03.55. 2Timothy
Walking Thru The Bible
2 TIMOTHY
BACKGROUND:
The second letter to Timothy was written from the Mamertine Prison in Rome. Paul writes his most personal letter, and we see more of his thoughts and feelings. In this letter Paul refers to Timothy twice as his "son," just as in the introduction in 1 Timothy he called him "my son in the faith." Paul urges Timothy to endure hardness as a "good soldier" of Jesus Christ. He exhorts him to "hold fast" to sound words he has heard from Paul and warns him of a coming apostasy or "departure" from the faith (2 Timothy 3:1-17). This is Paul’s last writing. He was facing death-- martyrdom. He had to say much in a little time. Some of the great verses of the Bible are in this Book. The Central Message
"I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed [deposited] unto Him against that day" (2 Timothy 1:12).
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) The Structure of the Book
1.Paul the PREACHER --2 Timothy 1:1-18 2.Paul the PATTERN --2 Timothy 2:1-26 3.Paul the PROPHET --2 Timothy 3:1-17 4.Paul the PRISONER --2 Timothy 4:1-22 Paul the Preacher -- 2 Timothy 1:1-18 1.! Paul’s son in the Gospel was Timothy -- 2 Timothy 1:2
! Paul prayed for him day and night -- 2 Timothy 1:3 ! Paul longed to see Timothy -- 2 Timothy 1:4 ! He had full confidence in Timothy -- 2 Timothy 1:5 ! He told him to stir up his gift -- 2 Timothy 1:6 ! Timothy is not to be ashamed of the message or messengers -- 2 Timothy 1:8 ! He reminds Timothy of his calling -- 2 Timothy 1:9 ! Timothy is to hold to sound doctrine -- 2 Timothy 1:13 ! Timothy is to remain true to the ministry -- 2 Timothy 1:14 2.!Note some things Paul says about himself.
! an apostle -- 2 Timothy 1:1 and 2 Timothy 1:11 ! a preacher -- 2 Timothy 1:11 ! a teacher -- 2 Timothy 1:11 ! then in 2 Timothy 1:12 he rings out what every Christian should remember. Paul says -- "I am not ashamed -- for I know -- I have committed."
3. The final verses of 2 Timothy 1:1-18 reveal that Paul has been forsaken by so-called friends. He had been helped by one-- Onesiphorus.
Paul the Pattern -- 2 Timothy 2:1-26
In this chapter Paul uses seven figures of speech to describe the duty and activity of a disciple of the Lord
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1. A SON--he should follow the example and teach others, so they may teach others-- 2 Timothy 2:1-2.
2. A SOLDIER -- he is to "endure hardness" or hardships and avoid the entanglements of the world--to please the One who made him a soldier-- 2 Timothy 2:3-4.
3.AN ATHLETE-- he is to contend for the reward. He is to abide by the rules-- 2 Timothy 2:5 4.A FARMER-- must labor before he partakes of the fruit -- 2 Timothy 2:6 5.A STUDENT-- must "rightly divide" the Word of God -- 2 Timothy 2:15 6.A VESSEL-- a vessel must be clean to be usable-- 2 Timothy 2:20-21 7.A SERVANT-- a disciple is a servant, gentle, apt to teach, patient -- 2 Timothy 2:24.
Paul the Prophet -- 2 Timothy 3:1-17
In 2 Timothy 3:1-17 Paul speaks of "perilous times" that were coming to the church. The "last days" is often misunderstood to mean the "last days" of the Christian age, but in all other passages it refers to the "last days" of the Jewish system which came to its end in AD 70 with the destruction of the temple. In 2 Timothy 3:2-13 Paul uses 22 words or phrases to describe the "perilous times" that were coming upon the church. The church has had to contend with such problems ever since.
1."lovers of their own selves" - 2 Timothy 3:2 2."covetous" -- get what one wants - 2 Timothy 3:2 3."boasters" -- braggart 4."proud" -- haughty 5."blasphemers" -- denying Christ, using God’s name in vain 6."disobedient"
7. "unthankful"
8."unholy" -- profane 9."without natural affection"- 2 Timothy 3:3 10."truce-breakers" -- promises mean nothing 11."false accusers"
12."Incontinent" -- without self-control 13."fierce" -- is savage 14."despisers of those that are good"
15."traitors" -- or betrayers - 2 Timothy 3:4 16."heady" -- reckless 17."high-minded" -- drunk with pride 18."lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God"
19."have a form" -- hypocritical - 2 Timothy 3:5 20."ever learning" -- never able to discern truth - 2 Timothy 3:7 21."seducers" -- sorcerers, beguilers - 2 Timothy 3:13 22."deceiving and being deceived"
In 2 Timothy 3:14-17 we learn that the source of help and truth is the Word of God. Paul says "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" etc. 2 Timothy 3:14.
Paul the Prisoner -- 2 Timothy 4:1-22 1.His Final Charge-- 2 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 4:5
!"at His appearing" -- the Lord’s Second coming and the judgment of all men dead and alive ! "preach the Word" -- not substitutes ! "be diligent all the time" ! "reprove, rebuke, exhort" ! "watch thou (be alert) in all things" ! "endure afflictions" ! "do the work of an evangelist" ! "make full proof of the ministry"
2. His Final Warning-- 2 Timothy 4:3-4
! Time will come when men will not listen to doctrine ! Men will try to satisfy their own lusts ! They will find false teachers that please them ! They will turn away from truth-- believe fables