2 Tim 2v10-13:
10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
How does Paul motivate Timothy to imitate him to endure everything for the sake of the elect's salvation?
Paul quotes this saying which is faithful, trustworthy...
11 The saying is faithful, for:
Line 1 & 2 parallel each other by promising salvation to faithful Christians.
Line 1: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
Line 2: 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
Line 3 & 4 parallel each other by promising punishment to faithless "Christians".
Line 3: if we deny him, he also will deny us; Line 4: 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself.
The Condition "if": | The Result: |
Line 1: "If we have died with him..." Line 2: "If we endure..." | Line 1: "...we will also live with him" Line 2: "...we will also reign with him" |
Line 3: "If we deny him..." Line 4: "If we are faithless..." | Line 3: "...he also will deny us" Line 4: "...he remains faithful (to carry out the earlier parallel warning that he also will deny those who faithlessly deny him) - (why?) for he cannot deny himself (God always keeps his OWN promises of BOTH salvation AND punishment, in this case, to punish the faithless)" |
Line 4 does not say: If we are faithless, he remains faithful (faithful to save us despite our faithlessness) - for he cannot deny US.
Line 4 says: If we are faithless, he remains faithful (in this context, faithful to punish the faithless) - for he cannot deny HIMSELF.
Note Jesus' similar warning in Mark 8v34-38: 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Notice how Jesus reveals himself as faithful in Rev 19:
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
When the Faithful and True Jesus returns, no doubt, faithful-enduring-persecution-Christians will experience his salvation. We will enjoy our wedding and live happily ever after!
But when the Faithful and True Jesus returns, equally have no doubt, all unrepentant sinners, including faithless "Christians", will experience his judgment and wrath.
God and Jesus will always be faithful to their promises of salvation AND promises of punishment.
So Paul reminds Timothy to imitate him and endure everything for the sake of the elect's salvation. Paul motivated Timothy by reminding Timothy of the faithful saying which:
- promises salvation to faithful Christians (carrot)
and
- promises punishment to faithless "Christians" (stick)
Paul used both carrot and stick to motivate Timothy to faithfulness to God and faithfulness to God's elect.
John Piper, "Beware of Bible slogans without context because this slogan, 'if we are faithless, he remains faithful' ripped out of its context has given a lot of people false assurance."
John Piper himself has distorted other Bible passages, but at least 2 Tim 2v13 is not one of those passages.
Also see how Gavin Ortlund's "Finding the Right Hills To Die On: The Case for Theological Triage" distorts a range of Bible passages on the issue of Christian unity.
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