2 Timothy
Growing in Christ
"He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45)
Overview of Old Testament or New Testament
Links to observations drawn from other books of the Bible
In the Pastoral Epistles, Paul shares with Timothy and Titus principles of caring for the newly emerging churches and choosing leadership for them.
Introduction: Paul had worked with Timothy since his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3) and left Timothy to oversee the growing work in Ephesus. Paul now write his final and most personal letter to Timothy from his prison cell in Rome before his execution (2 Tim. 4:6). Paul calls Timothy to be faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, willing also to suffer for the Gospel (2:3). The letter was probably written about AD 67, one year before Emperor Nero, who had ordered the wide and severe persecution, himself died.
Practical and Pastoral Observations on 1 Timothy (please read each chapter slowly and meditatively before reading observations below):
2 Timothy 1
Paul's memory of Timothy: While in prison Paul frequently remembers Timothy in prayer (v.3). Paul remembers Timothy's tears in hardship or at parting (v.4), his sincere faith (v.5) and the gift of God given at ordination for use in serving the church (v.6).
God's call on Timothy's life: God's call is holy, from eternity, not based on our goodness but on His grace and for His purpose (v.9). Of this high calling we must not be ashamed nor afraid to suffer (v.8) and for it's fulfillment God gives power, love and discipline (v.7).
Confidence in Christ: Our calling is from Christ who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (v.10). It is He who is able to guard and hold firm our salvation until the day it is fully revealed (v.12).
Guard the treasure, retain the standard: The standard given us in Christ is high. We guard Christ's gift, the treasure entrusted to us, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us (v.14) and to the high standard of which it is worthy (v.13). Sadly, not all are faithful (v.15). But there are shining examples such as Onesiphorus who served faithfully in Ephesus and then travelled to Rome to search for Paul in prison and care for his needs before execution (v.16-18).
Personal Response: Christ's call, for which He makes us able, is worthy of suffering as part of our faithfulness to Him. I will draw inspiration from those who served faithfully in hardship; Onesiphorus, Wurmbrandt, Boureima and so many others.
My Prayer: Father, thank you for your high and holy calling in Christ Jesus. Thank you for equipping and enabling me to serve faithfully. Help me not be timid or ashamed but to serve with joy, confident in my Savior and Lord.
2 Timothy 2
Strong in Grace: while criticism and unforgiveness weakens us unto death, the opposite - grace, forgiveness and encouragement - from Christ are life-giving, making us strong (v.1). May we be those who give grace and encouragement freely, continually and in every contact and interaction.
Extending the grace of the Gospel: Each of us should have at least one person discipling and building us up, one person we are discipling and building up, and knowledge of the person our disciple is discipling and building up to bless the next generation of leadership (v.2).
Images of the effective disciple: In following Christ we are like a soldier, recruited by Christ to active service, suffering hardship in the cause of the Kingdom (v.3-4). We are like an athlete, disciplined and focused on the prize, but training and contending only by the values of Christ's Kingdom (v.5). We are like a farmer who enjoys the fruit of his labour (v.6).
Reasons for suffering hardship: When we suffer in pursuit of God's Kingdom, it is 1.) for Christ, 2.) for the extension of the Gospel (v.8-9) and 3.) for those who are yet to be saved and enjoy, with us, His eternal glory (v.10).
Encouragement for the Faithful Disciple: We will live (v.11) and reign (v.12) with Him provided we die with Him (v.11) to the world, flesh and the devil and endure to the end (v.12). Our ability to be faithful is drawn by His grace from His faithfulness to us (v.13). He is our foundation, we are sealed in Him; He knows us and we know Him (v.19).
An honored useful vessel in the Lord's Hand: is one who flees youthful lusts, pursues righteousness with a pure heart (v.23), guarding his words to speak only truth and that which builds up (v.18,23). An effective disciple-maker deals with opposition with patient firm gentleness that all may escape the devil's snare (v.24-26).
The disciple of Christ reproduces Christ in others while holding him or herself to a high standard.
2Tim 2:2: What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2Tim 2:22: So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Personal Response: I will review each Monday my relationship with the person discipling me, those I am discipling, each person they discipling, and next steps to be taken.
My Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus, who has called me to be a disciple and a disciple-maker. Help me to be faithful and fruitful for Your Glory. May Your Kingdom Come.
