2 Timothy 2 · Verse 24

2 Timothy 2:24

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
2 Timothy 2:24, King James Version

2 Timothy 2:24 in other translations

BSBAnd a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.
WEBThe Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient,
ASVAnd the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
YLTand a servant of the Lord it behoveth not to strive, but to be gentle unto all, apt to teach, patient under evil,
DARBYAnd a bondman of the Lord ought not to contend, but be gentle towards all; apt to teach; forbearing;
BBEFor it is not right for the Lord's servant to make trouble, but he is to be gentle to all, ready in teaching, putting up with wrong,
WebsterAnd the servant of the Lord must not contend; but be gentle to all men, apt to teach, patient,

What does 2 Timothy 2:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. not strive--"The servant of the Lord" must imitate his master in not striving contentiously, though uncompromising in earnestly contending for the faith (Jude 3; Mt 12:19). gentle unto all men--"patient" (Greek, "patient in bearing wrongs") in respect to adversaries. He is to be gentle so that he may occasion no evils; patient so that he may endure evils. apt to teach--implying not only solid teaching and ease in teaching, but patience and assiduity in it [Bengel].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. And the servant of the Lord. Referring here primarily to the Christian minister, but applicable to all Christians; for all profess to be the servants of the Lord.

Must not strive. He may calmly inquire after truth; he may discuss points of morals, or theology, if he will do it with a proper spirit; he may "contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints," (Jude 1:3;) but he may not do that which is here mentioned as strife. The Greek word-- μαχεσθαι --commonly denotes, to fight to make war, to contend. In Jn 6:52, Acts 7:26, 2Ti 2:24, it is rendered strove, and strive; in Jas 4:2, fight. It is not elsewhere used in the New Testament. The meaning is, that the servant of Christ should be a man of peace. He should not indulge in the feelings which commonly give rise to contention, and which commonly characterize it. He should not struggle for mere victory, even when endeavouring to maintain truth; but should do this, in all cases, with a kind spirit, and a mild temper; with entire candour; with nothing designed to provoke and irritate an adversary; and so that, whatever may be the result of the discussion, "the bond of peace" may, if possible, be preserved. Comp. Rom 12:18.

But be gentle unto all men. 1Thes 2:7. The word rendered gentle, does not occur elsewhere in the New Testament. It means that the Christian minister is to be meek and mild towards all, not disputatious and quarrelsome.

Apt to teach. Notes, 1Timm 3:2.

Patient. Marg., forbearing. The Greek word here used does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It means, patient under evils and injuries. Robinson, Lex. Comp. Eph 4:2; Col 3:13

(1) "patient" "forbearing" iv. 2; Col. iii. 13.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 The servant of the Lord must not strive - See on 1Tim 3:2 (note), 1Tim 3:3 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Timothy 2:22-26

The more we follow that which is good, the faster and the further we shall flee from that which is evil. The keeping up the communion of saints, will take us from fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness. See how often the apostle cautions against disputes in religion; which surely shows that religion consists more in believing and practising what God requires, than in subtle disputes. Those are unapt to teach…

Read the full comment on 2 Timothy 2:22-26 →

2 Timothy 2:24 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.

δοῦλονdoulon[The] bond-servantG1401
δὲdenowG1161
κυρίουkuriouof [the] LordG2962
οὐounotG3756
δεῖdeiit behoovesG1163
μάχεσθαιmachesthaito quarrelG3164
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἤπιονēpiongentleG2261
εἶναιeinaito beG1511
πρὸςprostowardG4314
πάντας,pantasall,G3956
διδακτικόν,didaktikonable to teach,G1317
ἀνεξίκακον,anexikakonforbearing,G420

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

Cross references for 2 Timothy 2:24

  • Titus 3:2

    To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

  • James 1:19-20

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

  • Titus 1:7

    For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:7

    But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

  • 1 Timothy 3:2-3

    A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

  • Ephesians 4:2

    With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

  • Philippians 2:14

    Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

  • 1 Timothy 6:11

    But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

  • Philippians 2:3

    Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

  • Colossians 3:13

    Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

  • 1 Peter 3:8

    Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

  • James 3:17

    But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the servant.
De 34:5; Jos 1:1; 2Ch 24:6; Da 6:20; 1Ti 6:11; Tit 1:1; 3:2; Jas 1:1
must.
Mt 12:19; Ac 15:2; 2Co 10:4; Php 2:3,14; 1Ti 3:3; Tit 1:7
Jas 1:19,20; Jude 1:3
strive.
Joh 6:52; Ac 7:26; 23:9; Jas 4:2; *Gr:
but.
Isa 40:11; 2Co 10:1; Ga 5:22; 1Th 2:7; Tit 3:2; Jas 3:17; 1Pe 3:8
apt.
1Ti 3:2,3; Tit 1:9
patient. or, forbearing.
Eph 4:2; Col 3:13

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

Context

  • 2 Timothy 2:23

    But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

  • 2 Timothy 2:24

    And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

  • 2 Timothy 2:25

    In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Read all of 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Que el siervo del Señor no debe ser litigioso, sino manso para con todos, apto para enseñar, sufrido;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il ne faut pas que l’esclave du Seigneur conteste, mais qu’il soit doux envers tous, propre à enseigner, ayant du support;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ein Knecht des Herrn aber soll nicht streiten, sondern gegen alle milde sein, lehrfähig, duldsam,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Servum autem Domini non oportet litigare: sed mansuetum esse ad omnes, docibilem, patientem,