67 AD (4 years later)

• Paul is in prison in Roman
  
  

FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY
2 TIMOTHY 4
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom:

• “Before God and Jesus Christ” – they are watching you
• Judge the living – Judgment Seat of Christ
• 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.[1]
• “good” = righteousness or “evil” = self righteousness
• Judge the dead – Great White Throne Judgment
• Revelation 20:11-15 - Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14 Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.[2]
• “his appearing” – Everything had to be prepared to perfection.

2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

• “preach” – aloud, publicly in all seasons
• “correct” (point out) those in error (an appeal to the emotions).
• “rebuke” those in sin (an appeal to the mind).
• “encourage” those living in harmony with God's will (an appeal to the will).
• Christian reproof without the grace of long-suffering has often led to a harsh attitude intensely harmful to the cause of Christ.

3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.

• Who are “they” – those following his teaching now? (believers)
• In the future, “they” would only listen to speakers who told them what they wanted to hear (false doctrine, entertainment, etc.).
• They would choose to believe myths rather than the truth (e.g., evolution, humanism, reincarnation, legalism, etc.)

5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

• JOB OR MINISTRY?
• A job is one you choose;
• A ministry is one Christ chooses for you.
• A job depends on your abilities;
• A ministry depends on your availability to God.
• In a job you expect to receive;
• In a ministry, you expect to give.
• A job done well brings you self-esteem;
• A ministry done well brings honor to Jesus Christ.
• In a job, you give something to get something;
• In a ministry, you return something already given to you.
• A job well done has temporal pay for service.
• A ministry well done brings eternal rewards.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.

• Paul believed that he would die very soon.
• "poured out" - like the daily drink offerings in Judaism
• After the Jewish priest offered the lamb, ram, or bull in this ritual, he poured wine beside the altar.
• Symbolized the dedication of the believer to God in worship.
• The apostle believed that Nero would not release him from prison but would execute him.
• Christian tradition confirms that Paul died as a martyr in Rome.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

• Paul probably meant that he had run in the noblest race of all, namely, the ministry of the gospel.
• NOT that he had done his best in the contest.

8 There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.

• This reward will go to all Christians like Paul who, by the way, they lived, demonstrated a longing for the Lord's return.
• Not all Christians are anxious for the Lord to return since some know they need to change their way of living.

BELIEVERS' CROWNS
Title                      Reason         Reference

• An Imperishable Crown         For leading a disciplined life                        1 Cor. 9:25
• A Crown of Rejoicing             For evangelism and discipleship                 1 Thess. 2:19
• A Crown of Righteousness    For loving the Lord's appearing                   2 Tim. 4:8
• A Crown of Life                      For enduring trials                                       James 1:12; Rev. 2:10
• A Crown of Glory                   For shepherding God's flock faithfully         1 Pet. 5:4

FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
9 Make every effort to come to me soon,

• Paul evidently had reason to believe that his execution was imminent.[3]

10 because Demas (Dee-moss) has deserted me, since he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens (Creese-kees)) has gone to Galatia (Gala-tia), Titus to Dalmatia (Dalma-tia).

• The constitutional method of inflicting capital punishment on a Roman citizen was by the lictor's (emperor’s bodyguard) axe.
• The criminal was tied to a stake; cruelly scourged with the rods, and then beheaded.
• Demas loved this present world. He gone!

11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. 12 I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.

• Luke is most likely transcribing for Paul
• Mark had just previously left Paul & Barnabas.
• Mark had caused division between Paul & Barnabas.
• This is a statement of encouragement & affirmation after the incident.
• Tychicus was sent to relieve Timothy, whom Paul was requesting, and his cloak… winter was coming… he was frail… looking for comfort.
• Parchments – OT, or even his own writings… still wanted to study.

 
14 Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. 15 Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words.

• Possible reference to 1 Timothy 1:20 – Turned him over to satan.
• Not a salvation issue.

16 At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them.

• Customarily, under Roman law, accused prisoners underwent a preliminary hearing before their trial.
• At this hearing, witnesses could speak on behalf of the accused.
• In Paul's case, no one came to his defense.
• This was probably because when Rome burned in July of 64 AD
• Nero blamed the Christians.
• From then on, it was dangerous to be a known Christian in Rome.
• Neither local Christians nor Paul's fellow workers were willing to stand with the apostle.
• Paul hoped the Lord would not hold their failure against them.

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

• Evidently, Paul could give a word of witness at his hearing that furthered his mission to the Gentiles.
• He had so far escaped death, though he was ready to die as a martyr.
• The "lion's mouth" may refer to the lions in the Roman Coliseum that were devouring Christians at the time.
• However, the Romans would have beheaded Paul rather than thrown him to the lions since he was a Roman citizen.
• More a general allusion to Satan's instruments of evil that have always sought to destroy God's faithful servants.

18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

• Paul knew he would die a martyr's death (vv. 6-8), but he saw death as God's vehicle to deliver him from an evil deed (his execution) and to bring him into his Lord's presence.
• For this prospect, he glorified God.

 
BENEDICTION
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

• Greetings to his old friends Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila, who then lived in Ephesus.
• He also greeted the loyal family of Onesiphorus, whom he had written about earlier (1:16).

20 Erastus has remained at Corinth; I left Trophimus (trophy-mose) sick at Miletus (Mee-Le-toes).

• Erastus and Trophimus were old associates of Timothy

21 Make every effort to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as do Pudens (Poo-dees), Linus (Lean-ose), Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters.

