2 Timothy 4-Titus

Preaching the Word, Sound Doctrine, Qualifications of elders

2 Timothy 4 (ESV)

1 I charge 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: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Verse 1-2: Remember in Chapter 2 Paul reminds Timothy of his early learning of Scripture in Chapter 1 (Grandmother Lois and mother Eunice, and Paul), Paul is bringing to Timothy’s remembrance all that he has been taught, which will culminate in Timothy being prepared to boldly preach and teach the Gospel. Paul calls on Timothy to preach the Gospel, being prepared whenever the opportunity presents itself. Paul gives Timothy these four directives:

reprove: to reprimand or censor: As ministers of the Gospel, we are to call out, and if possible stop false teaching. Why? Because the souls of many are at stake.

rebuke: Express SHARP disapproval or criticism of someone because of their behavior or actions. We don’t ignore false teaching; if anything is preached that does not align with the Word of God we are to express our disapproval to the false doctrine and the one who is preaching it.

exhort: a speech the encourages, incites, or earnestly advises. We need to exhort others, not only those who are preaching the truth, but we are to exhort the false teachers to do better, just like we exhort our fellow believers to continue strong in the faith. Whether they do or not, God will deal with them.

What does Paul mean by “with complete patience and teaching”? How do we show patience to those who engage in false teaching? We can stand up and speak out, but we can also pray that these men and women come to repentance.

What does Paul mean by “preach the Word”? He is telling Timothy to preach the truth, the real Gospel, not adding to or taking away from it. (in season and out of season) John MacArthur says, “The faithful preacher must proclaim the Word when it is popular and/or convenient, and when it is not; when it seems suitable to do, and when it seems not. The dictates of popular culture, tradition, reputation, acceptance, or esteem in the community, or the church, must never alter the true preacher’s commitment to proclaim God’s Word.

Verses 3-5: What Paul means by endure is that people will not tolerate sound doctrine. We see no I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. who we truly are, unregenerate sinners in need of grace, mercy, and salvation. We also see how people these days go and find preachers who will cater to their false beliefs, or what sins that deem as okay. This is why so many seeker sensitive churches are on the rise, instead of preaching the truth, they preach that all people are good, no matter what, and if you love Jesus, your going to heaven. The rejection of the truth has made way for feminist pastors, homosexual pastors, transgender and drag queen services, health and wealth gospel, and crazy versions of the Bible such as the Queen James Bible, and the Passion Translation of the Bible. Church has become a smorgasbord of picking and choosing likes and dislikes and match them up with what parts of Scripture they will preach or not preach. We see versions such as the Christian Standard Bible, which makes Scripture more gender neutral instead of being a patriarchal book. No one can deny that!

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth 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.

This is one of the most beautiful passages in Scripture (don’t get me wrong, but all Scripture is beautiful). A man who has peacefully excepted his fate and recognizes he has completed the mission that the Lord Jesus gave him. 1) He has fought the good fight: He has been a warrior for the Gospel, 2) finished the race: he has completed his earthly mission, 3) kept the faith: Throughout the ups and downs of the mission Jesus commissioned him to do, through the beatings, imprisonment, and near death experiences, he never lost sight of what he was has called to do, until the very end.

9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

English Standard Version Introduction

Introduction

This pastoral letter from Paul to Titus was intended to offer encouragement and wisdom as Titus endured ongoing opposition from the ungodly and from legalists within his congregations. Paul instructed Titus to complete his assigned job of establishing overseers (elders) for the churches under his care. He described what sort of people these leaders should be, and how all believers should live in relation to each other as well as in their interactions with nonbelievers. Proper Christian behavior is based on the fact that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,” and therefore those who believe in Christ are to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” as they await his return (2:11–13). Paul probably wrote this letter in the 60s A.D.

Titus 1 (ESV)

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers (this refers to children who have saving faith in Christ and reflect it in their conduct) and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination These terms suggest that the reference is to gown children. Insubordination carries the idea of rebelliousness to the Gospel. Here the elder shows his ability to lead his family to salvation and sanctification, an essential prerequisite for leading the church. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Paul announces himself as a 1) servant of God, 2) an apostle of Jesus Christ. Why is he a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ? For the sake of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth. What does the knowledge of truth bring? The truth accords ( give or grant some power [we have the power of the Holy Spirit to make us more Christlike each day], status {when we are saved and commit to follow Christ, we are sons and daughters of the Most High God, joint heirs with Christ] , or recognition [our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life]) with Godliness], in hope to eternal life (guaranteed a home in heaven), God never lies (What He promised He will follow through on), at the proper time manifested in His Word through the preaching (of the Gospel), which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior (We see here the Trinitarian affect).

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party (this refers to some Jews who were teaching that salvation including the cutting of flesh and ceremonial adherents). 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach (so much like today, the preaching of lies and deceiving people for their own personal benefit and gratification). 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons (This shows us that we are to call it like it is. If they are preaching grace, plus works, speak out, if they are preaching lies, speak out against it, if there is anything preached or taught contrary to the Word of God, speak out against it).” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.