John Calvin Commentary 2 Timothy 4:2

"preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching." — 2 Timothy 4:2 (ASV)

Be instant in season, out of season. By these words he recommends not only constancy, but also earnestness, in order to overcome all hindrances and difficulties. For, being by nature exceedingly prone to weakness or laziness, we easily yield to the slightest opposition, and sometimes we gladly seek excuses for our laziness. Let us now consider how many strategies Satan employs to stop our course, and how slow those who are called are to follow, and how soon they become weary. Consequently, the gospel will not maintain its place for long if pastors do not urge it earnestly.

Moreover, this earnestness must relate both to the pastor and to the people. For the pastor, it means that he should not devote himself to the office of teaching only at his own times and according to his own convenience, but, shrinking neither from hardships nor from difficulties, he should exercise his abilities to the fullest. As for the people, there is constancy and earnestness when they arouse those who are asleep, when they lay their hands on those who are hurrying in a wrong direction, and when they correct the trivial pursuits of the world. To explain more fully in what respects the pastor must “be instant,” the Apostle adds—

Reprove, rebuke, exhort. By these words he means that we need many promptings to urge us to advance in the right course. For if we were as teachable as we ought to be, a minister of Christ would draw us along by the slightest expression of his will. But now, not even moderate exhortations, to say nothing of sound advice, are sufficient for shaking off our lethargy, unless there is increased intensity of reproofs and threatenings.

With all gentleness and doctrine. A very necessary exception; for reproofs either prove ineffective through their own harshness or vanish into smoke if they do not rest on doctrine. Both exhortations and reproofs are only aids to doctrine and, therefore, have little weight without it. We see instances of this in those who have only a large measure of zeal and bitterness and are not equipped with solid doctrine. Such men labor very hard, utter loud cries, make a great noise, and all in vain, because they build without a foundation. I speak of men who are otherwise good but have little learning and excessive fervor; for those who employ all the energy they possess in combating sound doctrine are far more dangerous and do not deserve to be mentioned here at all.

In short, Paul means that reproofs are founded on doctrine, so that they are not justly despised as frivolous. Secondly, he means that sharpness is moderated by gentleness, for nothing is more difficult than to set a limit to our zeal once we have become fervent. When we are carried away by impatience, our efforts are entirely fruitless. Our harshness not only exposes us to ridicule but also irritates the minds of the people. Besides, sharp and forceful men often seem unable to endure the obstinacy of those with whom they engage. They cannot submit to many offenses and insults, which nevertheless must be endured if we desire to be useful. Therefore, let severity be mingled with this seasoning of gentleness, so that it is known to come from a peaceful heart.