The Book of 2 Timothy

Having a will is important - at least that’s what many financial advisors and estate attorneys say. It helps people understand what should happen with all of the stuff we’ve accumulated. After all, the one who dies with the most toys…still dies.

But a will is also sort of a way of leaving a message or an encouragement to loved ones, or even simply just making a statement.

There have been various stories over the years of outrageous expectations that people must achieve in order to receive a greater gift

In 2011 Forbes published an article entitled “10 Strange Will And Testaments.” These people, with varying degrees of wealth had final instructions regarding their estates. Some were vindictive, some were generous, some greatly blessed their dogs and cats and others were simply strange. Here are a few:

1. Harry Houdini

The renowned master escapee and daredevil died in 1926 on Halloween. Towards the end of his life, Houdini had become mystified by the idea of an afterlife and spiritual mediums. Houdini promised his wife, Bess, that he would contact her in the afterlife, using a pre-planned ten digit secret message that only she would know, to silence naysayers when she eventually reported his presence (she never did). His last will and testament also stated that a séance should be held each anniversary of his death.

2. Gene Roddenberry

The creator of Star Trek and inventor of the notable quote "to boldly go where no man has gone before" made certain to maintain that statement long after his passing. His last will and testament included instructions to have his ashes scattered via a space satellite orbiting earth. The act was carried out in 1997.

3. Charles Vance Miller

This Toronto-based attorney had a love of practical jokes. His last will and testament bequeathed a large sum up for grabs to any Toronto woman who could produce the most offspring in the decade following his death. The result became known as the "Great Stork Derby." Four winners emerged in a tie for nine children; each received about $125,000.

5. Eleanor Ritchey

Heiress to the Quaker State Refining Corporation, Ritchey left about $14 million to her 150 stray dogs. When the last dog died, the remainder was to go to Auburn University Research Foundation with the funds dedicated to research on canine disease.

6. Thomas Shewbridge

California prune rancher Thomas Shewbridge's turned over shareholder rights of his estate to his two dogs, making them owners of 29,000 stock shares in the local electric company. The dogs regularly attended stockholders' and board of directors' meetings. (I’m not sure how they knew how to vote)

10. Mark Gruenwald

The Executive Editor of Captain American and Iron Man, as well as being involved in other Marvel Comics, Gruenwald stated that he wished for his ashes to be mixed with the ink used to print the comic books. They were.

There were others that had some strange bequeaths, all of this works and is well and good if you want to just allocate your stuff or be remembered, but what if you want to do more? This is where 2 Timothy comes into play.

Background

In some ways, the book of 2nd Timothy is sort of like Paul’s last will and testament. He has a few instructions about some of his things - mainly things that he’d like to have brought to him in prison, but more than that it’s a letter of encouragement and exhortation to Timothy.

Commentators suggest that this letter was written just a couple of years after 1st Timothy. In that time it seems that the situation around Timothy had not greatly improved - there was still conflict over various doctrines and false teachers - all causing Timothy a great deal of suffering and turmoil.

Things had not improved for Paul either. In the time between the two letters Paul has found himself imprisoned. His first defense did not go well and it looked like he was going to be sentenced to death - and soon.

So here, in what is likely Paul’s final letter, we get to see a bit of his heart for Timothy in the mist of the challenges he’s facing. We also get to see his steadfastness for the work of the Lord as he remained faithful to the end.

As we consider the book today, we are going to look at some themes and encouragements that permeate the book, rather than looking at the structural outline. There are certainly some good outlines.

But, as I was studying this letter, one thing that jumped out at me was the number of direct commands that Paul gives to Timothy - roughly 34 commands. We’ll consider several of these commands that seem to reside under a few broad categories.

First of all, Paul encourages Timothy to

Guard the trust

Paul closed his first letter to Timothy with a similar encouragement. Here in the opening chapter, Paul writes:

2 Timothy 1:14 ESV

By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

Much like an executor of an estate would care for the assets of someone’s will or trust, Paul’s encouragement here is for Timothy to take care of what has been entrusted to him. The question I have to ask myself is...

What is the trust or the good deposit?

it seems like there are several possibilities.

