Note 26 at 2 Tim. 2:21: The word "therefore" connects this verse with the preceding verses (see note 25 at v. 20, p. 1328). Paul is continuing his allegory of God's kingdom being like a great house or mansion. The vessels of wood and earth are those who are not true believers (see note 25 at v. 20, p. 1238).

Paul is telling Timothy that to be a vessel that brings honor to the Lord, he has to separate himself from these wicked people. This doesn't mean total separation from everyone who is ungodly because as he said in 1 Corinthians 5:10, ". . . for then must ye needs go out of this world," which is impossible. Paul is speaking particularly about believers, or professing believers, who are not true possessors, that we are to separate from them.

This is the same point Paul made in 2 Corinthians 6:16-7:1. He gave a promise to all who would come out from among unbelievers and their uncleanness, that God would receive them and be a Father to them.

Note 27 at 2 Tim. 2:21: Notice that Paul didn't tell Timothy to remove these people from himself, but instructed him to remove himself from these people. The significance of this is that we don't truly know who the good vessels and the bad vessels are (see note 25 at v. 20, p. 1328). If Paul was instructing Timothy to discipline all the people in his church who were dishonorable vessels (not true believers), there could be room for a serious mistake that might damage a true believer who wasn't bearing much fruit.

As Jesus said in the parable of the tares among the wheat, the proper thing to do is to let the tares grow with the wheat lest we accidentally destroy some wheat in our efforts to remove the tares. We can't truly judge who is born again and who isn't. Therefore, Paul's instructions weren't on how Timothy was to remove certain people.

Instead, Paul told Timothy to remove himself from those who were questionable. By doing so, Timothy would avoid contact with those who were defiled, and if by chance Timothy had included a true believer in that group, he would not be plucked up in a way that would destroy his faith, but would still be planted in the body of believers where he could be nurtured and grow.

Note 28 at 2 Tim. 2:21: This is quite a claim. By purging ourselves from those who feign faith in Christ, we will bring honor to the Lord; be sanctified; be easy for the Lord to use; and be prepared unto every good work. Most Christians don't put much importance on associations, but Paul did. One of the most important things in the development of Christian character is the people we choose to associate with (1 Cor. 15:33).

Note 29 at 2 Tim. 2:21: If purging ourselves from those who are not serious with God will bring honor to Him, then it is safe to say that associating with those who are not serious with God does not honor Him.

Note 30 at 2 Tim. 2:21: The word "meet" comes from the Greek word "EUCHRESTOS" which means, "easy to make use of, useful" (Thayer). Living a separated life makes us more usable to the Lord. Living a lifestyle that is entangled with the affairs of this life (see note 12 at 2 Tim. 2:4, p. 1322) will make it hard for the Lord to use us.

Note 31 at 2 Tim. 2:21: Good works don't just automatically flow from a believer. We have to be "prepared unto every good work." The Greek word that was translated "prepared" is "HETOIMAZO" which means, "to make ready, prepare, to make the necessary preparations" (Thayer). Part of that preparation is separating from those who are not really serving God as this verse is instructing.