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He Remains Faithful
Today we have a very interesting case in 2 Timothy 2:13. What does it mean that "if we are faithless, He remains faithful"? Opinions on this one are definitely divided. The main point of confusion is not on "faithless", but on "faithful". What or who is God being faithful to? The Context could go a number of different ways. One commentary I read didn't take a position - it merely listed some of the options for what it could mean. The other 3 commentaries I checked each took different positions on the meaning of this verse. Some of the options are:
1. God's grace allows us forgiveness in our failings. In this view it is important to note that "He will deny us" does not refer to true believers: "True believers might be faithless and weak at times; they might falter when giving a testimony (see 2:13), but they would never disown their Lord." [1] This means the final line DOES refer to true believers: "These words apply not to faithless unbelievers, but to believers who at times fail the Lord. Humans, by their very nature, are prone to failure; and Christians, though born again, are still human. But even when believers act faithlessly, God remains faithful. Believers are secure in Christ’s promises. This does not give a license for faithlessness; rather, it eases our conscience when we fail, allowing us to come back to the Father and start anew. God does not deny those for whom he died." [2]
2. God is faithful to judge rightly. This means that when we are faithless, God is faithful to enact judgment against us. This would be very similar to Paul's line of thinking in the first few chapters of Romans concerning Israel's unfaithfulness and God's judgment against them.
3. God is faithful to His own righteousness even when humans lack righteousness. This means that though we demonstrate failings, God never does and is always righteous.
4. In spite of people abandoning the work of God, the mission goes on. "A person’s faithlessness (i.e., abandonment of the faith) does not affect God’s faithfulness (i.e., His commitment to His mission)." [3]
Of these four views, I would say that 1 and 2 are by far the most common views put forward. All four of these find support in Bible in various places, so none of them is "wrong" theologically. Personally, I take option 1. In context, this basically means that suffering and persecution are the testing ground of true faith. If we endure, we will reign with Him. If we deny, we prove that we never knew Him and were just "cultural Christians". Even if we might falter and fail, He will in grace remain faithful to us, who are His body. It's not a view without difficulties, but none of them are. Michael Patton over at the Parchment and Pen blog definitely disagrees with me and strongly takes the #2 viewpoint. I'm in the middle somewhere but tentatively lean toward option 1. If you'd like to read a good (and somewhat forceful) defense of option 2, head over there to read "'If We Are Faithless, He Remains Faithful' . . . and Other Bad Interpretations".
This is definitely a complicated issue, but hardly vital to our faith. As I said, each view finds support elsewhere, so this isn't a foundational passage for any doctrine. This is where good Bible study is important, as well as realizing that we as Christians can charitably disagree on some passages.
Questions? Comments?
He Remains Faithful
Today we have a very interesting case in 2 Timothy 2:13. What does it mean that "if we are faithless, He remains faithful"? Opinions on this one are definitely divided. The main point of confusion is not on "faithless", but on "faithful". What or who is God being faithful to? The Context could go a number of different ways. One commentary I read didn't take a position - it merely listed some of the options for what it could mean. The other 3 commentaries I checked each took different positions on the meaning of this verse. Some of the options are:
1. God's grace allows us forgiveness in our failings. In this view it is important to note that "He will deny us" does not refer to true believers: "True believers might be faithless and weak at times; they might falter when giving a testimony (see 2:13), but they would never disown their Lord." [1] This means the final line DOES refer to true believers: "These words apply not to faithless unbelievers, but to believers who at times fail the Lord. Humans, by their very nature, are prone to failure; and Christians, though born again, are still human. But even when believers act faithlessly, God remains faithful. Believers are secure in Christ’s promises. This does not give a license for faithlessness; rather, it eases our conscience when we fail, allowing us to come back to the Father and start anew. God does not deny those for whom he died." [2]
2. God is faithful to judge rightly. This means that when we are faithless, God is faithful to enact judgment against us. This would be very similar to Paul's line of thinking in the first few chapters of Romans concerning Israel's unfaithfulness and God's judgment against them.
3. God is faithful to His own righteousness even when humans lack righteousness. This means that though we demonstrate failings, God never does and is always righteous.
4. In spite of people abandoning the work of God, the mission goes on. "A person’s faithlessness (i.e., abandonment of the faith) does not affect God’s faithfulness (i.e., His commitment to His mission)." [3]
Of these four views, I would say that 1 and 2 are by far the most common views put forward. All four of these find support in Bible in various places, so none of them is "wrong" theologically. Personally, I take option 1. In context, this basically means that suffering and persecution are the testing ground of true faith. If we endure, we will reign with Him. If we deny, we prove that we never knew Him and were just "cultural Christians". Even if we might falter and fail, He will in grace remain faithful to us, who are His body. It's not a view without difficulties, but none of them are. Michael Patton over at the Parchment and Pen blog definitely disagrees with me and strongly takes the #2 viewpoint. I'm in the middle somewhere but tentatively lean toward option 1. If you'd like to read a good (and somewhat forceful) defense of option 2, head over there to read "'If We Are Faithless, He Remains Faithful' . . . and Other Bad Interpretations".
This is definitely a complicated issue, but hardly vital to our faith. As I said, each view finds support elsewhere, so this isn't a foundational passage for any doctrine. This is where good Bible study is important, as well as realizing that we as Christians can charitably disagree on some passages.
Questions? Comments?
[1] Bruce B. Barton, David Veerman and Neil S. Wilson, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1993), 188-89.
[2] Ibid, 189.
[3] John D. Barry, Michael R. Grigoni, Michael S. Heiser et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012), 2 Ti 2:13.
[2] Ibid, 189.
[3] John D. Barry, Michael R. Grigoni, Michael S. Heiser et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2012), 2 Ti 2:13.
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