• Winter severely restricted travel in some parts of the Roman world.
• Timothy needed to leave Ephesus soon to reach Rome without difficulty.
• Paul relayed the greetings of four other brethren, probably local, whom Timothy evidently knew, as well as the greetings of all the local Christians.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.[4]

• Paul first wished the Lord's ministry of grace on Timothy's spirit, perhaps encouraging him to remain faithful.
• Paul’s last recorded written words.
• Then he wished God's grace for all this epistle's readers (plural "you" in the Greek text).
• Paul avoided indulging his disappointments.
• Paul could rejoice in the victory won in the life of Mark.
• Paul found no room for vindictiveness toward those who hurt or opposed him."

______________________________________________
“Understanding the Spirit's role, how would you communicate this message if your eighteen-year-old son had made up his mind to walk away from everything you have taught him, morally, ethically, and theologically, unless he had a compelling reason not to?”

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Co 5:9–10.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Re 20:11–15.
[3] A. Duane Litfin, “2 Timothy,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 759.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ti 4:1–22.

67 AD (4 years later)

• Paul is in prison in Roman
  
  

DIFFICULT TIMES AHEAD
2 TIMOTHY 3
1 But know this: Hard times will come in the last days.

• Last days = Season before the Lord Returns (Tribulation, etc.)?
• Today, we live in the last days, that period between Christ’s exaltation and his return.[1]
• So why worry about how bad things are?

 

• When an individual's center of gravity shifts from God to self, a plethora of sins can spring up.[2]

2 For people will be lovers of self (self-centered, narcissistic, self-absorbed)1, lovers of money (money hungry), boastful (of their own importance, self-promoting), proud (in attitude, arrogant, stuck up), demeaning (abusive to others, scoffing at God, profane), disobedient to parents (unresponsive to parental discipline, contemptuous), ungrateful (unthankful, unappreciative, crude), unholy (impure, nothing is sacred, coarse), 3 unloving (heartless, callous, hateful, dog eat dog), irreconcilable (unforgiving, unbending), slanderers (of others, speaking with malicious gossip), without self-control (impulsively wild), brutal (uncivilized, cruel, savage), without love for what is good (antagonistic, haters of good, no interest of good, cynical), 4 traitors (betrayal of friends, treacherous), reckless (headstrong, rash, ruthless), conceited (puffed up with pride, wrapped in a mist of self-delusion, bloated windbags), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (devoted to personal pleasure, addicted to lust and allergic to God), 5 holding to the form of godliness but denying its power (religious). Avoid these people!

• This last characteristic clarifies that those individuals described in verses 2-4 would even claim to be Christians (i.e., false teachers and their followers).
• Timothy was to avoid association with people who demonstrated these characteristics except, of course, for purposes of evangelism and instruction.
• Who influences who?

6 For among them are those who worm their way into households and deceive gullible women overwhelmed by sins and led astray by a variety of passions, 7 always learning and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.

• These false religious leaders take advantage of the problems people have and promise them quick and easy solutions.[3]
• TV evangelists are a great example for today.
• They were listening to the false teachers and Judaizers.
• They had an insatiable curiosity about religion but little discernment to distinguish truth from error.[4]
• Today we have Google doctors, tik tok scientists and Facebook selective knowledge.

8 Just as Jannes (yawn-ees) and Jambres (yawm-brees) resisted Moses, so these also resist the truth. They are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not make further progress, for their foolishness will be clear to all, as was the foolishness of Jannes and Jambres.

• Paul used the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses in the plagues (Exod. 7:11; 9:11) to illustrate the fate of these false teachers.
• 1,400 years earlier… they are still mentioned by name.
• They turned staffs into snakes but couldn’t compete with Moses in boils.
• Jewish oral or written tradition preserved their names even though the Old Testament did not.
• As these magicians, the false teachers opposed God's revealed truth, possessed corrupt minds, and were outside the fold of the faithful.
• They would proceed only so far, as their Egyptian predecessors did.
• Their foolishness would become common knowledge when their power proved inadequate.

 
STRUGGLES IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
10 But you have followed my teaching (ministry), conduct (ministry), purpose (ministry), faith (life), patience (life), love (life), and endurance (life), 11 along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured—and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.

• The fact that Paul was delivered from his persecutions was to be an encouragement to Timothy.

Romans 8:38—39 -- For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.[5]
12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

• Some “prosperity” messages will not filter here.
• This course is in opposition to the world system.
• Confrontation and conflict are inevitable.

13 Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.

• This statement does not contradict what Paul said in verse 9.
• In verse 13 he meant that evil becomes more intensive as time passes.
• In verse 9, he meant that teaching evil does not necessarily become more extensive and captures a wider audience as evil worsens.

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed. You know those who taught you, 15 and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

• Jewish parents were expected to teach their children the Law from age five onwards.
              - Bate Safair (Torah – First 5 books)
              - Bate Talmude (Law & Prophets)
              - Bate Midrash (rabbi disciple)
• 1:5 - I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and now, I am convinced, is in you also.[6]
• What you know is reliable and powerful.

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.[7]

• It is God's Word, the expression of His person (heart, mind, will, etc.).
• This was the view of the Old Testament that Jews in the first century commonly held.
• 2 Peter 3:15-16 (67 AD, same year as 2 Timothy) - 15 Also, regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our dear brother Paul has written to you according to the wisdom given to him. 16 He speaks about these things in all his letters. There are some things that are hard to understand in them. The untaught and unstable will twist them to their own destruction, as they do with the rest of the Scriptures. [8]
• They are profitable for doctrine (what is right),
• for reproof (what is not right),
• for correction (how to get right),
• and for instruction in righteousness (how to be right)."

 

• “man of God” – direct reference to Timothy
• Also to those who commit themselves to God
• What completes you for every good work?
              - The Helper
              - The Scripture
• “good work” is not the goal… it is the byproduct of what we have been given.

[1] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 223). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 224). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 250). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 228). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ro 8:38–39.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ti 1:5.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ti 3:1–17.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Pe 3:15–16.