2 Timothy 2 · Verse 21

2 Timothy 2:21

If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

2 Timothy 2:21, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:21 in other translations

BSB	So if anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work.
WEB	If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.
ASV	If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master’s use, prepared unto every good work.
YLT	if, then, any one may cleanse himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified and profitable to the master--to every good work having been prepared,
DARBY	If therefore one shall have purified himself from these, in separating himself from them, he shall be a vessel to honour, sanctified, serviceable to the Master, prepared for every good work.
BBE	If a man makes himself clean from these, he will be a vessel for honour, made holy, ready for the master's use, ready for every good work.
Webster	If a man therefore will cleanse himself from these, he will be a vessel to honor, sanctified and meet for the master's use, and prepared to every good work.

What does 2 Timothy 2:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

21. If a man ... purge himself from these--The Greek expresses "If one (for example, thou, Timothy) purify himself (so as to separate) from among these" (vessels unto dishonor). sanctified--set apart as wholly consecrated to the Lord. and meet--Some oldest manuscripts omit "and." the master's--the Lord's. Paul himself was such a vessel: once one among those of earth, but afterwards he became by grace one of gold. prepared unto every good work--(2Ti 3:17; Tit 3:1). Contrast Tit 1:16.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 21. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel of honour. If a man cleanse or purify himself. Comp. Jn 15:2. The word "these" refers, here, to the persons represented by the vessels of wood and of earth--the vessels made to dishonour, as mentioned in the previous verse. The idea is, that if one would preserve himself from the corrupting influence of such men, he would be fitted to be a vessel of honour, or to be employed in the most useful and honourable service in the cause of his Master. On the word vessel, Acts 9:16.

And meet for the Master's use. Fit to be employed by the Lord Jesus in promoting his work on earth.

(b) "If a man" Jer 15:19 (c) "prepared" 2Ti 3:17

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these - He that takes heed to his ways and to his doctrines, and walks with God, will separate himself, not only from all false doctrine, but from all wicked men, and thus be sanctified and proper to be employed by the Master in every good word and work. The apostle has not made the application of these different similes, and it is very difficult to tell what he means.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:14-21

Those disposed to strive, commonly strive about matters of small moment. But strifes of words destroy the things of God. The apostle mentions some who erred. They did not deny the resurrection, but they corrupted that true doctrine. Yet nothing can be so foolish or erroneous, but it will overturn the temporary faith of some professors. This foundation has two writings on it. One speaks our comfort. None can…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 2:14-21 →

2 Timothy 2:21 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐὰνeanIfG1437

οὖνounthereforeG3767

τιςtisanyoneG5100

ἐκκαθάρῃekkatharēshall cleanseG1571

ἑαυτὸνhe'autonhimselfG1438

ἀπὸapofromG575

τούτων,toutōnthese,G3778

ἔσταιestaihe will beG1510

σκεῦοςskeuosa vesselG4632

εἰςeisforG1519

τιμὴνtimēnhonorG5092

ἡγιασμένονhēgiasmenonsanctifiedG37

εὔχρηστονeuchrēstonusefulG2173

τῷtōto theG3588

δεσπότῃ,despotēMaster,G1203

εἰςeisforG1519

πᾶνpaneveryG3956

ἔργονergonworkG2041

ἀγαθὸνagathongoodG18

ἡτοιμασμένον.¶hētoimasmenonprepared.G2090

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:21

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2 Timothy 3:17
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Psalms 119:9
ב BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 John 3:3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
2 Timothy 2:20
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
Isaiah 52:11
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.
Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Jeremiah 15:19
Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.
Titus 3:14
And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

purge.
Ps 119:9; Isa 1:25; 52:11; Jer 15:19; Mal 3:3; 1Co 5:7; 2Co 7:1
1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:3
a vessel.
20; 1Pe 1:7
meet.
Ac 9:15
prepared.
3:17; Eph 2:10; Tit 3:1,8,14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

2 Timothy 2:20
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2 Timothy 2:21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2 Timothy 2:22
Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:21 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Así que, si alguno se limpiare de estas cosas, será vaso para honra, santificado, y útil para los usos del Señor, y aparejado para todo buena obra.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Si donc quelqu’un se purifie de ceux-ci, il sera un vase à honneur, sanctifié, utile au maître, préparé pour toute bonne œuvre.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wenn nun jemand sich von diesen reinigt, so wird er ein Gefäß zur Ehre sein, geheiligt, nützlich dem Hausherrn, zu jedem guten Werke bereitet.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Si quis ergo emundaverit se ab istis, erit vas in honorem sanctificatum, et utile Domino ad omne opus bonum paratum.