2 Timothy 1
We now begin what very well might be my favorite book in the Bible. 2 Timothy was Paul’s last letter, his swan song written right before his execution. In this letter we’ll see how Paul shares his heart, his care for the church, his passion for the purity of the gospel, and especially his love and concern for Timothy his son in the faith.
Paul begins by thanking the God whom he served and by letting Timothy know that he prayed for him, night and day. Paul had this deep desire to see Timothy before he died. Apparently the last time they parted, tears were flowing down the eyes of his spiritual son. One last meeting would bring Paul joy.
As Paul considers Timothy, he has nothing but fond memories. He goes back to the early days (Acts 16). Paul knew Timothy’s grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice, that they possessed a genuine faith; it was something they passed along to Timothy as well (2 Timothy 3:15). Sometimes you see it more clearly in certain Christians, there’s no doubt about it, they’re legit, they’re real, there’s a genuine faith.
Building on his call to salvation Paul next deals with Timothy’s call to service. Timothy appears to be a bit timid, even fearful, but if he’s going to be the one to whom Paul passes the baton, that’s absolutely unacceptable! Paul’s letter would largely be an encouragement to Timothy to stir up the gift of God that was in him; to fan that flame into a raging fire for the glory of God. Timothy, “…God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
If only we all would take this to heart – we must not be fazed by or function in fear. We must not make decisions because we’re afraid of him, or her, or this, or that, we need to keep God in the equation. We have God’s love and His power. He’s given us a sound mind, let’s be mentally strong and fortified. I’ll be the first to tell you, the mind is a battlefield; it’s crucial to win those battles in the mind.
Warren Wiersbe comments on the Greek words translated “sound mind”, “This word is related to the words sober and sobriety that we often meet in the pastoral letters (1 Tim. 2:9, 15; Titus 1:8; 2:2, 4, 6, 12). “Self-discipline” is a better translation of “sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). It describes a person who is sensibly minded and balanced, who has his life under control. The Amplified Version reads, “calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”
Paul commands Timothy not to be ashamed or afraid, but to be willing to suffer for the gospel, not that we have a martyr’s syndrome, but we must answer this call of Christ on our lives.
Warren Wiersbe, “It is His purposes that we are to fulfill; and if these purposes include suffering, then we can accept it by faith and know that God’s will is best. This is not fatalism. It is confidence in the wise plan of our gracious Heavenly Father.”
I’ve always loved the way 2 Timothy 1:9 reminds us that this calling is not because we’ve earned it or worked our way up the spiritual ladder, it’s only because of God’s gracious purpose for our lives…something given to us before time began (see also Jeremiah 1:5).
That plan was set in motion when Jesus came (appeared) and abolished death (I like that) and brought everlasting life to light through the gospel – a gospel that Paul was appointed to preach and teach, and for which he suffered. Paul, however, was not ashamed and he didn’t regret his labor of love, because he knew the Lord, and he knew this gospel was true for himself as well.
Paul calls Timothy to hold fast and tight to the truth of this Gospel, that the people and the ministry, could only be protected and directed by the Holy Spirit. It’s heartbreaking to read how all those in Asia had turned away from Paul (they didn’t want to suffer). It’s beautiful to read about Onesiphorus who vigorously searched for Paul in his Roman prison, found him, and often refreshed him. Paul prays for blessings upon his family and that God would greatly reward him on the Day of Rewards, for his true and practical love.
Keep the faith my friend; let your love for the Lord and others be obedient and practical…one day Jesus will reward you.
2 Timothy 2
We now enter in to what very well may be my favorite chapter of my favorite book of the Bible. I think I could camp out all day on 2 Timothy 2:1. We are to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus…and here’s Paul, writing this to his “son” in the faith…his final letter before his departure.
Be strong in the G-R-A-C-E – God’s Reward At Christ’s Expense.
God’s unequivocal and unmerited favor; we don’t deserve it, we cannot earn it, and yet He lavishes it upon us every single day of our lives. Paul wrote in Romans 5:20 that where sin abounds, grace abounds MUCH MORE! Let’s be strong in that grace. Let’s be good at using His grace, without abusing His grace. Let’s let God’s grace thoroughly convince us that we are forgiven of our sin, but at the same time we are not to continue in sin (Romans 6:1-2). Let’s even let God’s grace change us.
Paul tells Timothy to let God’s grace make him strong as a son, strong as a teacher and mentor, to mentor other men who will pour into others, and others, and others. Strong as a soldier enduring hardship in the war. Strong as an athlete training to win, dedicated to competing according to the rules. Strong as a hardworking farmer who eventually enjoys the crops, and even strong as a thinker so that God would grant him understanding in all things (2 Timothy 2:7).
Paul tells Timothy to always remember the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (how He gutted the grave, defeated death, conquered the coffin (2 Timothy 2:8). This message must always be preached, even though it will be opposed every step of the way. This is why Paul was facing death at this point in time (2 Timothy 2:9), but the truth is, he’d been persecuted for the past 30 years. The ministry is definitely challenging, there are innumerable sacrifices to be made, there is mental, emotional and spiritual suffering that comes with it, but we are to be obedient and go forward enthusiastically, for the Lord our God and the sake of the elect (those who will be saved and built up) (2 Timothy 2:10).
The “faithful saying” found in 2 Timothy 2:11-13 was no doubt an early Christian saying or creed – maybe even a song.
Timothy’s job as a pastor has a lot to do with preaching, teaching, and reminding the people the truth of God’s Word. It’s sad to see pastors bringing in other material into the pulpit, they want to fill the pews when our only job is to fill the pulpit with God’s Word. Next thing you know arguments arise, and no one is being built up in the Word – some are even being ruined!