The Gospel itself:

The ESV Study Bible suggests that this is the Gospel itself. Which then begs the question, what is the gospel? Essentially, the Gospel is the good news that God,

who made us in His image,

saw us in our helpless and sinful state,

sent His Son Jesus Christ, live a perfect life on earth - fully human and fully God,

to then take the punishment of our sin by dying a death he did not deserve on the cross

He then rose from the grave on the third day, conquering the penalty of our sin for all eternity

So that all who receive Jesus‘ free gift of salvation might be in a right relationship with God for eternity.

we them get to walk daily in relationship with Jesus learning each day how to live and love in a way that is honors Him.

That is the essence of the gospel.

Let me just say, that if you’ve not yet responded to what God has done for you through Jesus Christ, today is the day of salvation, today is the day to respond - repent/turn from your sin, trust in him.

This may be the good deposit or trust that has been entrusted to Timothy - that God saved him.

But it may be more than that.

The entirety of the Christian Faith

The ESV Study bible also suggests that it may be the entirety of the Christian faith - the Gospel and the community of faith that we are saved into.

But it may also be more than that. It could be...

His specific assignment

Last week we talked briefly about assignments - that at different times in our lives God gives us specific assignments. In Timothy’s case, he was given the assignment to instruct and organize the church at Ephesus.

The deposit that has been entrusted to Timothy may be all of those things. When you think about it, the deposit entrusted to Timothy is really entrusted to all of us. Our assignments might be different that Timothy’s was, but we are entrusted with the same good news of the gospel. We have the same hope to proclaim. We have the same faith to live out.

Then that raises another question...

How did he get the trust to guard?

First of all, it seems that

He got this trust, this faith from his mother and his grandmother.

2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

He seemed to catch their faith. But more than that, they were intentional about their faith.

2 Timothy 3:14–15 ESV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Last week we talked about how Timothy was from a multi-ethnic family - his mother was Jewish (apparently his grandmother too) and his father was Greek - or a gentile. It appears that Timothy’s mom and grandmother were very intentional about what they taught Timothy. They read or recited the Bible to him (at least the Bible they had - our Old Testament). They taught him. They likely brought him to the synagogue. They lived out their faith in front of him.

I think it’s quite providential that we’re considering 2nd Timothy on Mother’s Day. Mom’s thank you for what you do to pour into your children. To adapt a phrase from Nehemiah - “you’re doing a great work, don’t come down.” (Neh. 6:3) Your involvement in the spiritual development of your children and grand children is crucial and important. Lois and Eunice poured into Timothy in such a way that when Paul and Timothy met many years earlier in Lystra, he could see the hand of God in his life.

Earlier this week, I was reading in the book Captivated by Christ, by Richard Chin. In the book he quoted a letter that John Newton (the author of Amazing Grace) wrote to a pastor in Australia - where John equated the ministry of the gospel to the planting of acorns. It will take a long to bear fruit. It is a long and painstaking process. Mom’s keep up the good work of cultivating the acorns that God has bless you with. Your investment is making a difference now and will continue into eternity as these acorns mature into great oaks of the faith.

For Timothy, his mom and grandmother weren’t the only influences. Up to this point in Timothy’s life,

(secondly)

He had been greatly influenced by and received this trust from Paul

2 Timothy 1:6–7 ESV

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Paul could see that the Spirit of God was on Timothy. He could see the potential that rested in him. Paul not only anointed Timothy by laying hands on him - as a means of blessing, but then invested in him. Paul and Timothy worked together for many years. Timothy got to watch Paul teach, he got to watch Paul encourage. He was present when Paul wrote several of the letters to the churches that God inspired him to write.

Timothy received this trust from his family and from Paul, but most importantly,

He received it from God (2 Tim. 1:6-7)

This gospel is a gift from God. It is ultimately God who calls us into a relationship with him. We get to respond. We get to join in what he is doing.

But as we continue to think about this trust, Paul urged Timothy to “guard the trust.” Well, now that we know what the trust is and how he got it, we have to ask...

Guard it from what?

