MC Lesson: 10/26/25

Textual Notes from 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Background

Paul is released from prison in Rome around 62/63 AD (Acts 28) and his 4th missionary journey.

This is where he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus more than likely.

He was then imprisoned again by Emperor Nero around 66-67 AD. This was a different imprisonment in that he was not just under house arrest, but was imprisoned and chained in a jail.

Paul wrote this letter knowing his time was drawing to an end.

Reason for writing was a place of concern and love for Timothy and the surrounding churches under this persecution. Focusing on the Ephesus church (

Major Truths/Promises

The seriousness of Paul and the Message (1 Tim. 4:1)

Be in a posture of readiness (1 Tim. 4:2)

There will always be people who distort the truth and seek to change it (1 Tim. 4:3-4)

There is a major emphasis of understanding sound doctrine.

Scripture *

God’s Revelation (General/Specific)

The Unity of God & The Trinity

Human Depravity (sin)

Person of Christ

Sinless, fully God/fully man, perfect atonement, 2nd person of the Trinity,

Birthed, Lived Perfectly and Taught, Died, Rose Again, Ascended, Return

Grace & Faith *

Creeds (Apostles, Nicene, The Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy, SBC2000)

Important Notes

1 Tim. 4:1-5 focus on the some of the last charges for Timothy to follow, where in 1 Tim. 4:6-8 Paul switches gears to tell Timothy of his own testimony and future hope.

Application Notes from 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Guiding Principles

Understand the Reality of the Kingdom

Christ will judge

Christ will return

Christ is ruling

There is a future reward

Perseverance in Faith & Deed

Be Ready

Understand Sound Doctrine

Sober Minded

Fulfill Ministry

Finish Strong

Core Questions

Why is understanding the reality of the Kingdom so vital?

In what way can we continue to persevere in the faith? Where do you struggle?

What tenets of “sound doctrine” do we need to hold fast too?

Have you thought about your death within the framework of the Kingdom? Why or why not?

Closing

Charles Spurgeon

2 Timothy Exposition

In a certain sense, every Christian may say this. Whatever interval may interpose between us and death, how very short it is! Do you not have a sense that time flows faster than it did? In our childish days, we thought a year was quite a period of time, a very epoch in our career. Now, as for weeks—one can hardly reckon them! We seem to be traveling by an express train, flying along at such a rate that we can hardly count the months. Why, the past year only seemed to come in at one door and go out at the other; it was over so soon. We shall soon be at the terminus of life, even if we live for several years. But in the case of some of us, God knows of whom, this year, perhaps this month, will be our last.

Sermon Notes

what are you fighting for?

Fight for truth

The word: The Scriptures, the teachings of the apostles.

The gospel doesn’t yield to cultural change, it never concedes or should ever be watered down

The “turning back” is not new, don’t be stirred up too heavily by thinking it’s brand new. 

Fight with endurance

Why do we only want to “get out” or “get away” from suffering? Are we missing teachings/wisdom by sitting in the suffering with trust in God?

Work of evangelist: bring good news! 

Fulfill your ministry: bring it to its fullest

Fight to the Final Bell

Departure: picture isn’t just death, but a ship leaving port, it’s not defeat (Lord of the Rings reference)

*these are passage notations for the Sound Doctrine Section

Revelation of God

Psalm 19 (general)

Romans 1:20 (general)

2 Peter 1:21 (specific)

2 Timothy 3:16 (specific)

God’s Unity & Triune Nature

Deut. 6:4

1 Cor. 8:5-6

2 Thess. 1:2

John 1:1

Matt. 28:19

Human Depravity (Sin Nature)

Romans 3:9-20

John 3:3

The Person of Christ

Hebrews 4:15

1 Peter 2:22

2 Cor. 5:21

John 1:14

Hebrews 1:1-8

Galatians 4:4-5

1 John 4:2-3

Romans 3:25-26

1 Cor. 15:1-6

Acts 1:11

Rev. 1:7

Grace & Faith

Romans 5:10

Titus 3:5

Eph. 2:8-9

*Creeds

Chicago

The Short Statement

God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. Holy Scripture is God's witness to Himself.

Holy Scripture, being God's own Word, written by men prepared and superintended by His Spirit, is of infallible divine authority in all matters upon which it touches: it is to be believed, as God's instruction, in all that it affirms; obeyed, as God's command, in all that it requires; embraced, as God's pledge, in all that it promises.

The Holy Spirit, Scripture's divine Author, both authenticates it to us by His inward witness and opens our minds to understand its meaning.

Being wholly and verbally God-given, Scripture is without error or fault in all its teaching, no less in what it states about God's acts in creation, about the events of world history, and about its own literary origins under God, than in its witness to God's saving grace in individual lives.

The authority of Scripture is inescapably impaired if this total divine inerrancy is in any way limited or disregarded, or made relative to a view of truth contrary to the Bible's own; and such lapses bring serious loss to both the individual and the Church.

2. Baptist Faith and Message

The Scriptures

God

Man

Salvation

God’s Purpose of Grace

The Church