Tag: Parable of the Dutiful Servant

The Service to Christ That Is Useful to Him (Mon. Dec. 27)

· Fr. Basil
The word of the day is “honorable.”  In today’s reading of 2 Timothy, 2:20-26, St. Paul teaches the way to become a more useful servant of the Kingdom.  The Apostle contrasts church members who are effective as “vessels of honor” and those who are “instruments of dishonor” (vs. 20), that is, “for common use” (NIV 2 Timothy 2:20). The term household “vessels” that Paul refers to are all sorts of utensils, not necessarily containers (Strong’s #4632, 232).  Therefore, the comparison is not of the contents that the container holds.  The contrast is of the composition of the implements.  What they are made of determines what they are used for.  One does not use a silver punch bowl as a washbasin, nor…

Honorable and Dishonorable Service to the Lord (Mon, Dec. 14)

· Fr. Basil
The word of the day is “honorable.” In today’s reading of 2 Timothy, 2:20-27, St. Paul teaches the way to become a more useful servant of the Kingdom.  The Apostle contrasts church members who are effective as “vessels of honor” and those who are “instruments of dishonor”  (vs. 20). The term household “vessels” that Paul refers to all sorts of utensils, not necessarily containers (Strong’s #4632, 232).  Therefore, the comparison is not to the contents of what is contained.  The contrast is to the composition of the implements.  What they are made of determines the nature of their use.  One does not use a silver punch bowl as a washbasin, nor a wooden spoon to serve as a serving ladle.…