2 Timothy 4:1-4
“Do you swear to tell the truth?”
4:1-18 BE READY Be ready in season and out of season.
Vs. 1-2 Preach the word
Vs. 3-4 Hearing Aid
4:1-5 Preach the word
4:6-18 Poured out for the word
4:19-22 Closing “Come before winter.”
Introduction
We now come to Paul’s final words in his last letter to his beloved “son in the faith,” Timothy. From the loneliness of his prison cell, awaiting his execution after having for nearly 30 years labored preaching the word being ready in season and out of season, and now in these his last recorded written words, he admonishes Timothy to do the same. Two thousand years have come and gone, and we are still living in the “last days” where people are “lovers of themselves,” and this extremely personal message is still relevant today.
Of supreme interest to me is what Paul says was Timothy’s primary duty to a broken world: “preach the world.” When ungodliness was on the increase and the needs of society were abundant, Paul didn’t say, protest, change the government, or feed the hungry. In John Pollock’s biography of Billy Graham, he records an incident when President Lyndon B. Johnson asked Billy, who he had been friends with for years, what position he would like to have in his administration.
Without a moment’s thought, Billy said, “Sir, I believe that Jesus Christ has called me to preach his gospel. To me, that is the highest calling any man could have on earth.” According to a recent evangelical church poll, only 3% of fundamental evangelical churches in America have weekday services. It sounds like we are in the times when the people will no longer have a desire for sound teaching. This too is our challenge, and our duty is to a dying world, “Preach the word!”
Vs. 1-2 Preach the word
Vs. 1 In the words “I charge you” (the “you” being added in the English), in the Greek, the verb means a “legal oath.” What we would do in our courts to a witness saying, “Under oath to God, swear to me Timothy that you will preach the word.” Though this is aimed at Timothy in this letter in a general application, it is applicable to every follower of Christ everywhere.
These words would have encouraged Timothy, who may have thought his actions in Ephesus would not have made much of a splash in the ocean of corruption that was in Ephesus, let alone in the world. It is easy to fall into the thought that proclaiming truth to people has about as much effect as a whisper does at a championship football game. To this oppressive discouragement, Paul reminds Timothy that his exhortation of verse 2 is first and foremost coming from the perspective “before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” The weight of that sentence to Timothy and to us is twofold:
- The outcome wasn’t in doubt or jeopardy. A whisper would have more of an effect in the hands of God than the prolonged shouts of all the world. God’s word will not return void; it will bring life unto life and death unto death. There is nothing more encouraging to understand when we fall into doubt that “preaching the word” will make little difference than to realize that it makes all the difference to God. There will not be a person who can claim to Jesus that no one told them the truth, as we are called to “Preach the Word.” Saints, our obedience to speak the truth in love must never be observable results-oriented; we serve at the privilege of our Master; one day we will see what He accomplished through what He had called us to do, and Paul tells Timothy that this will be at His appearing.
- There is no more effective endeavor we could be engaged in that will transform the decaying society we live in than “preaching the word.” Remember this exhortation is from Paul, who is looking at the seeming outward futility of having spent 30 years of his life doing just that. Even though soon he would be put to death, writing to the person he is closest to in the world and encouraging him to do the same thing that has given him a death sentence clearly indicates that Paul thought this was the most important activity anyone could be engaged in.
Let the gravity of the context saturate these words, and you will be convinced, as Paul was, of the power and absolute victory of “preaching the word,” as it has the singular uniqueness of transforming people and society. Had Paul any doubt or any lingering apprehension, his final letter to Timothy would have added to this or suggested another course, but he doesn’t!
Vs. 2 In chapter 3 verses 14–17, Paul spoke of Timothy’s responsibility to be a student of the word, but his responsibility didn’t end there; he was to believe and obey it, guard it, and preach it to others. The words “be ready” literally mean “be on standby,” which alludes to both alertness and eagerness. We are called to advance Jesus’ kingdom, to see to it with our last breath that His work and word are proclaimed to everyone in this world. Paul’s words are not exclusive; this exhortation is not only for the professionals, the pastors and evangelists.
