2 Timothy 2:20

Translations

Modern

A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.

Traditional

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.

Literal

Now in a great house there are not only golden and silver vessels, but also wooden and earthen; and some indeed for honor, but some for dishonor.

Latin

In magna autem domo non solum sunt vasa aurea, et argentea, sed et lignea, et fictilia: et quædam quidem in honorem, quædam autem in contumeliam.

Original

Greek

English

A large house contains not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. Some indeed are for honorable use, but others are for common use.

Notes

2 Timothy 2:20–21

Building 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.

2 Timothy 2:14–26

Timothy must focus on Paul's teaching and avoid the teachings and behavior of false teachers 2:8–13. The false teachings were probably similar to those in 1 Timothy 6:20–21.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul)

Related verses

Romans 9:21–23
Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?
1 Timothy 3:15
…in case I am delayed, so that you will know how each one must conduct himself in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
1 Peter 2:5
…you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Ezra 6:5
Furthermore, the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, must also be returned to the temple in Jerusalem and deposited in the house of God.
Ezra 1:6
And all their neighbors supported them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with valuables, in addition to all their freewill offerings.
Ephesians 2:22
And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
2 Corinthians 4:7
Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us.
Lamentations 4:2
How the precious sons of Zion, once worth their weight in pure gold, are now esteemed as jars of clay, the work of a potter’s hands!
1 Corinthians 3:16–17
Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Daniel 5:2
Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
Hebrews 3:2–6
He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.

Glossary

Haggai, Book of Silversmith Timothy, Second Letter to

Topics

Christian Minister: Character and Attributes of Christian Minister: Charge Delivered To Compared To Saints: Vessels of Gold and Silver Good Deeds Houses of the Rich: Great Parables: Furnished House Righteous: Vessels of Gold and Silver Vessels

2 Timothy 2:20

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