2 Timothy Study #9

“Final Words from a Dying Mentor”

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Study #9 in 2 Timothy Series 

INTRODUCTION:

Paul loved Timothy like a son. He had likely led him to Christ. He had certainly discipled Timothy in the Faith and had taught him virtually everything he knew about life and ministry. Timothy had been Paul’s constant travel companion and associate for many years. Paul was Timothy’s beloved mentor and trusted friend.  

TRANSITION:

Now however, their association is coming to an end. Timothy is far away in Ephesus ministering to the Christians there. Paul is in a prison cell in Rome awaiting his execution for preaching the Gospel. The death sentence has already come down and the order of execution has now been delivered. Paul is trying to jot down a few hurried notes in the time he has left. He writes in short phrases, wasting no words. He scribbles his dying words, says his last goodbyes, and listens for the soldiers’ boots in the hallway. His time is over.    

NOTES on the Text:

Verse 1: I solemnly charge you [or testify to you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing, and His kingdom:

·       “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus…” = In other words, “Timothy, with God as my witness I am laying a heavy responsibility on you.”

·       “Charge” translates the Greek verb (diamartúromai), often used to mean to testify under oath in a court of law (e.g., Acts 8:25). The idea is that Paul was giving a solemn testimony to Timothy, a testimony that Timothy must heed if he would be a godly pastor.

·       Paul lays this charge on three (3) bases:

o   Based on the righteous character of Christ Himself, who will one day be the Righteous Judge of the living and the dead (N.B. the future tense, “…who is to judge…” Once again Paul is referring to Last Days events.)

§  2 Corinthians 5:9-11a

§  1 Corinthians 3:9-13

o   Based on Christ’s imminent “appearing” as returning Conqueror

§  The Greek word epiphaneia refers to the ascension to the throne of a Roman Emperor or to his arrival or appearance in any town. Everything had to be in perfect order and spotlessly clean. Paul was emphasizing that in the same way, things must be put perfectly in order for Christ’s appearing.

§  Paul still believed in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, even though he had been in ministry for more than 30 years. Now, so many years and experiences later, as he sat in that dank, dark prison cell, he still believed it with all his heart. In fact, Paul was living in the hope of the imminent return of Christ.

o   Based on Christ’s coming Kingdom – We serve the Lord Christ, the King of kings. We are His heralds and are here to prepare people for His coming reign when all the kings of the earth shall turn over their power and authority to Him.

Verse 2: “…preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

·       This verse has five (5) imperative verbs. These are strong commands to be obeyed, leaving no room for arguing, quibbling, or equivocating.

·       (1) “Preach the Word” -

o   With urgency

o   With compassion

o   With clarity

·       Paul’s emphasis on the Word of God has been constant. There are 36 references to the true Gospel in this letter, and 17 references to false teachings. This constant emphasis makes Paul’s point clear to Timothy:

o   Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord (2 Timothy 1:8).

o   Hold fast the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13).

o   The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men (2 Timothy 2:2).

o   Be an approved workman, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15).

o   A servant of the Lord must be… able to teach (2 Timothy 2:24).

o   All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

·       As a pastor, Timothy was not required to merely know the Word or agree with the Word or reverence the Word; he was required to preach the Word. The Word of God must be preached by Timothy; it was to be the content of every sermon. Not everyone who steps up to the pulpit, opens a Bible, and starts talking is “preaching the Word.” Too many well-intentioned preachers are really just preaching themselves instead of the Word. If the focus is on the funny stories or the touching life experiences of the preacher, he may be preaching himself rather than the Word of God. Avoid them!

·       (2) “be ready in season and out of season” – This command reminds me of a sprinter on the blocks waiting for the gun. Paul used this same word about himself in Romans 1:15, “I am ready to preach the Gospel to you also who are in Rome.”