Timothy was to work hard at rightly interpreting and preaching the Scriptures – he had to have a heart for God’s approval and not man’s! Timothy was to turn away from the foolishness that tries to find its way into the church. Paul shares with Timothy that those lies only increase to more ungodliness, and spread like a disease among the disciples – Hymenaeus and Philetus were an example of this. No doubt there was a time when these guys were right-on, but now they had turned away.
Who knows if a person is truly saved?
God does (2 Timothy 2:19). If we say we’re a Christian, we should stop sinning (2 Timothy 2:19). Let’s get right with God so He can use our lives as vessels of honor (2 Timothy 2:20-21).
Flee youthful lusts; pursue Christ and His character. That happens a lot easier if you hang out with people who have the same heart (2 Timothy 2:22).
Paul also calls Timothy to be faithful to rescue those who have been captured by the devil (2 Timothy 2:25) through gentle humility.
2 Timothy 3
The perilous times described by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 sound a lot like the present times – don’t they? Lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (big time). In southern California many people would rather go to the beach than attend church on Sunday morning. They’d rather hit up the mall, than hear a message at a midweek service. They’re way more excited about Disneyland than they are about discipleship. Tragically, it’s become much more about pleasing self (pleasure) rather than pleasing God! The downward spiral starts with that selfish love described in 2 Timothy 3:2, our problems are people rooted in narcissism – Paul commands Timothy to turn away from such people, to withdraw from them.
When he describes men who creep into households to take gullible women captive, he’s writing about men who come into the church (remember, they met in houses back then) as wolves in sheep’s clothing. They learn the truth, intellectually, but they never come to the truth personally, because they resist the truth internally.
Pastor Timothy would be able to survive perilous times by being ready for them and following the right examples. Paul had paved the way with his solid teaching and solid living. Timothy had witnessed Paul’s life, he not only heard God’s Word, he saw God’s Word – lived out loud – in spite of the many, many persecutions, Paul never gave up, and God never let him down. Paul wanted to prepare Timothy for the persecutions he was sure to experience if he aspired to live a godly life (that’s the promise of 2 Timothy 3:12). As a matter of fact, evil men and imposters will only grow worse.
How would Timothy get through these perilous times? How will we?
1. Be ready for the trials and perilous times (2 Timothy 3:1-9, 13)
2. Follow good examples (like Paul) (2 Timothy 3:10-12)
3. Stick to the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
As Paul closes this chapter he reminds Timothy that he had learned the Bible from his mother, his grandmother, from his spiritual father (Paul – 2 Timothy 3:14), and most importantly from the Holy Spirit. Let’s not forget who we’ve learned God’s Word from – from God and the people of God – and what a miracle it is. This is why it’s so important to plant God’s Word into the hearts of our children ASAP! The Scriptures have all the wisdom we need in life – even bearing the power of salvation. It’s not merely a portion of the Bible, it’s all the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed) and is profitable for us (see Psalm 119:160 and Isaiah 48:17-18).
Doctrine teaches us what’s right, reproof tells us what’s not right, correction tells us how to get right, and instruction tells us how to stay right. If want to be complete, mature, and ready to serve, we need to love God and His Word with all of our hearts.
2 Timothy 4
The final chapter of Paul’s final letter, he’s passing the baton, on to Timothy…and he closes with an infinitely solemn charge that’s applicable to every pastor. It’s a charge before God the Father and God the Son, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom – Timothy – Pastors, preach the Word. Always be ready and willing to preach the Word. I love what Pastor Chuck Smith would tell us over and over again, “Simply teach the Word Simply.”If we do, we will convince them, correct them, rebuke them, encourage them, and challenge them – we need to do this faithfully and patiently.
The “time” that Paul speaks about is here. The vast majority of people do not want to hear the Word of God, they’re not interested in sound doctrine. On the contrary, most people want to hear preachers who tell them what their flesh wants to hear, this is why some of the largest church in the world are those churches where the messages are more topical than they are Biblical; they want humor, human psychology, sociology, not theology; they’re want to be entertained and pampered way more than they want to be instructed or convicted by God’s Word. They’re more interested in fables, theories, and the latest sensation, than they are the truth of God’s Word. For that reason, pastors must teach God’s Word passionately, accurately and faithfully to any that are still interested, even if the numbers diminish, we must not compromise the message!
Paul’s urgency is amplified because of the fact that he’s about to be executed, beheaded at the hands of the Romans. His death would be like an offering to God; his death was simply a departure. The Greek word translated “departure” was also used in ancient literature for a sailor who lifted his anchor, to sail home; or a camper who took down his tent, it’s time to leave; or a prisoner, who served his sentence, he’s now set free. Death for the Christian is not the end, it’s a departure, heading home – set free.
Paul had been faithful to the end. He fought the good fight (against the enemies of the gospel). He preached, protected, and preserved the Gospel, he kept the faith (I always tell people, “just keep believing till the day you die”). He finished His race. Paul had always described his life as a race (Acts 20:24; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Galatians 2:2; Philippians 2:16; 3:12-14; Hebrews 12:1). Not everyone finishes, and not everyone finishes well. I think about this often, “O Lord, please help me to finish well.”
Paul looked to the crown, because he had endured the cross – I need to remember that before the crown, there’s always a cross. Paul knew, he was thoroughly convinced that the Righteous Judge would give him that crown (reward), along with any and all who loved the Lord Jesus. It’s so sad to see how in his final day the ranks were thinning out. I cringe when I hear the testimony of Demas, he left Paul (and maybe even the Lord) because he fell back in love with the world (see the warning of 1 John 2:15). And yet what an indescribable blessing to see Mark restored to ministry (see Acts 15:36-40). In the end Jesus stood with Paul, delivered him from the lion (the enemy) was faithful to the death and you can be sure he heard those words from the lips of Jesus, “Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter in to the joy of your Lord.”