John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 2:21

"If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master`s use, prepared unto every good work." — 2 Timothy 2:21 (ASV)

If any man shall cleanse himself from these. If the reprobate are “vessels for dishonor,” they have that dishonor confined to themselves; they do not disfigure the house or bring any disgrace on the head of the family, who, while having a variety of articles of furniture, appropriates each vessel to its proper use. But let us learn by their example to apply ourselves to better and worthier uses. For in the reprobate, as in mirrors, we perceive how detestable the condition of man is if he does not sincerely promote the glory of God. Such examples, therefore, give us good reason for exhortation to devote ourselves to a holy and blameless life.

There are many who misapply this passage to prove that what Paul elsewhere (Romans 9:16) declares to belong “to God that sheweth mercy,” is actually within the power of “him that willeth and him that runneth.” This is exceedingly frivolous, for Paul is not arguing here about the election of men to show its cause, as he does in the ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Romans (Romans 9). Instead, he only means that we are to be unlike wicked men, whom we perceive were born to their perdition.

Consequently, it is foolish to draw an inference from these words about whether it is in a man’s power to place himself among the children of God and to be the author of his own adoption. That is not the present question. Let this short warning suffice against those who tell a man to cause himself to be predestined, as if Paul instructed men to do what they would have had to do before they were born, and even before the foundations of the world were laid.

Others, who infer from these words that free will is sufficient to prepare a man, so that he may be fit and qualified for obeying God, do not at first sight appear as absurd as the former, yet there is no solidity in what they advance. The Apostle instructs men who desire to consecrate themselves to the Lord to cleanse themselves from the pollution of wicked men; and throughout the Scriptures God gives the same injunction, for we find nothing here except what we have seen in many passages of Paul’s writings, and especially in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians:

“Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.”

Beyond all controversy, we are called to holiness. But the question about the calling and duty of Christians is totally different from the question about their power or ability. We do not deny that believers are required to purify themselves; but elsewhere the Lord declares that this is their duty, while He promises through Ezekiel that He will send:

“clean waters, that we may be cleansed.” (Ezekiel 36:25).

Therefore, we ought to supplicate the Lord to cleanse us, instead of vainly trying our own strength in this matter without His assistance.

A vessel sanctified for honor means being set apart for honorable and magnificent purposes. Similarly, what is useful to the head of the family stands for what is applied to agreeable purposes. He afterwards explains the metaphor when He adds that we must be prepared for every good work. Away with the wild language of fanatics: “I will contribute to the glory of God, as Pharaoh did; for is it not all the same, provided that God is glorified?” For here God explicitly states how He wishes us to serve Him—that is, by a religious and holy life.