Instead, this exhortation is universal, made to all believers in Christ. The word “preach” in the Greek means to “announce, proclaim, or make known.” Look for hearts that are open, seeking, longing, or hurting, and to those folks wherever you find them, make Him known. The people of this planet have an emptiness, a longing to be filled that is only in the truths concerning Jesus. Paul next tells Timothy that “making Jesus known” will require three things that each start with a “P”: Persistently, passionately, and patiently
- Persistently: Paul not only says to Timothy, “Make Jesus known,” but adds, “Be ready in season and out of season.” Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” There is nothing that can liberate an imprisoned life other than the truth of Jesus, so be ready. There must always be a sense of urgency when it comes to making Jesus known to others. Richard Baxter wrote, “You cannot break people’s fleshly hearts and appetites by joking with them, telling them a good story, or giving people your opinion.”
- Passionately: Notice the variety of approaches that Paul mentions here: “Convince, rebuke, exhort.” The common denominator for each of these three is that they are all done with a great deal of “passion”! I’m of the opinion that these are not three different approaches but rather three components of the same approach, all spoken with the passion of making Jesus known.
- Convince: Some who have continual doubts need to be convinced by sound arguments. This word deals with our mind as to reason with a person, removing the intellectual arguments that a person has that can be explained. This is suited for a person who has doubts that can be reasoned away with a logical explanation.
- Rebuke: Some who are in the captivity of persistent sin need to be challenged to repent. There needs to be words spoken about sin that is destroying a person’s life. Just like a doctor who has to speak to a patient about habits or practices that are taking life from them in order to treat them. The patient may not like the truth, but the truth will save their life.
- Exhort: Some who are paralyzed by fears need to be encouraged to come to peace and joy. Sometimes the encouragement is spoken with passion about our own decision and the fears we faced in making the decision for Christ and how we can now see that those fears were unfounded.
- Patiently: With that said, Paul has made it plain that the responsibility is to preach the word, not manipulate the response. The results of our preaching the word are the responsibility of the Holy Spirit and the person who has heard the truth, and we must wait patiently. Sometimes we see the church employing gimmicks to get people to respond to truth with emotionalism and bribes. Instead, we are to continue explaining the truth to those who are seeking answers as to why they need to trust Jesus.
Vs. 3-4 The single characteristic that Paul states about people is that people cannot bear the truth stated two ways:
- They will not endure sound doctrine.
- They will heap up for themselves teachers, who will tickle their ears.
The signs of the times are that not only do they refuse to listen to the truth, they look for people who will tell them what they want to hear. The phrase “itching ears” is a Greek expression or figure of speech describing a person who has an insatiable appetite for some new flavor of information, something that will be novel and hip. This itch is satisfied by messages of new teachers; thus, they judge teaching not if it is truth but rather whether it satisfied my taste. The temptation will be for God’s servants to adapt the truth so people will be more inclined to receive it. The populace will look for teachers who will teach them what they want to hear. Those who have this disease turn away from truth and embrace fables and myths that, as he already said in chapter 3, verse 5, have a form of godliness but deny its power. These myths circulate throughout time:
- We are all basically good.
- There are no consequences for sinful behavior.
- There is no day of reckoning.
Sometimes they come out in other religious teachings like “reincarnation,” which says, “If at first you don’t succeed, die, die again.” You cannot believe in reincarnation and resurrection; at the same time, you will have to hold only one of those views. It is to these people that we are called to make Jesus known the world will “not endure sound doctrine.”.
2 Timothy 4:5-8
“Emmanuel’s Land”
Vs. 5-6: Four ways to be faithful
Vs. 7-8 Finishing well
Introduction
Charles Spurgeon had a young pastor come to him and complain that he didn’t have as big of a church as his talent warranted. Spurgeon asked, “How many do you teach too?” and the pastor replied, “Oh, about 100 per week.” To this, Spurgeon replied, “That will be enough to give account for on the day of judgment.”
