2 Timothy 2:20

2 Timothy 2:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.

Context of 2 Timothy 2:20

18men who have missed the mark concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place. They are overturning the faith of some. 19Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord keep away from unrighteousness.” Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay—some for honor and some for common use. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor—sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22Now flee from youthful desires; instead, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and shalom, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:20 word by word

Ἐν μεγάλῃ δὲ οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔστιν μόνον σκεύη χρυσᾶ καὶ ἀργυρᾶ ἀλλὰ καὶ ξύλινα καὶ ὀστράκινα, καὶ ἃ μὲν εἰς τιμὴν ἃ δὲ εἰς ἀτιμίαν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
• Butδέde · thenG1161
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• a greatμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
• houseοἰκίαoikia · homeG3614
• there areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• notοὐou · noG3756
• onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
• vesselsσκεῦοςskeuos · vesselG4632
• of goldχρύσεοςchruseos · goldenG5552
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• of silverἀργύρεοςargureos · silverG693
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• of woodξύλινοςxulinos · woodenG3585
• of earthὀστράκινοςostrakinos · clayG3749
• someὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• honourτιμήtimē · honorG5092
• dishonourἀτιμίαatimia · dishonourG819

Cross-references for 2 Timothy 2:20

• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are God’s co-workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
• Ephesians 2:22In Him, you also are being built together into God’s dwelling place in the Ruach.
• 1 Timothy 3:15But if I delay, I write so you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God—which is the community of the living God, a pillar and foundation of truth.
• Hebrews 3:2He was faithful to the One who appointed Him in His house—as was Moses also.
• 1 Peter 2:5you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house—a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Messiah Yeshua.
• Exodus 27:3You are to make pots for it to take away ashes, along with shovels, basins, forks and fire pans—make all the utensils of bronze.
• Ezra 1:6All those around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, gold, goods, cattle and valuable gifts, besides all that was willingly offered.
• Ezra 6:5Also let the gold and silver vessels of the House of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the Temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought to the Temple in Jerusalem; you shall deposit them in the House of God.
• Lamentations 4:2The precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in gold— alas! now they are treated like clay jars, the work of a potter’s hands!
• Daniel 5:2When Belshazzar tasted the wine, he issued an order to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the Temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his consorts and his concubines could drink from them.
• 2 Corinthians 4:7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God and not from ourselves.
• Romans 9:21Does the potter have no right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honor and another for common use?

Commentaries on 2 Timothy 2:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20But in a great house - Here the apostle carries on the allusion introduced in the preceding verse. As the foundation of God refers to God's building, i.e. the whole system of Christianity, so here the great house is to be understood of the same; and the different kinds of vessels mean the different teachers, as well as the different kinds of members. In this sacred house at Ephesus there were vessels of gold and silver - eminent, holy, sincere, and useful…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20But in a great house - Still keeping up the comparison of the church with a building. The idea is, that the church is a large edifice, and that in such a building we are not to expect entire uniformity in all the articles which it contains. There are not only vessels of gold and of silver, … - You are not to expect to find all the articles of furniture alike, or all made of the same material. Variety in the form, and use, and material, is necessary in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 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 overthrow the faith of any whom God…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21Building on 2:19, the apostle Paul uses imagery of vessels in a wealthy home (see Romans 9:21). In God's household, Christians should strive to be like a valuable and useful vessel, not a cheap or useless one.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. in a great house--that is, the visible professing Christian Church (1Ti 3:15). Paul is speaking, not of those without, but of the [visible] family of God [Calvin]. So the parable of the sweep-net (Mt 13:47-49) gathering together of every kind, good and bad: as the good and bad cannot be distinguished while under the waves, but only when brought to shore, so believers and unbelievers continue in the same Church, until the judgment makes the everlasting…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Timothy 2:20

• Minister, Christian
• Parables
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• Acknowledge
• Approved
• Commit
• Deny
• Eat
• Endure
• Entangle
• Eternal
• Faithful
• Foolish

Commentaries on 2 Timothy 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings