DECEMBER 19
Athough there is no direct biblical record which sheds light on the matter,
it appears that Paul may have been rearrested in either Nicopolis
or Troas and returned to
The tone of Paul's last known
letter indicates that Paul knows his time is short. Several of his supporters
have deserted him in the face of persecution, and Paul wants Timothy to come to
him as soon as possible. Tychicus, who has been
Paul's messenger on other occasions, is being sent to
SALUTATION. 2 Tim 1:1,2
Paul, an apostle of
Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in
Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Exhortations
to Timothy
CONCERN FOR TIMOTHY. 2Tim, 1:3-7
I thank
God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night
and day 1 constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long
to see you, so that I may be filled with joy, I have been reminded of your
sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother
Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you
to fan into flame the
gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not
give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of
self-discipline.
ENCOURAGEMENT FOR MINISTRY. 2Tim. 8-12
So do
not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But
join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us
and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because
of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before
the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of
our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a
herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I
am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced
that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE. 2Tim. 1:13,14
What
you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love
in Christ Jesus, Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with
the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
MANY
HAVE TURNED AWAY. 2Tim.. 1:15
You know
that everyone in the province of
ONESIPHORUS' FAITH. 2Tim.16-18
May the
Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,
because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.
On the contrary, when he was in
DEDICATION AND DISCIPLINE. 2Tim.2:1-7
You
then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things
you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men
who will also be qualified to teach others. Endure hardship with us like a good
soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian
affairs— he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone
competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he
competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to
receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will
give you insight into all this.
REMEMBERING CHRIST. 2Tim. 2:8-13
Remember
Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,
for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.
But God's word is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of
the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that
is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. . Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, with him.
if we disown him,
he will also disown us;
if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
HANDLING TRUTH CAREFULLY. 2 Tim. 2:14-19
Keep
reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about
words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to
present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter,
because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their
teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus
and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth.
They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the
faith of some. Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with
this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," " and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the
Lord must turn away from wickedness."
TEACHING ABOVE QUARRELING. 2 Tim. 2:20-26
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Flee
the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace,
along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything
to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce
quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to
everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently
instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a
knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from
the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
PREDICTION OF GODLESS TIMES. 2 Tim. 3:1-5
But
mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers
of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their
parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without
self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but
denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
EVIL TEACHERS TO BE EXPOSED. 2 Tim. 3:6-9
They
are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed
women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil
desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,
so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the
faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in
the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
RESPECT
FOR SCRIPTURE. 2
Tim. 3:10-17
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me
from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
PREACH THE WORD. 2 Tim 4:1-5
In the
presence of Cod and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,
and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach
the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and
encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For
the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number
of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their
ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in
all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
REWARD FOR FAITHFUL MINISTRY. 2 Tim. 4:6-8
For 1
am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my
departure, 1 have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, 1 have kept
the faith. Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
Concluding Thoughts '
PAUL
ASKS TIMOTHY TO JOIN HIM. 2 Tim. 4:9-13
Do your
best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has
deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens
has gone to
HOW
ALEXANDER OPPOSED HIM. 2 Tim. 4:14,15
Alexander
the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what
he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly
opposed our message.
PAUL ALONE IN HIS DEFENSE. 2 Tim. 4:16-18
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
REETINGS AND BENEDICTION. 2Tim. 4:19-22
Greet
Priscilla" and
No records indicate whether Timothy was ever able to be
with