24 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:24–26 (ESV)
How many believers in Christ have the perspective they are the Lord’s servant? How many pastors have this perspective? What does it mean to the Lord’s servant?
The word Lord’s (κυρίου; kyriou) is a possessive genitive noun. This means the Lord possesses something or someone. This ownership originates and is sourced in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. What He alone possesses is His servant. The word servant (δοῦλον; doulon) means a slave. It is an individual who is controlled by and subservient to the Lord Jesus. Consequently, there is no room for pride by the servant, only praise for the master.
“Servant” is doulos (δουλος), “a bondslave” of the Lord, referring here primarily to the pastor. Paul says in II Cor. 4:5, “We proclaim not ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, but ourselves your bondslaves for Jesus’ sake.” [1]
Dr. John MacArthur writes, “The Lord’s ‘doulos’ is a technical term, I think, for a pastor. The Lord’s slave. I think it’s a technical term – the Lord’s slave. And the apostles owned it. Paul introduces himself in his epistles as a slave of God, of Christ. James calls himself a slave. Peter calls himself a slave. Jude calls himself a slave, and John calls himself a slave. It’s a technical title referring to an elder, a pastor, an overseer. And it’s a wonderful picture because Christ Himself called Himself a slave in Philippians 1 – “took upon the form of a slave.”
What are the characteristics of the Lord’ servant? In the context of today’s biblical text, the emphasis is on the character and behavior of the pastor. In vs. 24, and the first portion of vs. 25, the Apostle Paul list five characteristics of the Lord’s servant.
First, he must not be quarrelsome. The word quarrelsome (μάχεσθαι; machesthai) is a present middle infinitive verb. It means the pastor must not presently, personally or infinitely be a fighter or one who severely clashes with people. This refers to either a physical or a verbal fight.
Secondly, the pastor must be kind to everyone. This is the opposite of not being quarrelsome. To be kind (ἤπιον; epion) means to be gentle, affable and mild in temperament towards everyone he encounters.
Third, he must be able to teach. This is one of the essential qualifications for an elder (I Tim. 3:2). The phrase able to teach (διδακτικόν; didaktikon) refers to being skillful in teaching or instructing people from God’s Word.
Fourth, the pastor must be one who patiently endures evil. The phrase patiently enduring evil (ἀνεξίκακον; anexikakon) means to endure difficulties without being angry or upset.
Fifth, he corrects his opponents with gentleness. The phrase correcting his opponents with gentleness involves three key words. The word correcting (παιδεύοντα; paideuonta) is a present active participle. The pastor disciplines, educates and trains his opponents. Opponents (ἀντιδιατιθεμένους; antidiatithemenous) are individuals who presently, personally and collectively hostile toward the pastor. He responds to such hostility with gentleness (πραΰτητι; prauteti) which refers to patience and humility.
“Paul’s primary focus in 2 Timothy is on the suffering generated by those who are outright hostile to the gospel and not the kind created by people who, though they are repentant, still struggle with sin and mess up from time to time. In these cases, the ability to teach is also important because gifted instructors can often silence Christianity’s despisers (Acts 6:8–10). Equally important in dealing with enemies of the faith are the qualities of kindness, gentleness, and a refusal to be quarrelsome (2 Tim. 2:24–25a). Many of those who hate us are simply looking for a fight and are taken aback when they see that we are not contentious,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day as the Lord’s servant.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: For the English Reader, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 141.
