19洁净自己就是“离开不义”〔提后二19、21〕,这是内在神圣性质的外在证据。提后二章二十一节的“这些卑贱的”,指卑贱的器皿,包括十六至十八节所说的那些人。我们不但该洁净自己,脱离任何不义的事,也该脱离卑贱的器皿。这就是说,我们必须远离他们。因此,我们必须洁净自己脱离不义的事,并脱离卑贱的木器瓦器。我们若洁净自己,脱离这些消极的事和消极的人,就必成为贵重的器皿,分别为圣,合乎主人使用,预备行各样的善事。“贵重”是性质的问题,“分别为圣”是地位的问题,“合乎……使用”是功用的问题,“预备”是训练的问题(提摩太后书生命读经,四一至四二页)。 19To cleanse ourselves is to depart from unrighteousness [cf. 2 Tim. 2:19, 21], as an outward evidence of the inward divine nature. The word these in verse 21 refers to the vessels unto dishonor, including those mentioned in verses 16 through 18. We should cleanse ourselves not only from anything unrighteous but also from the dishonorable vessels. This means that we must stay away from them. Hence, we must cleanse ourselves from the unrighteous things and from the dishonorable vessels of wood and earth. If we cleanse ourselves from these negative things and negative persons, we will be vessels unto honor, sanctified, useful to the master, and prepared unto every good work. Unto honor is a matter of nature, sanctified is a matter of position, useful is a matter of practice, and prepared is a matter of training. (Life-study of 2 Timothy, 2nd ed., p. 34)