Paul's image in 2 Timothy 2:20-21: But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. The image is of a household with various utensils: some used for fine occasions and noble purposes, some for menial and base purposes. The application is to Christians within the church: by self-purifying from sin and false teaching (specifically the youthful lusts and idle disputes Paul names in the surrounding verses), the believer becomes fit for honorable kingdom service. The vessel imagery also recalls Romans 9:21-23, where the potter's authority over the clay applies first to election and second to sanctification. Vessel of honor is the destination of those who clean their own vessels in cooperation with the Master.