them to return to the faith. 2:16–19), watching former ministry partners fall headlong into deeper error. Imagine the pain he felt in casting Alexander, Hymenaeus, and Philetus out of the church (1 Tim. ![]() goods Usage: a vessel to contain liquid a vessel of mercy or wrath any instrument by which anything is done a household utensil of ships: tackle. And despite our confidence that we were right to make clear where we stood (with the gospel), we still feel the hurt when we think of a friend who now seems lost.Įven Paul had friends who later showed themselves bereft of the faith they professed. Original Word:, , Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: skeuos Phonetic Spelling: (skyoo-os) Definition: a vessel, implement, pl. We were severed from formerly close ties, yet still hoping that this broken bond would help him realize his sin. No matter how hard we encouraged a friend to repent, he would not listen. It hardly seems possible to be a Christian and never suffer the end of a Christian bond, for most of us have known someone that appeared to be in the faith and then later fell away. Broken relationships are one of the many ways we experience suffering for the gospel.
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