Paul’s gospel and Paul’s doctrine are positive things for the last days. We are walking and laboring in the midst of an immense network of systems in which Paul’s ministry is totally unknown. For it he suffered as an evildoer unto bonds.
How like to Christ’s own words are those of the Apostle in v. 10!
We now get corruption of doctrine (v. 2:16, &c). There had been falling away. Thus (v. 19) individual responsibility (coupled with God’s faithful knowledge of His own) to depart from iniquity. In v. 20 we have ecclesiastical apprehension.
Supposing a person says, “I do not see that so and so is wrong when Scripture forbids it,” this those walking in the truth cannot allow. You cannot take the conscience of the individual for the rule of the church. Scripture is its guide. Thus we have to walk with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. At the first we do not find this expression. It was more general, “all that call upon Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” Now it was “all that call upon the Lord out of a pure heart.” The Church should have been the witness for the glory of Christ on high, and is now mixed up with all that witnesses against Him here below.
Calling upon the name of the Lord is in itself only profession; of course, if true, it is salvation too.
In v. 24, “patient” should be “bearing evil.” “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves,” &c., that they might be recovered to God’s will from the snares of the devil.