Paul s Last Letter

2 Timothy 1:1-18

There is a lot to get to, that is worthy of noting.

First, I misspoke sometime back and said that Paul wrote the 2nd letter to Timothy a few months after the 1st letter, it was 2 Thess. that was written a few months after the 1st letter to that church. It all got jumbled up in my mind.

Paul wrote 2 Timothy a few years after the 1st letter......if you remember that Paul was released from his 1st imprisonment and went to Ephesus and left Timothy there to lead that church. Paul went to Macedonia and roamed about preaching and teaching in other places for a few years. 1 Timothy was written around AD 62-64. This letter was around AD 66-67.

The history of this is pretty astounding......In Paul’s 1st imprisonment (Acts 28:16 “And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.” )......(Acts 28:30–31 “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” )

House arrest in his own rented quarters, with a guard, and was allowed visitors.

After writing first Timothy, it’s apparent that for a few years he wandered around preaching and teaching and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In fact, if we can put the pieces together, we assume that he went from Ephesus over to Macedonia; visited Nicopolis, Crete, Militus; and, some think he may even as well have gone as far as Spain. He also very likely went to Troas.

Now, there’s no chronicle of that; those are bits and pieces that we elicit out of his letters. We really have no specific record like we do in the book of Acts for his time prior to being imprisoned, for the time after his imprisonment gives us no such record.

But no doubt for those five or six years between the first epistle and the second one, he is moving about ministering, preaching as he always did.

Suddenly in the midst of this new-found freedom he is arrested, very likely at the place called Nicopolis.

What caused it to be, what made it happen that halted his progress? Well, in 64 AD Nero – who was an insane madman – torched the city of Rome. He set a match to the place and burned it.

Not wanting to bear the public shame and the public wrath for that kind of thing, he pushed it off on this group called Christians and blamed them for the burning of the city of Rome.

As a result of that, an avalanche of animosity broke out against the believers in Jesus Christ, and it was the radiating of that animosity out of Rome that permeated the whole Roman Empire that finally caught the Apostle Paul eventually and caused him to be arrested because he was the leading spokesman for the Christian faith. He was then taken back to Rome and dropped into the hole in the ground at the Mamertine Prison.

The Mamertine prison is something else..........John Macarthur visited this prison in Rome and had this to say about it: “But one thing in my visit to Rome stood out above all other things, and that was visiting the ruins of what was known as the Mamertine Prison in the ancient city of Rome. When I say “ruins,” I don’t want to misrepresent the situation. What is now remaining of the Mamertine Prison is a dungeon in the ground, literally a circular pit about 30 feet in diameter with a hole at the top a little larger than that of a manhole in the street. That was the place of incarceration for the criminals of the time of the Apostle Paul.

That prison today has on top of it a building, and to see the prison you will climb the stairs, enter the building and you’re given a little bit of a tour. You look through the hole and you can see the pit underneath with its stone floor and stone walls in the shape of a circle. We were then allowed to go down into the pit and found there just a couple of things of interest.

First of all, there was an altar built there by some Roman Catholics at some point in history, and then against one section of that circular pit there was a door, a great large door that was able to be pulled up and then dropped back down in place.

The guide instructed us concerning the altar which had been built in somewhat recent centuries and then told us that the door basically was there for execution purposes; that it was common to place prisoners, dropping them through the hole into the dungeon – up to about 30 to 35 prisoners – and then in order to make room for the next group of criminals the door would be pulled open, and running alongside that cell was the city sewage system of Rome. As the door was pulled open, the cell or dungeon would fill with the sewage and drown all of the prisoners and wash them back out. The door would be shut. The place would be drained and ready for another 30 to 35 criminals.

It was a moving experience not only because you could stand there and imagine what went on in that place with sanitation, without light, without any of the comforts that we might imagine to be absolutely necessary for existence, and you can imagine it jammed with 30 bitter, angry criminals about to be executed. But what made it so very stunning was that one of the people who spent the last days of his life in that very hole in the ground;  was the Apostle Paul, and I was moved deep within my heart as I contemplated him in that place awaiting execution.”

This letter was his only one that was allowed out, Luke was the only one allowed to visit him.

The other prevailing factor in this letter is that by Nero blaming Christians and Paul was the leader of this movement, then Christians all throughout the empire would be in peril. This would make Timothy in the bullseye of this persecution. The accounts of how brutal they were to Christians in that time period is horrific and truly demonic.