Paul urged Timothy in his first letter to refute false teaching and other controversies. It seems that Timothy was still dealing with that. There were some who had said that the resurrection had already happened and were stirring up division and causing a lack of peace to be present in the church.

2 Timothy 2:16–18 ESV

But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

Paul also mentions that there were “foolish and ignorant controversies (2 Tim. 2:23) present in the church.

In addition to that, he acknowledges that there will be people in the church who will simply drift and want to hear things that will make them feel good or things that will make rationalize their own sinful behavior.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

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, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

This is where we have to be careful with things like prosperity theology (a belief that God wants us to be rich), liberation theology (that Jesus came to free us from oppression in this world and in eternity), and various doctrines of liberal theology (that loosen the moral values that we find in scripture among many other things). There are many more that we could include in this list. There have been numerous divisive theologies over the centuries.

but there is one more question this command to guard the trust begs...

How should Timothy guard the trust?

Paul seems to give Timothy some instruction on a personal basis and on a public basis.

Personally

- Paul tells Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:22–26 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Paul urges Timothy to:

Avoid - the controversies that we already talked about

Flee - youthful passions

Pursue godliness

Publicly

Paul recognizes that this trust must be passed along. Just as Paul would not be there forever, neither will Timothy, in fact neither will any of us. We must have the mind to pass it on.

2 Timothy 2:1–2 ESV

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

Look at the multiple generations of belief:

Paul - generation 1

Timothy - generation 2

faithful men - generation 3

others also - generation 4

(Gromacki)

Where are you and I in that generational line? To some degree, we may be at any stage. Hopefully someone is always investing in us and we in turn should be investing in others who will invest in others.

So, one of the big things we see in this final letter of Paul’s life is the encouragement for Timothy to guard what has been entrusted to him. We have been given a precious gift in the gospel. Like Timothy, I believe we should guard it as well - not because it can escape us, but rather because we can easily try to add things too the gospel - and thereby watering down the substance of what’s there, or remove things from the gospel - reducing the practical power of the gospel to transform.

One of Paul’s other exhortations or commands to Timothy is to...

Preach and teach the Word

As a young pastor, Paul urged charged Timothy to preach.

2 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV

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: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

By the time Timothy was preaching, he likely only had the Old Testament Scriptures, and possibly a few of the gospels - such as Mark, Matthew, and maybe Luke. John was likely written a few years later. There were possibly several of Paul’s letters in circulation.

One of the gracious things that we have is the whole counsel of God’s word. The entirety of these 66 books provide the foundation, the information, the inspiration of our faith. After all, Paul writes...

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

There are a myriad of materials that are out there. Commentaries, bible guides, podcasts, journal articles, even other sermons. These can be helpful in understanding and applying the word of God, but they are no replacement for the Word of God.

This is our authoritative book.

It would be easy to try to preach other materials. In fact, Paul even warns about the desire of people to hear other things...

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

When I come across difficult passages in scripture, knowing that it may not always sit well with you or me or with people who may hear online - everything in me wants to avoid it. My flesh and the non-confrontational part of my personality wants to find some other way to get around those passages. We must preach THE WORD.

Let me encourage you, if you hear me venturing off into myths or theories about this or that or find that I’m avoiding the passages that are difficult to hear - lovingly confront me - one-on-one or bring an elder with you.

Know that as I seek to faithfully preach the word and teach others to do the same (2 Tim. 2:2), the Holy Spirit is working on me too - challenging my preconceived ideas, my actions, and thoughts. We get to submit together to the authority of the Word of God. That is our only text book.

Because this is our authoritative text and people will not always want to hear it, Paul reminded Timothy to...

Expect and endure suffering

On three different occasions in this letter, Paul tells Timothy to share in or endure sufferings (2 Tim.1:8 ; 2 Tim. 2:3; 2 Tim. 4:5).

2 Timothy 1:8 ESV

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

With Paul being in prison, there was the risk of people coming to Timothy and saying “well if this message was really good, then it wouldn’t cost Paul his freedom.” He could have been ashamed of what God allowed in Paul’s life.

There is something mysterious and profound when people are willing to suffer and even die for their faith. It shows a level of faith and commitment in the hope of the gospel.

