Pastor-Teacher Series: 2 Timothy 4:1-2-Teaching is the One of the Responsibilities of the Pastor-Teacher

The Scriptures teach that the pastor-teacher, i.e. the overseer has four responsibilities that are the means by which he tends and shepherds the flock of God: (1) Study (2 Tim. 2:15) (2) Teach (1 Tim. 4:13) (3) Pray (Acts 6:1-4). (4) Exemplify the Christian way of life (1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:10).

Second Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge in the presence of God (the Father) as well as the Christ who is Jesus, who is inevitably going to judge the living as well as the dead and in addition by His appearing as well as by His kingdom: 2 to make it your top priority of publicly proclaiming with authority as a herald the message. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority of always being prepared to perform this task whether the circumstance is favorable or unfavorable. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority to convict. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority to rebuke. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority to exhort with a patience which is absolute as well as by means of instruction. (Lecturer’s translation)

The apostle Paul issues five commands in Second Timothy 4:2.

Now, all of these commands in Second Timothy 4:2 are strictly related to Timothy’s function toward the Christian community and not the non-Christian community.

This is clearly indicated by Paul’s statements in Second Timothy 4:3-4.

“The message” in verse 2 refers to the content of the message of the gospel and the Old Testament which Timothy was to faithfully make it his habit of teaching accurately.

It refers to the divine revelation that was communicated through the apostolic teaching which was communicated to the Christian community in Ephesus by Timothy and is now recorded in both the Old and New Testaments.

The second command required Timothy to make it his top priority of always being prepared to publicly proclaim with authority as a herald the message of the gospel to the Christian community during favorable circumstances and unfavorable circumstances.

The unfavorable circumstances are described by Paul in Second Timothy 4:3-4.

Thus, they would involve the Christian community not tolerating sound teaching from the Word of God.

It would also include the Christian community wanting to have their ears tickled resulting in their bouncing from teacher to teacher because of their own sinful desires.

Lastly, it would involve rejecting the truth contained in the Word of God and also turning aside to myths or false doctrine which are nothing but myths.

Consequently, the favorable circumstances would be when the Christian community accepts and embraces sound doctrine.

It would also mean that the members of the Christian community are not restless and don’t bounce from teacher to teacher to fulfill their own sinful desires.

They reject false doctrine and remain faithful to the teaching of the Word of God.

The third command issued by Paul required that Timothy make it his top priority to convict the individual members of the Christian community of sin in their life through the teaching of the Old Testament Scriptures and Paul’s apostolic teaching, the gospel.

The Holy Spirit inspired the Old and New Testament Scriptures and convicts the Christian of sin through instruction from the Scriptures.

Each and every portion of Old Testament and New Testament is beneficial for the purpose of convicting the Christian of sin in their life.

It is extremely important that Timothy convict the Christian of sin in their life through the teaching of the gospel and the Old Testament Scriptures.

This must be a top priority in Timothy’s life.

This command is very solemn.

Obedience to this command is critical for both Timothy and the Christian community since it will result in rewards for Timothy at the Bema and it will protect the church from ungodly behavior and result in spiritual growth.

The fourth command required that Timothy make it his top priority of rebuking members of the Christian community through the teaching of the gospel and Old Testament Scriptures.

This would involve Timothy expressing his strong disapproval of a Christian’s attitude and behavior through the teaching of the Word of God.

This disapproval is because their attitude and conduct stand opposed to the teaching of the Word of God.

Timothy was to sharply express criticism of the Christian’s attitude or conduct when it is opposed to the teaching of the Word of God.

The fifth and final command required that Timothy make it his top priority of exhorting the Christian community in the sense that he was to authoritatively train the body of Christ by communicating the Old Testament and the gospel message to them so as to compel obedience in every area of their lives.

This authoritative training through instruction in the gospel and Old Testament would include teaching, conviction, correcting and training with regards to living out in one’s life the righteousness of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

Then, Paul communicates to Timothy both the manner and means by which he was to convict, rebuke, and exhort.

First, Paul addresses the manner in which he was to carry out these three commands and then the means.

The manner in which he was to convict, rebuke and exhort the Christian community was with a patience which was absolute.

Timothy was to execute these three commands while in a state of emotional calm and particularly when facing provocation or misfortune.

He was to execute these three commands without complaint or irritation.

This patience is a godly patience since it is produced by the Holy Spirit when Timothy exercises faith in the gospel.

It describes Timothy as being in a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or adversity or underserved suffering without complaint or irritation.

It speaks of him remaining in a state of being tranquil despite undeserved suffering and adversity or persecution.

This patience is absolute since it can only be produced by the Spirit when he exercises faith in His teaching found in the gospel.

This patience would involve Timothy using repetition when instructing the Christian community.

Many times Christians do not understand what they are being taught.

Many times it takes some Christians longer than others to come to a conviction regarding a particular doctrine or teaching.

Thus, repetition is required so that they can not only understand a particular doctrine but have a conviction concerning it.

The means by which Timothy was to convict, rebuke and exhort the Christian community was teaching.

He was to teach the church the Word of God whether it is the gospel or Old Testament Scriptures.

Thus, Timothy was to communicate to the Christian community bible doctrine.

With each of these five commands, Paul is being very solemn in order to emphasize with Timothy their critical importance to not only the church but also for him.

It is critical for Timothy to obey this command since this will result in him receiving rewards from the Lord Jesus Christ at the Bema Seat. Failure to obey this command would result in a loss of rewards.

It is critical for the church that Timothy obey this command since it will protect the church from destructive ungodly behavior and it will also result in spiritual growth.

Failure to obey this command would result in ungodly behavior in the church and it would thus prevent the spiritual growth of the church.

We must remember that when Paul issues Timothy these five commands it is during a time of great apostasy in the church in the Roman province of Asia.

There is a great apostasy among both pastors and lay people in the church in this particular area of the Roman Empire.

Paul described this apostasy among pastors and their congregations in Second Timothy 3:1-9.

Therefore, the five commands in Second Timothy 4:2 are directly related to this apostasy among Christians in the Roman province of Asia.

Each of these five commands Paul issues Timothy in Second Timothy 4:2 emphasize the importance that the apostles placed upon the teaching of the Word of God to the Christian community.

In fact, it was the first of the four daily disciplines the first century apostolic church practiced.