Comments on: Day 14 ~ II Timothy 2:14

By: Hannah Espineda

Hannah Espineda — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 06:25:36 +0000

“Remember, and forget not.” (Deut. 9:7) Moses was telling the Israelites to remember and not forget the lessons God had taught them in the wilderness. It was good to be reminded of what we had learned in the previous verses of II Tim. 2. Thanks Kendalyn! I realized that I had begun to simply memorize the words of these verses without thinking of what they meant.

The Greek word for “subverting” is an English transliteration of “catastrophe.” Can you imagine! Our words, if used wrongly, can have the power to bring catastrophe to our hearers! Pro. 14:1 says, “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.” This is certainly an area I’m still working on, and it grieves me to think of times when I said something that discouraged or brought down another. May we each, especially in our families, be wise people who encourage and build others up to live to their best the life God wants them to live!

By: Sarah Poss

Sarah Poss — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:55:30 +0000

Thank you, David, for the insights that you shared into the word subvert and its application to the verse. That word had puzzled me and I had not had an opportunity to look it up, so I enjoyed reading what you had found out about it. Now its position in the verse makes sense!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:08:27 +0000

I guess the biggest thing that has been going through my mind as I have been meditating on this verse is the fact that words can bring “life” or “death” to the people you speak to. As Kendalyn said “… they can lift up and tear down.” I want to use my words as a tool that brings life to others. Thank you SO much Kendalyn!!!

By: Kendalyn

Kendalyn — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 05:19:58 +0000

Thanks for all the great comments! I tend to learn more from the comments which ignite further questions demanding answers than I do by working solely on my own. Praise the Lord for His Church where we can share insights we’ve learned and learn more about His character together and on our own, and not at all hampered by geographic location!

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:44:49 +0000

Hey, that’s an excellent point, Dave! So, after our energetic discussion at dinner tonight I ended up being right after all. Thanks for doing a thorough study of the Greek and humbly applying it to your life. It was a good challenge for me. Great comment.

By: David Waller

David Waller — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:37:04 +0000

Intrigued by the word subvert, I began to realize profound truth contained in this verse. I had understood that we are not to strive about vain words but to instead subvert those who hear us. Taking this English word apart, “sub” meaning under and “vert” referring to change, I had understood that we are to strive to challenge others to change from the inside out.

However, now after looking at the Greek, I found that the verse really means that we are not to strive about words to no profit which subvert others. The Greek word for subvert is katastrophe and means to demolish, overthrow, or bring to apostasy.

This has caused me to really think about my words, especially the type of words mentioned that bring catastrophe to other’s lives spiritually–words that do not edify. Wow! This makes me deeply evaluate from here on out what I write in a quick e-mail, type in an IM, or flippantly mention.

Standing in awe at the depths of God’s Word,

~David Waller

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:18:48 +0000

That’s a great reminder, Kendalyn, to bring to remembrance the things that we’ve recently memorized! It reminds me how easy it is for me to forget to recall what I’ve committed to memory.

I think it’s neat how Paul is telling Timothy to continually be reminding other believers of the truths he is sharing. If anyone else out there is like me, things often seem to go in one ear and out the other. I get up and get on with day, forgetting to keep important truths in remembrance. It sure helps to be reminded once in a while. That’s one thing we can do with those around us, every single day, as we “exhort one another daily.”

By: Elianna M

Elianna M — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:27:38 +0000

Thanks for your thoughts Kendalyn! A very good reminder…I agree with Sarah-it’s only through God’s help that we can control the words we speak and make sure what we say is what GOD wants us to say.

By: Sarah Poss

Sarah Poss — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:26:16 +0000

Thank you so much for what you have shared, Kendalyn! It is all so true. This verse has been a good reminder to me of how important it is to God that we desire Him to “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” (Ps 141:3) and speak only those things that are pleasing and honoring to Him and encouraging and profitable to others!! As Christians, we need to keep on using our words to build each other up! God’s blessings on your day!