If you have ever sat through a school graduation, you know the excitement and enthusiasm that fill the air with speeches from selected students. Usually there is a good amount of congratulations for the hard work of the past few years and words about the bright new future that they are about to embark upon, but while those words are still heard in the back of every student is the reality that they are about to take life out of the classroom and into the real world.
What soon displaces excitement and enthusiasm is good old-fashioned fear and apprehension. The interesting part of this passage is that the excitement of Paul’s “graduation” is causing Timothy apprehension as he will need to take over. How do you replace a Paul or a Peter, etc.? These words of the graduate Paul to his student Timothy answer that question.
Vs. 5-6: Four ways to be faithful
Vs. 5 In verse 2 of this chapter, Paul placed Timothy under oath to make Jesus known in word; he gave him the “Three P’s of Proclamation”: persistence, passion, and patience! Timothy was called, as every Christian, to the most significant work taking place at any time in the world, making Jesus known. Paul had said people won’t always want to hear the truth, so our resolve will need to be bigger than our rejection! Verse 5 summarizes what can be our experience, as it says we may need to “endure afflictions,” and Paul goes on to tell Timothy four ways in which to be faithful when people aren’t applauding your words; they’re attacking your person.
- Steady: “Be watchful in all things.” He uses the word “watchful,” and by this he is speaking of consistency in our commitment. We need to be “ready” to make Jesus known and “steady” as well. We know who our foundation is, and He is our rock and enables us to stand up against the storms, pressures, and shaking of our lives. We have a living Lord who steadies us, imparts His truth to us, and gives us the power to live.
- Sustain: “..endure afflictions.” Throughout Paul’s letters, this has been a frequent admonishment, as he had faced many difficulties and persecutions that would have caused many to quit. Interesting that Paul doesn’t say to “smooth things out”; he says instead “endure afflictions.” Many Christians feel as if something is wrong if they have any sort of trouble, but Paul admonishes Timothy to endure when there is trouble. I suggest that instead of praying for escape from difficulties, we ought to be asking for endurance through them! James would write in James 1:2-4 to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
- Social: “Do the work of an evangelist.” This admonition by Paul needs to be placed into the context that makes up both to whom it was being said, “Timothy,” as well as the situation, “persecution.” There is nothing in all the letters with regards to Timothy that suggests that he had the gift of evangelism. In fact, it would appear that he was somewhat withdrawn and timid in nature. This is further bolstered by the words “do the work of an evangelist.” Second, Paul was awaiting his death along with the increased reality of persecution for making Jesus known, revealing that Christians would by nature be more inclined to withdraw from society to instead be more social with the society we are called to reach. The “work” of an evangelist is verbal but requires us to be around people to make Him known in the first place.
- Succeed: “Fulfill your ministry.” Paul encourages Timothy to succeed, which is to keep at it until either you are finished or He is finished with you. There was not a sense of “retirement” with Paul, only a sense of “recycling,” as what we may have been called to do in this life has finished its course, and now we have been moved by the Holy Spirit to do what He has called us to do elsewhere.
Vs. 6 Timothy will never be Paul, and he isn’t being asked too; instead, he is being asked to run the race that Christ has given him to run. Paul boldly declares, “I am already!” What a wonderful declaration this is when he is but a few weeks away from being put to death. Paul declares his life is “already being poured out as a drink offering.” The “drink offering” is a reference to the Day of Atonement, where at the end of all the sacrifices a jug of wine was poured out upon the altar.
Wine in the scripture is a symbol of joy, and Paul clearly saw his 30 years in ministry as a sacrifice of pure joy. The word “departure” describes what a person does when they break camp by “pulling up the tent pegs.” In Greek, the word would be used of a ship that loses its moorings and sets out to sea. What a wonderful way of viewing our departure, as we have been tethered to this life, earthbound, but at the time of our departure we will be let loose to sail and do what we have been designed to do: worship.
