2 Timothy
Author: Paul
Paul, expecting death, writes to Timothy to guard the gospel, endure hardship, and come to him soon.
Outline
The deposit (1)
Timothy is told to stir up his gift and not to be ashamed of the testimony or of Paul’s chain.
A workman (2)
Hardship, a pure heart, and a refusal of vain babbling describe the servant who handles the word.
The last days and the charge (3–4)
Scripture equips the man of God, and Paul asks Timothy to preach the word and to come before winter.
Key verses
2 Timothy 1:7–8
God has not given a spirit of fear, and Timothy is not to be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul’s imprisonment.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for equipping the man of God.
2 Timothy 4:7
Paul says he has fought a good fight, finished his course, and kept the faith.
Second Timothy is the last letter we have from Paul, and it sounds like one. He is a prisoner again. Demas has forsaken him. Alexander the coppersmith has done him much evil. At his first answer no one stood with him. He asks Timothy to come before winter and to bring the cloak he left at Troas, the books, and the parchments. The personal notes are not decoration. They are the setting of a charge. A man who expects to be offered up is telling his son in the faith what must outlive him.
He thanks God, whom he serves from his forefathers with a pure conscience, and he remembers Timothy’s tears and the unfeigned faith that dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. He reminds him to stir up the gift of God which is in him by the putting on of Paul’s hands. God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Hold fast the form of sound words. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost. All they of Asia have turned away, of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. Onesiphorus is named with gratitude because he was not ashamed of Paul’s chain and sought him out in Rome. The letter already distinguishes those who stay from those who leave.
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things you have heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man who wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life. A workman who does not need to be ashamed rightly divides the word of truth. Shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness. Hymenaeus and Philetus have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and they overthrow the faith of some. The foundation of God stands sure, having this seal: the Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. In a great house there are vessels of gold and of wood. If a man purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor. Flee youthful lusts. Follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace. The servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those who oppose themselves.
In the last days perilous times shall come. Men will have a form of godliness and deny the power of it. All who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Continue in the things you have learned, and in the holy scriptures you have known from a child, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The charge is solemn. Preach the word. Be instant in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. They will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and will turn away their ears from the truth. Watch in all things. Make full proof of your ministry. Paul is now ready to be offered, and the time of his departure is at hand. He has fought a good fight, he has finished his course, he has kept the faith. A crown of righteousness is laid up for him, and not for him only, but for all who love the Lord’s appearing. Come before winter. Luke is with him. At his first answer the Lord stood with him, that the preaching might be fully known, and he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Second Timothy is a handover. The gospel is a deposit, the scriptures are enough to furnish a minister, and the man who kept the faith wants the next man to come while the roads are still open.