2 Timothy Review

This is the second letter that Paul wrote to Timothy.  He started by charging or asking Timothy to be obedient to God.  He said that God had called Timothy to redemption or salvation by putting his faith in Jesus Christ.  This did not imply that there were two Gods, but only that there were two manifestations of the One God.  Though Paul didn’t mention the Holy Spirit here, we as Christians know we do not serve three Gods when we speak of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, but only one God, since the three are One.  We may not fully understand how this is true, but we must put our faith in the fact that it is.  

Paul told Timothy to stir up the Spirit of truth which Paul had acknowledged that he believed that Timothy had by laying his hands on him.  We may lay our hands on preachers today, but this only acknowledges that we believe that they are called to preach and not that the laying on of hands somehow makes them called by God.  If they are called and ordained, then they must stir up or call on the Holy Spirit to enable them, as should all Christians.

Paul then asked Timothy to be ready to preach God's word at all times.  Preachers should be the same today, but even more than this, all Christians should be ready to proclaim God's word to the world at all times, both by our words and the way we live our lives.

Paul challenged Timothy to be a workman who didn't need to be ashamed as he rightly divided or understood God's word.  He wasn't to work to attain salvation but was to work for God because he had been freely given salvation.  We today as followers of Christ need to do whatever God calls us to do for His glory but can never earn our salvation.  Salvation is a free gift from God, and if we study and understand His word, the Bible, we will know this.

Paul warned Timothy that in the latter times perdition would come and we have been in the latter times since Jesus Christ's resurrection.  We should not be surprised by the perdition, or sin, in the world today and we certainly should not be guided by it.

Paul urged Timothy to be strong in his faith so that he could withstand the attacks that would be made on him by the people of the world who did not believe in God and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone.  As Christians, we should be strong in our faith so that we can withstand attacks on our faith, and they will come.

Paul told Timothy that he became all things to all people so that he might win some to Christ.  He didn’t mean that he changed his belief in God and His salvation plan, but that he tried to reach out to people as an equal in the world.  We must try to meet people wherever they are without feeling superior or inferior to them as we maintain our faith in Jesus Christ. 

Paul commended Timothy’s mother and grandmother who had taught him God’s word.  Parents today should teach their children God’s word and should set a good example for them by living out their faith daily.

I am sure there are many more lessons we can learn from 2 Timothy, but I will stop here. Next, we will look at Titus.

 

 

 

2 Timothy 4:16

2 Timothy 4:16 says, At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.  Paul said that when he first answered those who had accused him and were ready to arrest him that no one stood with him, but they all had forsaken him.  He then said he prayed that God would not hold them accountable for this.  He didn’t want the worst for them, but the best.  As followers of Christ, if someone we know was arrested for their faith in God and proclaiming His word to the world, would we forsake them or stand with them?  If we were arrested for our faith and proclaiming God’s word and were forsaken by everyone around us, would we ask God to not hold them accountable or would we want them punished?  We need to learn from Paul’s example.  

Verse seventeen adds, Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  Paul said that even though he was forsaken by all those around him, that the Lord stood with him.  He said God did this so that he might be strengthened and that by his preaching, God’s word might be fully known, and that the Gentiles might hear.  Even if the whole world deserts us as we stand for Christ and proclaim God’s word, God never will.  We will be strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we might continue to proclaim God’s word.    

Verse eighteen continues, And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.  Paul said that God would one day deliver him to his heavenly home.  Even if we are killed for our faith, God still will not have forsaken us, but He will bring us to our heavenly home.  

Verse nineteen states, Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.  Paul then told Timoty to salute certain people who had been of help to him and who stood firm in their faith.  He named Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.  There may be certain people who have helped us in our walk of faith that we want others to acknowledge.  

Verse twenty adds, Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.  Paul then said he had left Erastus in Corinth and Trophimus in Miletum.  These two had not deserted Paul but had been left behind to continue God’s work where they were.  We should not expect all our close fellow believers to remain near us at all times but should expect them to go where God leads them to do God’s work that they have been called to do.  

Verse twenty-one continues, Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.  Paul asked Timothy to do his best to come before winter, possibly because Paul asked him to bring a cloak to him.  He then mentioned some men there who greeted Timothy, so even if they may have forsaken Paul at one time, they were now standing with him.  There will always be other Christians standing for Christ even if at times we feel all alone in the world.   

Verse twenty-two concludes, The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.  Paul then asked that the Lord Jesus Christ be with Timothy in his spirit and that the grace of God be with Him.  As followers of Christ, God is always with us by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace will always be with us as well. 

2 Timothy 4:9

 2 Timothy 4:9 says. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:  Paul asked Timothy to do his best to come to him. He didn't say that it was God's will that this happen, nor did he say that God had promised it. Sometimes, we just have to leave everything in God's hands without making demands.

Verse ten continues, For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Paul said that Demus had forsaken him and gone to Thessalonica because he loved the present world more than he loved God.  Whether he did this because he feared that he would be persecuted like Paul and was unwilling to allow that to happen to him or whether he loved the things of this world more is not clear, but the result was the same.  As followers of Christ, we should never turn our back on our faith for either reason.  Paul said that Crescens had left for Galatia and Titus for Dalmatia, but he did not say they had forsaken him because they loved the world more.  It would seem that they had left to continue to proclaim God’s word.  If we see a fellow believer in trouble today, we may not be able to be with them physically as we continue to do what God has called us to do, but we should not desert them spiritually.  

Verse eleven states, Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.  Paul said that only Luke remained with him, and then he asked Timothy to bring Mark with him when he came to see Paul.  Paul then said that Mark was profitable to him for the ministry.  I don’t believe that Paul asked these things just because they were what he personally wanted but asked them because he believed this was what God was directing him to do.  At one time, Paul may have seen Mark as a failure spiritually, but now he said he was needed.  If someone fails as a Christian at some point, that doesn’t mean that they are to be forever viewed as a failure.  

Verse twelve adds, And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.  Paul said that he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus.  Once more, I believe this was by God’s leadership and not just Paul’s decision about where he was to go.  I also believe that Tychicus had to feel led by God to go there.  Preachers and missionaries should go where they believe God has sent them, even if they go under the assignment of some group of Christians.  

Verse thirteen continues, The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.  Paul then asked Timothy to bring a cloak he had left with Carpus, the books he had left but especially the parchments.  The cloak would have been for physical comfort, but I believe that the books and parchments would have been for spiritual growth and comfort.  We may need certain things to be physically comforted today, but we also need God’s word to bring us spiritual comfort and guidance, and this should be our priority.  

Verse fourteen says, Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:  Paul then said that Alexander the coppersmith did him great evil, though he didn’t specify what he had done.  He didn’t ask Timothy to do anything about this but simply asked that God reward him for his actions, and this would not be a positive reward.  As Christians, if someone does us harm today, we are not to seek revenge but should leave their punishment up to God.  

Verse fifteen adds, Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.   Paul then told Timoty to be aware of Alexander because he had greatly withstood Paul’s words, which would have been the word of God that he preached.  There are some people today who are not only going to reject God's word but are going to actively oppose those who do.  We need to be aware of them, but we are never to fear them.