2 Timothy 3
Moral Breakdown in the Last Days: Paul warns of apostasy both in society (v.2-4) and the religious community (v.5). Society becomes utterly self-centered, rejecting God (v.4), going from "bad to worse" (v.13). Even those who maintain an external religious facade, however impressive its pomp and ceremony, lack the spiritual power which comes from vital love and relationship with God (v.5). As a result those who follow leaders in such spiritual error are always learning but never come to the deep certain knowledge of Christ (v.7). They can make no ultimate progress (v.9) and therefore cannot lead others, in fact lead others astray (v.6). Jesus called them "blind guides."
The Faithful in the Last Days: will follow the example of Paul; his teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love and perseverance, and his experience of persecution and suffering (v.10-11). The faithful will witness boldly as Paul did at Antioch, Iconium and Lystra (v.11), despite the persecution endured in those cities, for "all who are godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (v.12). The faithful remain faithful (v.14).
The Role of the Scriptures: The scriptures hold the faithful steady because they are God-breathed (v.16) and give wisdom and lead to salvation through faith and faithfulness to Jesus (v.15). The scriptures bring profit also by aiding those who are faithful to Christ with teaching to prevent error, offering reproof and correction when we stray and providing training in how to live righteous lives before God and in relationship with others (v.16). In these ways the scriptures equip us for every good work (v.17), so fulfilling the Lord's purpose for our lives and strengthening us in the perils of ministry and persecution in the days before Christ's return.
2 Tim 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man and woman of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Following Christ closely and testifying to Him before the world in all circumstances, nurtured by the scriptures, enables us to advance in God's purposes even in darkening last days.
Personal Response: I will testify daily to Jesus who is the risen, ascended and returning Messiah/Christ.
My Prayer: Father, give me courage to testify, proclaim and display Jesus daily, and to suffer with him if persecution results. Help me follow the example of Paul and the apostles as I follow Jesus as they did.
2 Timothy 4
What is important in the end?
Paul's Final Challenge to Timothy: We live and minister in the presence of God and His Messiah who is our judge (v.1). Therefore always be ready to preach (v.2) and to evangelize (v.4), keeping sober focus and bearing hardship patiently (v.5). Do not teach what people want to hear. (Others will do that (v.3). Rather teach what is true (v.4) and will help the vulnerable reach their final goal (v.2).
Paul's Final Reflections on His Own Ebbing Life: Paul viewed his life as being poured out and nearly gone (v.6). Yet he was satisfied that he had "fought, finished and kept" (v.7) his charge from the Lord. Paul's coming crown was the righteousness of God won on the cross of Christ (v.8) and given him finally in Christ's heavenly kingdom (v.18). This righteousness of Christ (v.8,18) is the core and goal of the Gospel preached by Paul and Timothy.
Paul's Final Needs and Hope: Paul is left with Luke alone (v.11); the others either sent to serve elsewhere (v.12) or having deserted Paul while on trial (v.16), perhaps fearing his fate like the disciples at Jesus' "trial". Paul asks Timothy to hurry, anticipating the hearing after his "first defense" (v.16) will bring death, so he will be able to enjoy fellowship with Timothy and Mark before his execution (v.11). In addition, what Paul desires, even more than his cloak (v.13) for warmth before winter (v.21), are the parchments (v.13) on which to write other letters before he dies. Paul's hope is that Christ will rescue him again from "the lion's mouth" (v.17) and every evil deed (v.18). Regardless, Paul is confident Christ will save him for His heavenly kingdom, that kingdom Paul has proclaimed in obedience at great cost to the Gentiles (v.17).
Paul is a man passionate to the end to strengthen the church further with letters (to be written on "the parchments"). He fears not death but wants to advance the Gospel as far as he can as long as he can, before receiving his crown of righteousness in Christ's heavenly kingdom.
Preparing to Finish Well:
Timothy: "be self-controlled in all things, bear hardship patiently, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (v.5)
Paul: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (v.7)
Personal Response: I will do all I can as long as I can to be faithful: to "fight", to "keep", and to "complete" my calling.
My Prayer: Father, thank you for the example of Paul and so many others who have gone before me. Thank you for the Gospel, the pearl of such great value, worth my all in exchange, my worship, faithfulness in hardship (of which I have known so little). Glory to God in the highest! Thank you for the crown of righteousness from heaven awaiting, and for his heavenly kingdom, to whom be the glory forever and ever.