Vs. 7-8 Finishing well
Vs. 7 Paul uses three phrases that look back upon his 30 years of service and what had been accomplished:
- “I have fought the good fight”: He doesn’t say he fought “a” good fight but “the” good fight. The importance was not the fight but that the fight was given him by the Lord. There are a lot of folks that go down swinging, but many take the fight to windmills instead of what the Lord has called them to. In Ephesians chapter 6, Paul said that battle was not against flesh and blood, people. No, it was in the spiritual arena! Satan is forever trying to get us to drop THE FIGHT for A FIGHT, which will keep us from fighting what we should have been fighting all along.
- “I have finished the race”: In Philippians chapter 3 verse 14, Paul talked about this race when he said, “He pressed towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Jesus Christ.” The race is the Christian life lived moment by moment, step by step. Every moment of our Christian life is engaged in this race, and the finish line is our death, where we will be given the prize of eternal life in a glorified body.
- “I have kept the faith”: Paul is speaking of the whole body of truth, the Word of God, what he called in 1 Corinthians 2:7. “The hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages…” Paul is in his final hours, looking back upon 30 years and the journey that God had placed him upon, with all the twists and turns. And he says to Timothy, “I have kept the faith.” When others did not and turned away, Paul stayed with the truth. When others tried to beat the truth out of him, they found an inexhaustible supply. When some had tried to distort or mistreat the truth, Paul was the standard bearer of truth.
Vs. 8 This verse deals with four expectations Paul had upon his graduation:
- Crown of righteousness: There is a misunderstanding with our righteousness; it doesn’t happen at the end of life; it happens the moment we trust Jesus as he declares us right. This “crown” was NOT Paul waiting for righteousness; it is the waiting for the manifestation of authority and glory that accompanies our righteousness. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 17, Paul spoke of it this way. “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Peter said in 1 Peter 5:4 that those who have served faithfully will be given “a crown of glory.” John said in 1 John 3:2. “Now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
- The Lord, the righteous judge: Paul expected that this crown would be given to him by the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He had stood before kings and judges and even Caesar Nero, all who examined him and found him guilty and sentenced him to death. But Paul had the great expectation that he would appear before the only true judge, Jesus, who would pronounce him innocent and grant him eternal life! Very soon he would look into the eyes of the very person who had died for him, and he would take from those nail-scarred hands the crown of righteousness!
- Will give me on that day: Though this “day” is vague as to its location in time, it is not vague as to its certainty. God has been moving all of creation to this “day” when all that is invisible, every mystery, and every uncertainty will be made known. It will when TIME will give way to ETERNITY, as Revelation 10:6 says in the King James Version, “that there should be time no longer.” We will no longer be stuck waiting for something to happen, and everything that we experience, we will be fully equipped to receive.
Not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing: Paul has the expectation that he won’t be alone, as there will be multitudes sharing the same above three expectations. Some think that what Paul is saying is ONLY for those who are awaiting his soon return, but if you look at the words “have loved,” they are in the past tense, which means that Paul isn’t referencing Jesus 2nd coming but rather His 1st coming, where Jesus “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” according to 2 Timothy 1:10. Do you love His appearing? Does your heart leap for joy at His conquering death? That this is speaking of you and me. All of God’s people living together for all eternity can’t wait!
2 Timothy 4:9-22
“Come before winter.”
Vs. 9-13 Come quickly
Vs. 14-15 The coppersmith
Vs. 16-18 The Lord stood with me.
Vs. 19-22 The Lord be with you.
Introduction
If you were to list the top 25 people who have left the greatest impact upon human society throughout history, it would be hard to imagine that list NOT having the Apostle Paul’s name; in fact, one such site had Jesus at #1 and Paul at #12. The fact that he is on this list while, for the most part, spending a good portion of this behind bars is even more remarkable.
