Preach The WORD

I Solemnly Charge You

You can hear the urgency in the voice of Paul. He knows he is coming to the end of his life and he knows that Timothy is the next generation preacher.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

He charges Timothy to preach the word. This is not surprising, but what is surprising is the magnitude by which Paul is charging him.. He says:

I solemnly 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

Paul is charging Timothy in the presence of God and Christ who is the judge. Paul is saying to Timothy that God has called him to preach the gospel and will be judged according to his obedience to the call. He is also emphasizing the importance of preaching the gospel. God will judge everyone and the only way they have a chance for eternal life is through the preaching of the word. The preaching of the word is dissemination of truth. Truth leads a person to salvation.

Preach the Word

Paul preached the word. There is power in preaching the word. It has the power to quicken the dead soul to life. Paul preached with power, not influential words. Paul was not a tremendous orator that spoke with such charisma that he could influence people to follow Jesus. He just preached the truth.

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the [a]testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my [b]message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not [c]rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Some pastors today do not preach the Word, but ideas. They may read a passage, then close their Bible and get on with telling the people what he feels they need to do. Preaching the Word is explaining what the writer is writing and sharing how to apply it. Preaching is pulling the truth from the Word, explaining the truth to the people, and showing them how to live in the truth. Expository preaching is preaching through a book of the Bible verse by verse.

Be Ready In Season Or Out Of Season

Commentators do not agree on what this exactly means, however they do agree that Paul is calling Timothy to always be prepared. Some commentators view this as when you feel like it and when you don’t feel like it. Others think it means to preach when it is popular and not popular. Still others say that you are to preach when it is convenient and when it is not convenient. I believe that all of these apply. When you are called to preach, you must preach the entirety of scripture regardless to whether you want to or not.

There are parts of scripture that can be tough to preach. Issues on divorce, money, suffering, sin, and hell don’t necessarily draw a crowd or illicit praise for preaching, but are necessary. I have never had anyone tell me ,”preacher that was the best sermon on divorce!” Though it is not popular and tough to preach on, it must be preached.

There are times when preaching is not convenient. The time that it is not convenient is after 12:00 on Sunday. Pastors must preach as long as it takes to convey God’s message. I have heard both sides. Some say preacher you don’t need to look at your watch when preaching. Others will say you need to be mindful of people’s time and let them out at a decent time. I feel preaching God’s word is of the utmost importance, so I tend to not worry about the time.

There are also times when you just don’t feel like preaching. Preachers can get discouraged and say what is the point. They won’t remember what I preach or do what is taught. I believe people do. I believe it may not be instantaneous, but in due time the remembrance and application will happen. Even when you are discouraged, PREACH!

Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort

Reprove and rebuke are closely related in meaning and are the third and fourth imperatives in this passage. Paul has just declared that all Scripture is “profitable for … reproof” (3:16). As noted in the previous commentary chapter, elegmos (reproof) carries the idea of correcting misbehavior or false doctrine. Reproving may have more to do with affecting the mind, with helping a person understand that what he believes or is doing is wrong. Rebuke, on the other hand, may have to do with the heart, with bringing a person under conviction of guilt. To reprove is to refute error and misconduct with careful biblical argument; to rebuke is to bring the erring person to repentance. The first discloses the sinfulness of sin, whereas the second discloses the sinfulness of the sinner.

John F. MacArthur Jr., 2 Timothy, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), 177.

2 Timothy: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Scope of His Commission

Paul next gives Timothy the positive imperative to exhort, which is from parakaleō, a common New Testament word that can range in meaning from simply calling out to someone to admonishing, which is clearly the meaning in this context. It also carries the idea of encouragement. After having reproved and rebuked disobedient believers under his care, the faithful preacher is then to come alongside them in love and encourage them to spiritual change.

People Won’t Tolerate True Preaching

Paul reminds Timothy that their is coming a day when people will not listen to truth. They will want to have their ears tickled. They will go to churches where preachers preach feel good messages that have no fruit. They live in sin all week and then go listen to a preacher tell them how good they are. This is not true preaching. True preaching leads people to Jesus Christ.

It drives me crazy to hear people say, “I didn’t get anything out of that message. or I just don’t feel like I am being fed.” I want to ask what did you do to prepare yourself to receive something from the message or try opening your heart so you can be fed.” When a man is called to preach and gives a message that is from God. Why criticize what God has given.

Be Sober In All Things

Paul is telling Timothy to use good judgment. The opposite of sober is drunk. When you are drunk your judgment is impaired. Paul is encouraging Timothy to make good decisions. The only way to do this is to spend time with the Lord.

Believers must be sharp because the world has ways of deceiving.

Endure Hardship

Ministering is not for the faint of heart. It is difficult and full of hardship and disappointment. A minister is called to endure the hardships of ministry. Paul can speak to this with a tremendous experience.

Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, [a]through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and [b]exposure. 28 Apart from such [c]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

Do The Work Of An Evangelist

An evangelist shares the gospel and leads people to Christ.

Fulfill Your Ministry

Paul is calling Timothy to finish what God has called him to do.