·       “…in season and out of season” – This qualifying phrase tells Timothy when he should be ready to preach it. A pastor should always be ready to preach the Word, in good times and bad, when it is easy and when it is hard, when people want to hear it and when they don’t. In other words, be persistent; take or make your opportunity. Just do it!

o   Colossians 4:2-6

o   Ephesians 6:19-20

o   1 Peter 3:15

·       (3) “reprove” = This word means to convict or convince a person about what they are doing wrong. It means to make the sinner aware of his sin by pointing it out.

o   The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to convict the heart about sin, righteousness, and coming judgment (cf. John 16:8)

·       (4) “rebuke” = This verb literally means to levy a tax upon but is used with the sense of charging or indicting. It is a legal term meaning to lay a value to the guilty person’s account with a demand for restitution where the error is pointed out.

o   E.g. John the Baptist accusing Herod to his face and demanding that he repent

o   Confronting sin with a warning to save a brother from spiritual disaster, such as in the case of Nathan, the prophet, who confronted King David in 2 Samuel 12:1-14.

·       (5) “exhort” = This Greek verb, parakaléo, literally means to call to one’s side, usually to encourage, comfort, correct, console, or to build up. This is especially needed after reproof and rebuke. From this word comes the familiar word, Paraclete, which is one of the titles for the Holy Spirit. In modern English we view the words exhort and exhortation as negatives, thinking that they mean to chew someone out, but that is not the case. The purpose of exhorting is to strengthen the person, never growing weary with their foibles and failures.

·       “…with great (all) patience and instruction (i.e. explanation)” = This phrase explains the framework from which to reprove, rebuke, and exhort. If these things are not done with patience and compassion, and for the purpose of instructing, the efforts will fall flat. In all his preaching Timothy was to bring the Word of God to bear on the lives of his people. He was not to treat the Word as if it were just any old religious book filled with interesting ideas and fascinating theories. He was to proclaim the Word of God as Truth and courageously apply it to the lives of his people, and let the Spirit of God do His work.

Verse 3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,  

·       “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” – Here again Paul is looking down the corridor of time toward the last days, which many of us believe we are in right now, but to whom is Paul referring by “they”? Obviously, the people living in those last days, the same ones that he has been referring to throughout this letter.

·       “…will not endure sound doctrine” Paul reminds Timothy that he needs to keep the focus on the Word of God because sinful man, by his natural instinct, does not really want God’s revelation. He would rather hear what he wants to hear, sweet religious stuff to soothe his itchy ears and make him feel good about himself. But only “sound (healthy) doctrine” leads people to an understanding of God’s holiness, our sinfulness, Christ’s sufficient sacrifice, and our need for repentance and faith in Christ alone to save us.

·       “…but wanting to have their ears tickled” Many modern church attendees have endless religious curiosity, and an insatiable desire for variety. They love to get their ears tickled with the language and accent of the charismatic preacher, abandoning the good and faithful preacher of the Word in favor of the flashy orator in the silk suit.

·       “…they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,” The most popular religious teachers are not necessarily the most faithful teachers. Of course, we should not assume a teacher is scratching itching ears just because he is popular, but neither should we assume that he is faithful to God’s Word just because he is popular. Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland, T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, and Bill Johnson are fabulously popular but all five of them are heretical, evil false prophets and are heading for hell, unless they repent and turn to Christ. And I can name a bunch more just like them who draw huge crowds of people that think these weasels are just wonderful.

·       Years earlier when Paul visited Athens (cf. Acts 17:16ff), he was exposed to the Greek orators and philosophers on Mars Hill and saw how people flocked to hear them. “Sophists,” they were called, and they made their living as paid instructors of wealthy students. They were known for their ability to persuade and argue, using beguiling words to manipulate their hearers.

o   They taught for pay. Money was their motivation.

o   They competed for customers. They lived for fame and notoriety.

o   They gathered disciples unto themselves, basking in their popularity.

They remind me a lot of many of the so-called “great preachers” of our day, men who lead great religious movements, have worldwide television ministries, pastor mega-churches, travel in private jets, and live in huge mansions.