In his book The Cross of Christ, John Stott wrote about the suffering that servants of God may encounter in this way...

“The place of suffering in service and of passion in mission is hardly ever taught today. But the greatest single secret of evangelistic or missionary effectiveness is a willingness to suffer and die. It may be a death to popularity (by faithfully preaching the unpopular biblical gospel), or to pride (by the use of modest methods in reliance on the Holy Spirit), or to racial and national prejudice (by identification with another culture), or to material comfort (by adopting a particular lifestyle). But the servant must suffer if he is willing to bring light to the nations, and the seed must die if it is to multiply.”

(Stott, p. 313 - referenced through Chin, 60)

It’s not that we want to suffer or be persecuted. I think part of the reason Paul was writing these things to Timothy is that he was being shamed by Paul’s imprisonment and being threatened with his own persecution and suffering.

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Suffering has a way of

identifying us with Christ. - He suffered for us

refining us (James 1:2-12)

reinforcing our convictions

helping others see God through us.

helping us see we are part of something far bigger than ourselves. Paul even uses several analogies in chapter 2 as a means of encouraging Timothy

2 Timothy 2:3–7 ESV

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

(possibly talk about analogy of Joseph, Esther, Ezra, Nehemiah… - being refined through suffering, raised to influence)

Follow Paul’s example and...

Stay the course

Several times through the letter, Paul reflects back on the things that God has called him to endure. Abandonment, imprisonment, persecution, physical beatings and more - all for the sake of the gospel.

2 Timothy 3:10–11 ESV

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

Paul firmly believed in the power of the gospel to save. Jesus Christ had saved him from the destructive path of ignorance that would have led to destruction. The sufferings of Christ became is motivation. His hope for eternity was his goal.

2 Timothy 2:11–13 ESV

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

There is a part of this that at face-value doesn’t make sense. We enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ - forgiven from the eternal consequence of our sin, and given a right relationship with God. We are commanded to love God with all that we are and love others as ourselves. We are commissioned to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel - making disciples - knowing that because people rejected Jesus - they will likely reject us and our message - resulting persecution and suffering - maybe even unto death.

Is it worth it?

Paul would say - stay the course, obey the call of God, because there is a reward. Finish the assignment laid out for us. In fact, in chapter 4, Paul writes:

2 Timothy 4:5–8 ESV

As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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.

Conclusion

Beloved, guard what has been entrusted to you. Preach and teach the word, knowing that some will respond and others will reject the message. Your proclamation and godly living may result in suffering - expect it, endure it and stay the course, knowing that Jesus Christ is laying up the reward of eternal life.

When I was a teenager, I used an NIV Study Bible. I used to highlight passages that were significant to me. I can vividly remember reading what Paul wrote to Timothy about being poured out like a drink offering - having fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith. I wrote in the margin of my Bible that I want to be able to say those words on my death bed.

Beloved, the world around us is moving from bad to worse.

They want to have people who will tickle their ears with messages endorsing every behavior, we must fight the good fight - not with anger, but with love - communicating the love the God has for them through Jesus Christ.

They want us to quit, turn aside, and give up - we must finish the race.

They want us to believe whatever is entailed in latest trends - we must keep the faith - no matter what comes.

The eternal reward is worth far more than any temporary relief here. I hope we can all declare with our dying breaths...

2 Timothy 4:7–8 ESV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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.

Let’s pray.

Memory Verse: 2 Tim. 2:15

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Benediction:

2 Timothy 4:22 ESV

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.

References:

https://bibleproject.com/learn/2-timothy/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/investopedia/2011/04/12/10-strange-will-and-testaments/?sh=5cbb66826b10

Chin, Richard Captivated by Christ: Seeing Christ Clearly in the book of Colossians. Mathias Media, 2019.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

deSilva, David Arthur. An Introduction to the New Testament: Contexts, Methods and Ministry Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2004.

Dever, Mark the Message of the New Testament: Promises Kept, Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2005

Gromacki, Robert G. New Testament Survey. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1974.

Wiersbe, Warren !. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books 1996.

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