In the first part of the letter, you hear the love that Paul has for Timothy and also it seems that Timothy has cowered down somewhat and Paul is telling him to rekindle the flame. By all accounts of what we read it does seem to suggest that Timothy’s faith or at least his responsibility as a shepherd had wavered......Paul is concerned about Timothy, whether persecution was happening or whatever it was, the fire in Timothy seems to have dimmed.................And he writes to Timothy because Timothy is the key to carrying on the work. So, what he is doing in second Timothy is passing the torch, passing the baton, passing the mantle – as it were – of the prophet. He at this particular time is in his upper 60s, maybe 66 or 67 years of age, and having spent his life is now ready to go to be with the Lord, having accomplished all that God wanted him to accomplish................Timothy is in his mid 40s, anywhere from 35-45 yrs old, and carries the brunt of responsibility for ministry and extending the kingdom in the next generation. Timothy is his child in the faith – his protégé, his student, his disciple, and Timothy faces tough times: persecution, hostility, animosity, resentment to the message, resistance to the truth, and it will not be easy.

Many words and phrases throughout this epistle suggest a wavering by Timothy.

Can I give you a little insight into great men of God? They have a sense of mission that expands beyond their own life. They are not driven by ambition; they are driven by mission. They are not driven by their own sense of success or their own need to attain; they are consumed by the bigger picture. And it was far more important to Paul that the work go on than that his life go on. He does not write his last letter and say, “Woe is me, look what’s happened, all of this I have given and now I have nothing.”

He does not write and castigate the people who have refused to show their heads and identify with him. He writes to carry on the mission because great men of God are moved not by personal comfort, personal success, personal attainment, but by mission.

This letter is loaded with imperatives. I didn’t count all of them but there are many of them. For example, here are some of the imperatives in this epistle. Directly from Paul to Timothy, these are commands. “Kindle afresh the gift of God,” “do not be ashamed of the Lord,” “retain the standard,” “guard the treasure,” “be strong,” “entrust to faithful men,” “suffer hardship,” “remember Jesus Christ,” “remind them,” “solemnly charge them,” “be diligent,” “avoid worldly empty chatter,” “flee youthful lust,” “refuse foolish and ignorant speculations,” “continue in the things you’ve learned,” “preach the Word,” “be ready,” “reprove,” “rebuke,” “exhort,” “be sober in all things,” and that’s the way it goes. They’re all commands, and they all presuppose authority.

Verse 1......Paul emphasized the divine origin of his apostleship by his reference to God’s will in his appointment......

Paul’s calling was by the will and sometimes he used command of God, but it is by God’s sovereign will that Paul was placed as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he was sent to present and teach this glorious message and if he was in prison for it, it was God’s will for him to be so.

The promise is that what is preached of eternal life by faith in Jesus Christ will become a reality, although it is not seen in the earthly.

Paul was teaching that life becomes available only in Christ.....John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”

Verse 2........1 Timothy 1:2 “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Listen to how Paul talks about Timothy in Philippians 2:19–23 “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.”

Paul was the elder and Timothy come to faith by Paul’s teaching of Christ and was faithful to the Gospel message of Christ as Paul delivered.

There was father son bond between these 2 and it is through their belief in Jesus Christ!

Grace, mercy, and peace.....Paul is expressing his sincere desire for God’s best for Timothy.

Verse 3......Paul never mentions specifically what his gratitude is for, maybe he is thankful for grace, mercy and peace......possibly he is thanking God for Timothy.

Paul thanks God, Whom He serves,........Paul makes sure as he has before to state that it is with a clear conscience.

There is no other reason for Paul’s service to God, money, fame.....no other agenda.

“I’ve done a self-examination, I’m not perfect but I have dealt with the sin in my life and confessed it to God and as much as is possible in this world I am living in holiness before the Lord and my conscience is clean and I am continually serving God through the worship that I offer to Him.”

Forefathers......We cannot truly know who Paul is referring to.....maybe the prophets, some of which suffered and were killed on behalf of their relaying God’s message.”

Maybe he is talking about his heritage...… “Hebrew of hebrews”, probably not

Maybe he is referring to his fellow apostles that were apostles before him.

I constantly remember you..........A preacher put it this way....… ““Timothy, I appreciate you. When I’m praying and I’m praying for you, I stop and thank God for you. I thank God for what you mean to me. I appreciate you.”

Verse 4............Greatly desiring to see Timothy.....None of Paul’s disciples had shown greater loyalty to Paul than Timothy (Phil 2:19–24). Paul remembered an emotional expression of that loyalty. We do not know the precise occasion that prompted Timothy’s outburst of tears. Some have linked it with the departure mentioned by Paul in 1 Timothy 1:3 “As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,” . Others have felt that Timothy was a participant in the scene of Acts 20:37 “And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,” . Paul’s loneliness in confinement added to his desire to see Timothy again.

There is a deep and affectionate love in the heart of Paul to Timothy, and he misses him deeply – the years of ministry, fellowship, travel; the years of danger, the battles, the teaching, the suffering had knit their hearts so closely together, and his longing was stimulated when he remembered how Timothy wept when the last they had met.

It would of been such joy to Paul for Timothy to visit him in his most dreadful time.