Verse 4: …and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

·       “…turn away their ears from the truth” We are all skilled at turning off the volume of things we don’t want to hear. We can tune out criticism, for example. It might be 100% true with facts to back it up, but if we don’t want to listen to the indictment and consider that we might be in the wrong, we simple “turn our ears away from the truth”, to borrow Paul’s phrase.

·       “…and will turn aside to myths.” Once people leave the Word of God, they often then embrace fantastic fantasies. When a man rejects God’s truth, it isn’t that he believes in nothing; he will believe in anything. But even believers, if they turn aside from the truth, can fall prey to being tricked into believing myths. Myths such as these:

o   The myth that you must earn your way to God.

o   The myth that God only loves you when you are good.

o   The myth that you are better than others because you are a Christian.

Verse 5: But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

• “But you…” This is the third or fourth time Paul has used this phrase referring to Timothy. He is drawing a contrast between Timothy and the kind of people mentioned in verse 4. Timothy is a man of God, and he is to be different. Even if everyone else turns away from the truth to follow myths and fables, he must remain faithful to Christ and to the Word of God. Although others might turn aside, Timothy must be even more dedicated to doing what God wants him to do. Their presence should make him all the more dedicated, not more discouraged. John Calvin wrote: “The more determined men become to despise the teachings of Christ, the more zealous should godly ministers be to assert it and the more strenuous their efforts to preserve it entire.”
• This verse contains four (4) commands from Paul to Timothy. Paul knew that his martyrdom was imminent. As Timothy’s father and mentor in the faith, he had some last words of advice to help Timothy fulfill his calling as a servant of Christ. Let’s examine them one by one.
• “…be sober in all things” = This word means to be steady and controlled, self-contained. Christians need stability in this crazy unbalanced world. Timothy could not fulfill his ministry unless he remained attentive, being watchful in all things. Every good shepherd has his eyes open. There are wolves prowling about.
• “…endure hardship” Ministry is just like life. There are afflictions that we must learn to live with. For some this is a disturbing thought because they thought that the ministry would be one beautiful spiritual experience after another. There are plenty of wonderful blessings in serving God but there are also hardships to be endured.
• “…do the work of an evangelist” = Timothy might not have considered himself to be an evangelist. Maybe it wasn’t his strongest gift. But doing the work of an evangelist is part of every minister’s job description. We are proclaimers of the Good News, and we are always to be pointing people to the Savior. Even if Timothy was not particularly gifted as an evangelist, nevertheless he still had to faithfully do that work as a preacher of God’s Word.
• “…fulfill your ministry.” = In other words, complete the job that Christ has assigned to you, Timothy. Don’t quit, don’t slack off, and don’t chicken out. Paul gave a similar command to Archippus in Colossians 4:17, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.” Paul was not placing a burden on others that he himself was not carrying. As you will see in the next three verses Paul was concerned with finishing well and fulfilling his own ministry. and he knew what it was to fulfill his own ministry. But what might be some reasons why someone’s ministry goes unfulfilled? The following are just some of the negative factors that have sidetracked many of God’s servants, and each one must be earnestly battled against:
• Fear.
• Unbelief.
• The cares of the world.
• The fear of man.
• Criticism and discouragement.
• Besetting sin.
• The love of money.
• The desire for more power, fame, and influence.

Verse 6: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

·       “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering” =

o   We learn in the Old Testament that drink offerings were offered by the priests. They brought wine before the Lord and poured it out at His altar. It was a way to offer the wine to God as a sacrifice, just as an animal might be given as a sacrifice. The idea of a drink offering is first presented in Genesis 35:14, where Jacob poured out a drink offering before the Lord as a sacrifice. In the Mosaic Law, drink offerings could be a part of a sacrifice to the Lord (Exodus 29:40-41 and Leviticus 23:13).

o   Moreover, at the end of a Roman meal, feast, or celebration the host poured out a “libation” to the gods.

o   Paul, like Jesus, gladly laid down his life as a sacrifice to the Lord. In essence Paul is saying: “The day is ended, the work is done, it is time to depart, and my life must be poured out as a sacrifice to God.” “Poured out” has the idea of a complete giving, with no reservation. The liquid is completely emptied from the cup, and thus totally given to God. In the same way Paul was already being poured out. His head was not on the executioner’s block yet, but his heart was there. He was ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.

