A HOLY LIFE 4

A HOLY LIFE: the Beauty of Christianity

a treatise by John Bunyan
edited in modern English by Jon Cardwell

“…and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” —2 Timothy 2:19

TIMOTHY, unto whom this epistle was written, was an evangelist; that is, inferior to apostles and extra-ordinary prophets, and above ordinary pastors and teachers (2 Timothy 4:5; Ephesians 4:11). And he, with the rest of those under his circumstances, went with the apostles here and there, to be placed by them as they saw need, to further edify those who by the apostolic ministry were converted to the faith: and for this reason, Titus was left at Crete and Timothy was left at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). They were to do a work for Christ in the world, which the apostles were to begin, and leave upon their hands to finish. When the apostles departed from places, leaving these evangelists in their place, usually some bad spirits among those people arose. These were left, however, to continue the work and extend the faith. This is revealed by both epistles to Timothy, and also by that to Titus: that’s why Paul, upon whom these two evangelists waited for the fulfilling of their ministry, writes to them while they stayed where he left them, concerning those turbulent spirits which they met with, and to teach them how much further they ought to behave themselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth. And to this purpose he gives them many various instructions, as the wise reader may easily understand, by which he encourages them in accomplishing that service for Christ, which they had to do for those people where Paul had left them. Paul also instructs them how to respond towards their agitators, which he finally does, not only doctrinally, but also by showing them, by his example and practice, what he would have them do.

This complete, he labors to comfort Timothy be reminding him of the faithfulness of God’s eternal decree of election, because based upon His foreknowledge; saying, though Hymeneus and Philetus have erred from the faith, and, by their fall, have overthrown the faith of some, “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His.’” Now that this last hint should not encourage some to be remiss and carnally secure, and foolish, as I suppose this doctrine abused, had encouraged them to be before; therefore the apostle immediately connects it to this exhortation; “and, ‘Let everyone that names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” Two truths strangely, but necessarily joined together, because they are so inclined to be separated by the children of men; for many, under the pretense of their being elected, neglect to pursue holiness; and again, many of them that pretend to be for holiness, actually throw out the doctrine and motives that concern election. This is why the apostle joins these two truths together. He signifies that electing love instates a man in the blessings of eternal life so that he might set men’s notions concerning these things right; so holiness is its pathway; and, he that refuses to depart from iniquity shall be dammed; notwithstanding, he may think himself secured from hell by the act of God’s electing love. For election designs men not only for eternal glory, but for holiness of life, as the means toward eternal glory (Ephesians 1:4, 5). And the manner of this connection of truth is noted by us even more because the apostle seems to connect them, [i] in a holy heat of spirit, saying, “But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.’” Who is it to say that God will be revenged upon them for all, or, notwithstanding, they claim for themselves the benefits of election.

In the text we have, FIRST, An exhortation. SECOND, The extension of that exhortation. The exhortation is this: That men depart from iniquity. The extension of it is this: To them, all of them, every one of them that name the name of Christ. “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

[i] This is a solemn truth, which ought ever to be recollected when studying the mysteries of electing love. Election is as much to a holy life as it is to eternal glory. [G. Offor’s original footnote]

[“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”]