“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
One of the most effective ways to produce a lasting impact in the lives of others is found in the message of 2 Timothy 2:2: “Take the teachings that you heard me proclaim in the presence of many witnesses, and entrust them to reliable people, who will be able to teach others also” (GNT).
While modern communication technologies enable us to interact with many others, it remains true that one person can only communicate with a limited number of people at a time. Nevertheless, it is possible to take the things we’ve learned from God’s Word and pass them along to others by word and example. When those others convey what they’ve learned within their own circle of influence, a multiplication effect takes place.
You see, the act of hearing and applying Biblical truth within our lives is much like the mathematical process of addition. But if we learn from God’s Word, apply it in our lives, and then pass those truths to others, we multiply the resulting benefit among many. This may also explain Paul the Apostle’s reference to “the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses” within this passage…
“Traveling with Paul, Timothy had heard the apostle address scores of diverse audiences. Among all those groups the essence of Paul’s message had not changed. It was the same body of truth Paul had taught Timothy personally. Now, with the apostle nearing the end of his own ministry, what Timothy had heard from Paul he was in turn to entrust (cf. 2Ti_1:14) to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others (cf. 1Ti_3:2; Tit_1:9).” (1)
It is also important to emphasize that “the things that you have heard from me” serves as a reference to God’s Word. While there are many religious ideas, opinions, and theories in existence, they may fail to measure up when they are evaluated against the Biblical Scriptures.
For instance. a spiritual opinion or conjecture that is untethered from the Scriptures may lead to “…petty controvers(sies) over words, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers” (AMP). This is a topic that Paul will address later in this chapter (see 2 Timothy 2:14). It also echoes Paul’s closing message from the Biblical book of 1 Timothy…
“Avoid godless, foolish discussions with those who oppose you with their so-called knowledge. Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness” (1 Timothy 6:20-21 NLT).
(1) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary [p.752]