·       “….the time of my departure has come.” = The Greek word analúsis is used in many colorful scenarios:

o   To unyoke an animal from a cart or plough

o   To loosen ropes or fetters from a prisoner

o   To loosen tent ropes in preparation for moving camp

o   To untie mooring lines of a ship

·       This phrase leads us to the conclusion that the death sentence had been passed down and the order of execution had already been given. Paul was just waiting to hear the hobnailed sandals of the soldiers’ coming to take him to the place of execution. It was as if Paul were at the airport and his flight to Heaven was ready to depart. The plane was at the gate, and He was just waiting for his final boarding call. With this in mind, Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is therefore even more meaningful because he knew that his time was up, and Timothy must now carry the torch. God’s workmen pass on, but God’s work continues.

Verse 7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept The Faith; 

• “I have fought the good fight” What does he mean by this? Paul used this metaphor several times in his writing. He saw life and particularly the Christian life and his service for Christ as a noble struggle. He fought by the rules, using the spiritual weapons of warfare supplied by God Himself. He had fought to the end and won!
• “I have finished the course [race]” Likewise, throughout his ministry Paul used the picture of the race and the Christian being an athlete running that race (cf. Philippians 3:12-14, Acts 20:24, 1 Corinthians 9:24, Hebrews 12:1). Now he knew that his race was just about finished. He was ready to break the ribbon and take his last step across the finish line.
• “I have kept the Faith.” N.B. There is a difference between “faith” and “The Faith.” Paul had faith in Christ since that first day when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He had lived his life by faith, every day, every step of the way. But “The Faith” is something more. He is referring to the life-giving Gospel that had been entrusted to him to guard [keep] and to deliver, especially to the Gentiles. The Faith is the whole body of Christian truth, rooted and grounded in the Old Testament but filled out and explained by Christ in the New. Jude speaks of this in Jude 1:3, “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the Faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.” Both Jude and Paul are referring, of course, to the complete body of Christian doctrine, especially the teachings of the Apostles about salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

Verse 8: …in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

·       “…in the future” Paul doesn’t specify the time because no one knows exactly when this will happen, but he was confident, based on God’s Word, that the day will come, and he will be there. How wonderful it is that we can have such assurance!

·       “…there is laid up for me” Paul knew there was a crown waiting for him in Heaven, and he was looking forward to receiving it. He was certain of it.

·       “…the crown of righteousness” For many years scholars have discussed the exact nature of this crown. Paul made a similar statement in 1 Corinthians 9:25, “Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.” This may be what Paul had in mind, but this crown seems to be a specific reward for all those who have been faithfully and lovingly watching for and anticipating Christ’s return.

·       “…on that day…His appearing” Paul is referring to Christ’s Second Coming. He uses the word epiphaneia (epiphany), the same word that he used up in verse 1. It means appearing, advent, manifestation, or dawning.

CONCLUSION:

·       There are two main words for “crown” in the New Testament. The first one is diadema and it refers to a royal crown, a band worn as a symbol of sovereignty. We won’t be getting that one. The other word is stephanos, which refers to the victor’s crown. In those days winners of sporting events received a crown of olive, laurel, or ivy leaves that soon withered and died. But the crown for God’s people will last forever (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Peter 5:4). Here Paul refers to the victor’s crown, that was essentially a trophy, symbolic of honor and victory, recognizing that one had competed according to the rules and had won the victory.  

·       Before becoming a Christian Paul supervised the execution of the first Christian martyr. Now at the end of his life he was ready to receive a crown – a stephanos. Without a doubt Paul remembered the name of that first martyr, who died at Paul’s own hands. That’s right, his name was Stephanos (Stephen). How ironic!