John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 2:24

"And the Lord`s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing," — 2 Timothy 2:24 (ASV)

But the servant of the Lord must not fight. Paul’s argument is to this effect: “The servant of God must stay apart from contentions; but foolish questions are contentions; therefore whoever desires to be a ‘servant of God,’ and to be regarded as such, should shun them.” And if superfluous questions should be avoided on this single ground, that it is unseemly for a servant of God to fight, how shamelessly do they act, who have the open audacity of claiming applause for raising incessant controversies? Let the theology of the Papists now be examined; what else will be found in it than the art of disputing and fighting? The more progress anyone has made in it, the more unfit they will be for serving Christ.

But gentle towards all, qualified for teaching. When he instructs the servant of Christ to be “gentle,” he demands a virtue that is opposite to the disease of contentions. To the same purpose is what immediately follows, that he should be διδακτικός, “qualified for teaching.” There will be no room for instruction if he does not have moderation and some evenness of temper. What limit will be observed by a teacher when he is stirred up for fighting? The better one is qualified for teaching, the more earnestly one stays apart from quarrels and disputes.

Patient to the bad. The persistent demands of some people may sometimes produce either irritation or weariness; and for that reason he adds, “bearing with them,” at the same time pointing out the reason why it is necessary; namely, because a godly teacher should even try whether it is possible to bring back to the right path obstinate and rebellious persons, which cannot be done without the exercise of gentleness.