Vs. 9-13 Come quickly
Vs. 9 As we close out this very personal letter, we get a glimpse into the very human side of Paul. In verse 9, he tells Timothy to “be diligent to come to me quickly,” and again, he writes in verse 21, “Do your utmost to come before winter.” Paul expected Timothy to leave Ephesus and come to Rome, traveling across land, not by ship across the Mediterranean Sea.
Timothy would have to go north and cross over to Macedonia at the Dardanelles, the narrow strip of water bridging the Black Sea Mediterranean Sea. From there they would have taken the Egnatian Road that crossed the Greek Peninsula, which would have been over 350 miles. From there they would have sailed from the Greek port of Dyrrachium across the Adriatic Sea and the Roman port city of Brindisi on the heel of the boot of Italy.
Then they would have traveled another 350 miles across the Italian mountains to Rome. A rough estimate makes this journey from Ephesus to Rome over a three-month journey and would have involved two water crossings one way. Assuming they avoided winter from the point of the letter being sent would take 3 months and the journey back to Rome another 3 months or over ½ a year before Timothy would have arrived. Most likely Paul was already home with Jesus prior to the letter arriving.
Vs. 10: Paul requested Timothy, as Demas, who had been Paul’s companion and fellow worker, had forsaken him. Demas was “in love with this present age”; his name is short for Demetrius, and there are several Demas in scripture. In Acts 18, one was a silversmith in Ephesus and led a riot there against Paul. He later became a believer and accompanied Paul, and in his letter to the Philippians he is called a “fellow laborer.”.
It seems that he had turned back and gone to Thessalonica, a very prosperous city, and he apparently longed for an easier life. Demas perhaps grew tired of the problems, poverty, and persecution that accompanied Paul. That would be the end of the story except for the Apostle John’s third letter, where he mentions many years later that a person named Demetrius (Demas) has a “good testimony from all, and from truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true.”
Why does John mention his testimony and support him so, if not to counter his past failure under Paul? Though this all is very speculative, it would suggest that God is not finished with us even after we turn away and go back to the world.
- Crescens is mentioned as going to Galatia at Paul’s request, and when you read the letter written to them, you know that the churches in this area were easily influenced, which suggests that Crescens was a solid believer.
- Titus is another familiar name, and like Timothy, a man who Paul referred to as his son in the faith. He had become the center of attention at the Council of Jerusalem when some of the Jewish believers demanded that the Greek converts first become Jews by submitting to circumcision before they were recognized as true followers of Christ. This faithful brother was sent to Dalmatia, which borders the Adriatic Sea in what we call today Croatia.
Vs. 11 Only Luke remained with him, and we know Paul, a Roman citizen, was allowed to have two slaves with him, and after Demas left Luke alone remained to care for Paul. The mention of Mark and Paul’s desire for him to accompany Timothy is quite heartwarming. In Acts chapter 15 verses 36–41, Mark had been the cause of a heated dispute between Barnabas and Paul when Mark proved a bit flakey and the mission team was split at that time.
Some 25 years had passed since then, and Mark had gone down to Egypt and ministered there. Paul had him come to Rome with him, as we are informed in Philemon verse 24. Here we are told that he was serving in Ephesus alongside Timothy. I like the way the NIV renders Paul’s comment about Mark saying, “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.”
Vs. 12 Tychicus is the guy to replace Timothy, and he seems to be used quite often as a letter carrier, as he was used for that purpose both in the letter to the Colossians as well as the letter sent to the Ephesians. The reason for this was that he was most likely well known and received by the churches, so Paul could trust him to do the right thing.
Vs. 13 Timothy is given further instructions that indicate that Paul’s re-arrest was unexpected while he was in Troas, as he had no time to gather his belongings. In Chapter 1, Paul said that he remembered Timothy’s tears as he was dragged off to Rome to face his second trial before Caesar Nero.
