When the apostle Paul wrote to young Timothy about his work as an evangelist, he mentioned several tasks facing him and then admonished him about the humility that must characterize him in 2 Timothy 2:24-26. The immediate context of this warning includes sufficient basis for pride on the evangelist's part if his attitude is not right. It is easy for the pride of position, work, knowledge, accomplishment, skill, or reputation to enter the picture and to become a larger motivation than the servanthood that ought to characterize the evangelist. Beginning in verse 14 Paul instructed Timothy to remind brethren of some matters; give diligence to present himself approved to God, unashamed but handling aright the word of truth; shun empty chatter so often used by those seeking to promote the law; and flee the desires common to youth but pursue the virtues named by the Spirit. All of these tasks could promote ungodly arrogance if he failed to manage himself properly. At that juncture the Spirit gave the needed warning.

"And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will." (ASV)

The Lord's Servant

The humility desired by the Lord of His servant is made easier when all evangelists remember they are servants of Christ, not masters in themselves. They must seek to think, speak, and act as the Master did. The servant is not above his Master. He should closely study the endeavors of Christ in teaching, warning, reproving, and commending people, and follow Him as a matter of moral obligation (indicated by the words "ought not"), not simply a matter of judgment or personal preference.

David Lipscomb commented, "Everything which is likely to be the cause of strife, heartburning, or hot words is singularly out of place in the life of the servant of the Lord." This, however, he went on to remark, is not out of harmony with the exhortation to content earnestly for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints in Jude 3. Observe that striving is forbidden-the kind of striving denoted in the word "strifes" (quarrels) in verse 23. The harsh contention prompted by the carnal spirit of rivalry and continued by improper motive is what the Spirit here prohibits, not fighting the good fight of faith or preaching the Word in season and out of season. It should then be obvious to all that honest self-examination of one's motive and attitude is essential.