Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: March 27, 2005
“PREACH THE WORD”
An Examination of 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Ben Justice
NOTE: CONTINUATION OF LAST WEEK’S ARTICLE.
The Charge Involves A Three-Fold Method – verse 2c:
The three-fold method in preaching the word is “reprove, rebuke, exhort.” Let’s
examine each of these:
The word “reprove” is from elencho. This word is found a total of 17 times in the NT
and is translated in various ways. It is translated as “reprove” or “reproved” 6
times, as “rebuke” or “rebuked” 5 times, as “convicted” 1 time, as “convinceth” 1
time, as “convinced” or “convince” 3 times, and as “go tell fault” 1 time. The noun
form, elegmos, is found only twice in the NT. It is translated as “reproof” in 2 Tim.
3:16, where Paul stated all scripture is profitable for “reproof.” Thayer writes that it
means, “to convict, refute, confute, generally with a suggestion of the shame of the
person being convicted, . . . by conviction to bring to light, to expose, . . . to find
fault with, correct; . . . to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove: . . . to call
to account, show one his fault, . . . to chasten, punish” (J.H. Thayer, # 1651, Pg.
202-203).
In Luke 3:19, the inspired record tells us that John “reproved” Herod. Herod had
married his brother Philip’s wife. John not only “reproved” Herod for this, but also,
as the text tells us, “for all the evils which Herod had done.” The expression,
“being reproved” is in the present tense, which indicates continuous action. As
Luke 3:20 reveals, Herod “shut up John in prison.” John remained in prison where
he was beheaded at the request of Herodias (Mark 6:24). The point I wish to make
is the fact that John was willing to do what many preachers are afraid to do today.
Let’s just take the sin Herod and Herodias was guilty of. Theirs was an
unscriptural marriage – they were living in adultery. How many preachers refrain
from “reproving” the sin of adultery today? How many preachers hold back in telling
those who are living in adultery that they must severe the relationship or be lost?
Many preachers today need to learn the lesson of John.
In Eph. 5:11, Paul commanded, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them.” The term “reprove” is translated as “expose” in
other translations (see NASB). God has commanded that the unfruitful works of
darkness be exposed.
In Eph. 5:13, Paul noted that “all things that are reproved are made manifest by the
light.” The light of God’s word exposes sin for what is. Light and darkness do not
mix.
In I Tim. 5:20, in reference to elders in sin, Paul commanded Timothy, “Them that
sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”
In Titus 1:9, elders are commanded to “convince the gainsayers.”
Concerning the Cretians of Titus 1:12, Paul commanded Titus to “rebuke them
sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” Proper rebuke leads to soundness in
the faith. Maybe the reason why many today are not sound in the faith is because
they have never received any reproof.
Titus was told to “rebuke with all authority” (Titus 2:15).
According to Rev. 3:19, God “rebukes” those who he loves. It is this reproving or
chastening that is not to be despised (Heb. 12:5), realizing the Lord loves those
whom he “chasteneth” (Heb. 12:6). [NOTE: The term “chastening” and “chasteneth”
in Heb. 12:5-6 are from the same Greek word translated “reprove” in 2 Tim. 4:2.]
Next, we come to the word “rebuke.” Although the word translated “reprove” is also
translated “rebuke” in the NT, the word translated “rebuke” in 2 Tim. 4:2 is
obviously not from the same Greek word. The word used here is epitimao. It is
found a total of 29 times in the NT and is translated as “rebuke” (or a form thereof)
24 out of the 29 times. The word is translated “charged” the remaining 5 times. It
is interesting to note that 27 times the word is used in either Matthew, Mark or
Luke. The word is found only twice outside of these books. These would be 2 Tim.
4:2 and Jude 9. What’s the difference with this word and the “reprove?” Although
the words are similar in meaning, there is a real difference in the two. The term
translated “rebuke” is the stronger of the two words. R.C. Trench explains the
difference in the two words. Concerning the term “reprove” (from elencho), “It
means to rebuke another with the truth so that the person confesses, or at least is
convicted, of his sin . . . Elenchos, however, refers to an accusation that is true,
and often implies an inward or outward acknowledgement of that truthfulness on
the part of the accused. Thus elenchus represents the glorious prerogative of the
truth in its highest operation, not merely to silence its adversary but to convince
him of his error” (R.C. Trench, Trench’s Synonyms of The New Testament, Pg.
29-31). The word translated “rebuke” (epitimao) denotes a rebuke that may or may
not be true. Hence, it can refer to an unjust rebuke. In this sense, Peter began to
unjustly “rebuke” (epitimao) his Lord (Mark 8:32). W.E. Vine summarizes the
difference in the two terms nicely, “While epitimao signifies simply ‘a rebuke’ which
may be either undeserved, Matt. 16:22, or ineffectual, Luke 23:40, elencho implies a
‘rebuke’ which carries conviction” (W.E. Vine, Vine’s Complete Expository
Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Pg. 510).
The next word is “exhort.” The Greek word is parakaleo, which is a beautiful and
rich word. It is used a total of 107 times in the NT. The word has different
connotations in the NT, but the primary meaning of the word is “to call to a person”
(W.E. Vine, Ibid., Pg. 217).
[MORE NEXT WEEK]