Vs. 14-15 The coppersmith
Vs. 14-15 Paul writes “Alexander the coppersmith” and links him to the phrase “did me much harm.” That phrase is often used in Greek for an “informer.” He was the person who betrayed him into the hands of the Romans at Troas. Many believe that this is the same “Alexander” mentioned in Paul’s 1st letter to Timothy, as we read in chapter 1 verse 20 that Paul turned him out of the church along with Hymenaeus so that they may learn not to blaspheme. Paul mentions these two men who rejected trusting and obeying the truth and have become stranded and alone away from the truth.
Hymenaeus and Alexander were not men who didn’t know nor hadn’t obeyed the truth, for at one time they were. They were men who stopped doing so and had become lost! Hymenaeus taught that the resurrection of the believers in Christ had already happened.
Their departure from truth was not a sudden compulsive act but rather a slow abandonment, a course of spiritual deterioration that has taken a great deal of time. Paul also warns Timothy in verse 15 to watch out for him, as he will come after you if he gets a chance. Now this warning is not to take vengeance, as Paul says the Lord will take care of him.
16-18 The Lord stood with me.
Vs. 16-18 Paul gives Timothy an update on his situation and trial at Rome and starts with a sad note: when he was first brought forward at his hearing, no one stood with him. It was a dangerous time in Rome under Nero, and if any person went against his wishes, they could lose their life. Yet with that said, no believer was willing to stand with Paul, who had risked everything to share with them the truth. But amazingly,
Paul has no vindictiveness and instead prays for them. The fact that now one stood with Paul could have led to his immediate execution, but Paul says that “the Lord stood with him,” which indicates that the Lord still wanted to give Paul to speak. In Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5, the author tells us that God has literally promised to “never, never, ever, under any conditions leave you nor forsake you.” In that Greek, he uses six Greek negatives and then, in light of that, says, “What, then, can man do unto me?” That’s what Paul says to Timothy here. Then Paul goes on to say that the presence of Jesus with him accomplished two things:
- “That the message might be preached”: Facing the death penalty, the Lord gave Paul the strength to make Him known to all who would hear him.
- “I was also delivered out of the mouth of the lion”: The practice of giving Christians to the lions in the Roman Coliseum isn’t a possibility as it is for another 3-5 years, not to mention that as a Roman citizen it would have been against the law. Most likely this is a reference to Satan, who had worked in those to turn him over to the Romans and cause believers to not stand in testimony to Jesus. Paul was safe in Jesus’ hands until he had finished his race.
16-18 The Lord stood with me.
Vs. 19-22 Paul finishes the letter with 9 people that Timothy knew:
- Prisca, or “Priscilla,” and Aquila: A Jewish couple that were tentmakers or leather workers like Paul. They had met in Corinth, and the church met in their home. They moved with Paul to Ephesus and had a church in their home there as well. They had gone to Rome, and you guessed it had a church in their home as well. Now they were back in Ephesus with Timothy, no doubt with a home church.
- Onesiphorus: According to chapter 1, verse 16, he was the person who ministered to him while in chains in Rome.
- Erastus: We are told in Romans he was a city treasure in Corinth; no doubt why he stayed in Corinth.
- Trophimus: According to Acts chapter 20 verse 4, he accompanied Paul to Asia and later to Jerusalem and was the gentile accused of being with Paul as they entered the temple, which caused the riot, Paul’s arrest, and imprisonment. Here we are told that he was left in Miletus ill, and that is quite an amazing revelation, as apparently not every person is healed, and it has nothing to do with a lack of faith.
- Eubulus: This is the only mention of this person’s name, and we know nothing about him.
Pudens, Linus, and Claudia: These three all have Roman names, and Paul says that they greet the Christians in Ephesus. One of the early church writings mentions Linus as Paul’s successor in Rome, and the fact that his name appears between Pudens and Claudia has given rise to speculation that he was the son of these two.
Linus is called in these early church documents as the bishop of Rome, and the Roman historian Tacitus refers to a Roman nobleman named Pudens who married a princess from a British king. In the city of Chichester in England is a plaque with his name on it. This makes a close tie to Christianity and the British Empire, from which we Americans inherited our faith.