If a man therefore purge himself from these
That is, if a man clears himself, and keeps himself clear from
such men as Hymenaeus and Philetus, who are comparable to wooden
and earthen vessels, and are dishonourable ones; if he shuns
their defiling company, and polluting principles; if he keeps
clear of their heresies, and is not carried away with the errors
of these wicked men, and is not drawn aside by them into immoral
practices, but stands fast in the faith, and departs from
iniquity:
he shall be a vessel unto honour;
he will be made manifest, and appear to be a vessel chosen to
honour; and will be an honourable member of the church here, and
will be honoured by Christ hereafter:
sanctified:
he will appear to be one that is set apart by God the Father, and
whose sins are purged away by the blood of Christ, and who is
sanctified internally by the Spirit of God; for external holiness
springs from internal holiness, and is, an evidence of it:
and meet for the master's use:
the use and service of Christ, who is the master of the house;
either for the ministry of the word, the administration of
ordinances, or for some service or another, which he calls him
to, and employs him in.
And prepared unto every good work;
which an unregenerate man is not; he is to every good work
reprobate; he is not capable of performing good works; he is not
prepared for them, nor ready at them; but a true believer, one
that is regenerated, and sanctified by the Spirit of God, he is
created in Christ Jesus unto good works; and has in the
performing of them right principles, aims, and ends, as well as a
supply of grace, by which he is enabled to do them.