John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 2:20

"Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor." — 2 Timothy 2:20 (ASV)

In a great house He now goes further and demonstrates by a comparison that when we see some who, for a time, made a display of distinguished piety and zeal, fall back shamefully, instead of being troubled by it, we should instead acknowledge that this arrangement is fitting and adapted to the providence of God. Who will find fault with a large house in which there is an abundance of every kind of furniture, and which accordingly contains not only those items intended for display but also those of a more common sort? This diversity is even ornamental if, while the sideboard and the table glitter with gold and silver, the kitchen is furnished with wooden and earthenware vessels. Why then should we wonder if God, the head of the family, so rich and so abundantly supplied with everything, has in this world, as in a large house, various kinds of people, like so many pieces of furniture?

Commentators do not agree, however, whether the “great house” means the Church alone or the whole world. Indeed, the context rather leads us to understand it as denoting the Church, for Paul is not now reasoning about outsiders, but about God’s own family. Yet what he says is generally true, and in another passage, the same Apostle extends it to the whole world; that is, at Romans 9:21, where he includes all the reprobate using the same term that is used here. We need not greatly dispute, therefore, if anyone applies it simply to the world. Yet there can be no doubt that Paul’s object is to show that we should not think it strange that wicked people are mixed with the good, which happens chiefly in the Church.