Verse 5........I read something pretty profound about this verse: “These women were true OT believers, who understood the Scriptures well enough to prepare themselves and Timothy to immediately accept Jesus as Messiah when they first heard the Gospel from Paul.

Paul had been around Timothy enough to know, that what his mom and his grandmother had Timothy had.

Verse 6..........Because Paul knows this and reminds Timothy of what he knew that Timothy had within him, Paul then tells him to stir it up....

Stir up is “anazōpyreō”.....you maybe heard “Pyro” in there, it means to rekindle the fire.......stir it up as you would the coals that are dying down.

Because of the Greek word usage make many believe that Timothy had shrunk back at a lot of the things going on.

Jeremiah had a similar experience.

What Timothy had was a gift from God, it was not something of talent, it was supernatural, fan the flame.

Laying on of hands......ordination by elders.

Verse 7.......The gift that was within Timothy did not have fear anywhere in it......That is not from God.........If Timothy was fearful it did not come from God.

That word for fear is “deilia”, which means to be timid or cowardice.......

That is not a trait in God’s character.

It was an issue and has been a battle for men that were chosen to spread the Gospel.

What is God’s character is power, love, and sound mine.....

Power.....Power to fulfill the Lord’s tasks

Love.....To suffer all opposition gladly

Sound mind....self-discipline....a properly prioritized mind....

Verse 8.....I was speaking about this Sunday morning somewhat.......Everything about Jesus’ earthly ministry seems weak by human standards and Paul’s physical state and his current imprisonment would make most folks ashamed of the Christian life and mock it even.

Paul even states to join in the afflictions the Gospel....A good commentary on this verse states: Paul warned Timothy against being ashamed of testifying about the Lord and about him. Timothy may have been embarrassed that some of the mockers saw Jesus as no more than a dead Jew.9 Timothy may have wanted a more powerful vindication of the Christian message for others to see before he proclaimed the gospel. Timothy could also have been humiliated that his leader was a prisoner. Paul may have viewed himself as the Lord’s prisoner, but Timothy may not have been proud to serve in the company of an inmate. Paul clearly did not see himself as a victim of the Roman state but as the prisoner of Jesus. Such an attitude was transforming in its faith and commitment.

Instead of Timothy’s feeling shame, Paul wanted him to suffer for the sake of the gospel. The power of the Holy Spirit can produce a strength that bears suffering. Paul knew that divine help was available, and he wanted Timothy to use it richly.

Verse 9-10.........Paul gives reason why Timothy with unwavering faith declare the good news of Jesus Christ and suffer for it....

Paul gives testimony that his hope in Jesus Christ will not make him ashamed, he will not be humiliated at the outcome.

This is a spiritual truth! Folks that are waiting to see the results of this down here will be snatched around by satan.

The true reality is that the benefits far outweigh the suffering, it is worth it and God has given us evidence in His Son of what has been done and that is a guarantee!

Verse 11-12.......Christ has brought life and immortality through His Person and Work and Paul believed and therefore suffers all things because of this glorious Gospel!

No matter how weak his condition looked, no matter how humiliating his circumstances were, Paul was not ashamed of Jesus Christ!

This is powerful to me......Is it worth it?....Paul says I am not ashamed........For I know in Whom I believe and am persuaded that what Paul committed unto God, God will guard/keep it until that day.....

Paul placed his life, the people he preached to, and his eternal life into God’s faithful Hands......Everything God will guard and keep until the day all things will be brought to light.

Verse 13....... Timothy’s faith was to focus on Christ Jesus. The love that flowed from that relationship provided sensible, compassionate direction in his work of teaching and directing others (see Ephesians 4:15–16 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” ).

It would enable Timothy to teach the truth in love. Paul realized that Timothy’s faith and love were fruits of his union with Jesus Christ.

Verse 14......Paul had entrusted Timothy with the sound teaching of the gospel. He could not let heresy erode it. The “deposit” Paul had left with Timothy is a reference to the truth of the gospel Timothy had received (see v. 12, where the Greek term translated “what I have entrusted to him” is identical to “deposit” but is defined differently).

Paul’s words to Timothy suggest that the apostle was designating Timothy to carry on Paul’s work.

The task of preserving the truth of the gospel is so demanding and difficult that human strength alone cannot assure it. Maintaining the purity of the gospel demands the might and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit dwells within all believers and provides strength for them. Paul focused on that special enabling which the Spirit makes available for use in ministry.

Verse 15-18.......Hermogenes and Phygelus is not much known about them, but that they turned away from Paul which suggest that they turned away from sound doctrine.......

Onesiphorus however did not, he was not ashamed of Paul’s current conditions and evidently he was very useful in Ephesus that Timothy would of been witness to.

It seems to suggest that Onesiphorus risked his life to help Paul in Rome.

Paul calls on the Lord to grant him mercy in which I read this....… “it is an acknowledgment that even one like Onesiphorus has only God’s mercy as his appeal”