Objective of teaching: Repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 2 Timothy 2:24-26

The main purpose of Christian teaching is to give all those who follow the words and example of the teacher rescue out of the snare of the devil through repentance--a complete change of life direction--leading to a full knowledge of the truth--Jesus himself.

The next New Testament passage that uses a “repentance” word based on metanoéō is actually quite simple to understand:

The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient, in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance (metanoian) leading to a full knowledge of the truth, and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 (WEB)

The true main purpose of all Christian teaching–even on this blog–should not be to teach facts, make doctrinal points, or win academic arguments. The main purpose of Christian teaching is to give all those who follow the words and example of the teacher rescue out of the snare of the devil through repentance–a complete change of life direction–leading to a full knowledge of the truth. “The truth” is more than just facts, it is the living Person behind the facts: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.'” John 14:6.

This also applies–in fact, it appears to apply most pointedly–to the teacher’s way of life and words toward those who personally oppose the teacher and the teacher’s message. To those, the teacher is to act gently (the concept of gentleness is stated twice!) and patiently, holding onto the truth without quarreling, because even those who violently oppose the truth today may be won to Him tomorrow. Witness the author himself–the murderous enemy Saul of Tarsus who later became the Apostle Paul!

NEXT: The Implications of Jesus’ Humanity, Revisited