v 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.
Spreading the Good News of Jesus can often provoke opposition, so Timothy is urged to deal with opposition gently. The aim is not to win arguments, but people. It is far from easy to deal with some who might refuse to listen and properly consider the truth of the Christian message. It will only be through patient love and gentleness that they might come to change their views and acknowledge the truth of Jesus as Lord. But please note – it is not a change of mind that is needed, it is a change of heart.
The Gospel of Jesus invites people into a new relationship with God. What is called for is a change of affections – a move away from a self-centred life to one where God is at the centre. It is not even sufficient to invite people to care for the environment, or the needs of the poor, or social justice; it is a call to become God-centred. Many other life-changes may well follow, but front and centre it is a life turned round to follow Jesus. Repentance, as called for by Jesus, is a turning round from self-centred living and getting orientated towards God. The act of turning round is often called ‘conversion’ and may only take a moment of decision, but it often takes much longer to re-align a life to follow Jesus in the rough and tumble of everyday activity.
Gentle instruction under a patient leader is then the order of the day.
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