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NASB | 2 Timothy 2:9 for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Timothy 2:9 for that [gospel] I am suffering even to [the point of] wearing chains like a criminal; but the word of God is not chained or imprisoned! |
Bible Question:
In Psalm 19, nature speaks, and it cannot be shut down. Its voice is heard everywhere. In Romans 2, the conscience speaks, accusing or excusing. Its voice is heard in every man. The word of God also speaks, and it pierces a man’s heart. Paul says in this case that the word of God is not bound. My question is this: Is it just in this case, or is it always the case? Or is it in the nature of the word of God, that it is never chained or imprisoned? |
Bible Answer: It cannot be trussed up or bottled up. It seems that nothing can stop it. It may be one reason it is called the everlasting Gospel. I am impressed, and very much encouraged by this statement, that the Gospel is not bound. It suggests to me that there is no stopping it and am glad to hear that. Now this may sound like a sermon, I warn you, but here are several points I hoped that others would have added. I would have preferred to try to elicit these with questions, but I will say them and move on. Sometimes it seems that God is not speaking at all. But he has spoken (Hebrews 1:1) even as he had said that he would speak (Ezekiel 12:25) “I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass”. The sense one gets from the Hebrews passage is that the word which has been spoken, especially that spoken by Jesus, will stand. God’s word is also inexorable, in that it cannot be stopped. It will go out, as God sends it out, and it will accomplish what God implies or promises in it (Isa 55:11). It turneth not back unto him empty, but hath done that which he desired, and prosperously effected that for which he sent it (YLT). The word of God cannot be chained, because it is not a physical thing. For that same reason, it cannot be burned, or shredded, or otherwise destroyed. The word of God is more than ink and paper. It is what God has spoken, and it will go forth, whether in writing, or in actions, by the spoken word. Much of it is spoken through nature and in man’s conscience. It is also seen in the works that Jesus did, and in the actions of God’s people. It is the fact that God loves us and wants us to love him and each other. It can be seen and read of all men, including those who do not know letters. When we do what God says, then our actions speak, and they do speak louder than words. Men see our good works and they glorify our Father (Matthew 5:16) because they see him and they hear him through the good things we do. Yet wet sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and remain ready always to give an answer to every man that asks us a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear. Our actions can cause them to want to hear more. When they ask, what we want to tell them is the Gospel. So it is that while Paul was in prison the Gospel could have free course. When we are willing to suffer for the Gospel, even our suffering speaks for itself. It speaks to those who persecute us. It also speaks to our brethren, moving them to take our place as preachers of the spoken word. It may cause them to run away, but wherever they go, they take with them the word of God. It is in their hearts (They’ve hidden it there, as they were directed to do in Psalm 119:11) and it’s in their mouth (Deuteronomy 30:4;Romans 10:8). No one can stop the Gospel, not even if they lock up or lock out the preacher. They cannot stop his preaching, even if they cut out his tongue. Even when we die, if we die for the Gospel, then we continue to preach the Gospel. We can leave a legacy of faith and it will be said, as it was said of Abel, that by it he/she being dead yet speaketh. Whereas the Gospel is other than physical, and cannot be destroyed. Whereas it cannot be taken out of a living preacher. If imprisoning the preacher only causes it to be seen and heard even more, in him and through his brethren, brave or coward, loving or envious, then how can the Gospel ever be stopped? It is like an unquenchable fire. And it can be a fire in our bones (as in Jeremiah 20:7), moving us to speak it. Knowing its power, that it can regenerate and energize the hearer who receives it and passes it on, we are led to pass it on. I have wondered if we will say it in heaven and I cannot see why not. It is there that they sing, “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev 5:9). We say, “I deliver unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”. We say it. And those who hear it say it. It will go on forever. That may be the reason why John refers to it, in Revelation 14:6, as the everlasting Gospel. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for 2 Tim 2:9 | Author | ||
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Aixen7z4 | ||
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Hank | ||
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Aixen7z4 | ||
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Hank | ||
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Aixen7z4 | ||
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Aixen7z4 |