“But a slave of the Lord ought not to quarrel, but to be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, in meekness teaching those who have opposed, if perhaps God may give them repentance for a full knowledge of the truth, and they having regained senses out of the snare of the devil, being captured by him to do the will of that One” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
Tolerant Calvinist: So you’re praying for God to grant certain persons repentance out of the snare of the devil? Really? Are you serious? You’re actually judging people lost for incompletely knowing and partially and imperfectly understanding the only righteousness God accepts (cf. Romans 10:1-4)? Paul, have you ever considered that you have become extremely harsh in your dealings with these people instead of gently and meekly instructing them? (cf. 2 Timothy 2:25)
Does this Tolerant Calvinist understand what Paul is actually saying in this particular passage in 2 Timothy 2:25? BY WHOSE STANDARD do we define and deal with “gentleness” and “meekness”? Perhaps Tolerant Calvinist believes Paul is not really talking about an unregenerate person, but a very muddled and cantankerous spiritual brother.
Agrammatos 