2 Timothy 4.2a-Timothy Must Publicly Proclaim with Authority the Word of God During Favorable and Unfavorable Circumstances
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Tuesday August 18, 2015
Second Timothy: Second Timothy 4:2a-Timothy Must Publically Proclaim with Authority the Word of God During Favorable and Unfavorable Circumstances
Lesson # 85
2 Timothy 4:1 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, 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. (NASB95)
“Preach the word” is composed of the following: (1) second person singular aorist active imperative form of the verb kērussō (κηρύσσω), “preach” (2) articular accusative masculine singular form of the noun logos (λόγος), “the word.”
The verb kērussō means “to publicly proclaim something as a herald in a dignified and authoritative manner which commands the respect and attention of those who hear it.”
Therefore, this verb indicates that Paul is commanding Timothy to “publically proclaim with authority” the message from God to the Christian community.
It speaks of Timothy “publicly proclaiming” the message from God as a herald of God in a dignified and authoritative manner to the church which commands the respect and attention of the Christian community.
The aorist imperative form of the verb kērussō is a constative aorist imperative which emphasizes solemnity or urgency of the action and does not stress “beginning an action,” nor “continuing to act.”
The idea is that one must “make this their top priority.”
Therefore, the aorist imperative form of this verb is emphasizing how important it is for Timothy to publically proclaim with authority the message from God to the Christian community as a herald of the King, Jesus Christ.
The aorist imperative expresses the idea that this is to be a top priority in Timothy’s life.
It expresses the fact that this command is very solemn and expresses the critical nature of this command.
The noun logos means, “word, message” and refers to the content of the message of the Old Testament and the gospel which Timothy was to faithfully make it his habit of teaching accurately.
It refers to the divine revelation that was communicated through the apostolic teaching which was communicated to the Christian community in Ephesus by Timothy and is now recorded in both the Old and New Testaments.
“Be ready in season and out of season” is composed of the following: (1) second person singular aorist active imperative form of the verb ephistēmi (ἐφίστημι), “be ready” (2) temporal adverb eukairōs (εὐκαίρως), “in season” (3) temporal adverb akairōs (ἀκαίρως), “out of season.”
At this point in Second Timothy 4:2 the apostle Paul is employing the figure of asyndeton which is emphasizing the solemn nature of this second command and its critical importance for the success of Timothy’s ministry and the spiritual growth of the church.
There are two different interpretations of the verb ephistēmi.
Some interpret the word as meaning “to continue in an activity in spite or presumed opposition” while others interpret this verb as meaning “to be present in readiness to discharge a task”.
The phrase εὐκαίρως ἀκαίρως, “in season and out of season” also has two different interpretations.
The temporal adverb eukairōs has been interpreted by some to mean “conveniently, convenient opportunity” while others interpret it to mean “favorable circumstance”.
The temporal adverb akairōs has been interpreted to mean “inconveniently, inconvenient opportunity” while others interpret it to mean “favorable circumstance”.
This problem can be resolved by observing Paul’s statement in Second Timothy 4:3-4 which contains the noun καιρός, “the time.”
The noun καιρός, “the time” speaks of adverse circumstances in the church when many Christians will not endure sound doctrine and will listen instead to false doctrine.
Therefore, this would indicate that the temporal adverb eukairōs means “favorable circumstance” and the temporal adverb akairōs means “unfavorable circumstance.”
Consequently, the verb ephistēmi means “to be present in readiness to discharge a task” rather than “to continue in an activity in spite of presumed opposition” since no opposition is implied when there are favorable circumstances.
The second person singular form of this verb is a reference of course to Timothy.
It is also used with reference to the gospel message.
Therefore, this verb indicates that Paul is commanding Timothy to make it his top priority of always being prepared to publically proclaim with authority as a herald the message from God to the Christian community during favorable circumstances and unfavorable circumstances.
The aorist imperative form of the verb ephistēmi is a constative aorist imperative which emphasizes how important it is for Timothy to always be ready to publically proclaim with authority the message from God to the Christian community as a herald of the King, Jesus Christ.
The aorist imperative expresses the idea that this is to be a top priority in Timothy’s life.
It expresses the fact that this command is very solemn and expresses the critical nature of this command.
Second Timothy 4:1 I solemnly charge in the presence of God (the Father) as well as the Christ who is Jesus, who is inevitably going to judge the living as well as the dead and in addition by His appearing as well as by His kingdom to make it your top priority of publically proclaiming with authority as a herald the message. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority of always being prepared to perform this task whether the circumstance is favorable or unfavorable. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority to convict. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority to rebuke. I solemnly charge you to make it your top priority to exhort with a patience which is absolute as well as by means of instruction. (My translation)
The apostle Paul issues five commands in Second Timothy 4:2.
Now, all of these commands in Second Timothy 4:2 are strictly related to Timothy’s function toward the Christian community and not the non-Christian community which is clearly indicated by Paul’s statements in Second Timothy 4:3-4.
These statements in Second Timothy 4:3-4 are all with reference to the Christian community because sound doctrine is only applicable to the Christian rather than the non-Christian since it is teaching regarding the Christian way of life and the non-Christian needs to hear the gospel for their salvation or justification.
Not enduring or tolerating sound doctrine implies that these individuals once tolerated it.
However, a non-Christian never tolerates sound doctrine in the first place because it is not applicable to them.
Also, Paul says that these individuals turn away from the truth in verse 4 which only a Christian can do because they accepted the truth through faith in Jesus Christ whereas the non-Christian has never accepted the truth who is Jesus Christ.
The first command required Timothy to make it his top priority to publically proclaim with authority as a herald the message from God which is contained in the Old Testament as well as the gospel of Jesus Christ which today is contained in the Greek New Testament.
Timothy was to publicly proclaim the message from God as a herald of God in a dignified and authoritative manner to the church which commands the respect and attention of the Christian community.
“The message” refers to the content of the message of the gospel and the Old Testament which Timothy was to faithfully make it his habit of teaching accurately.
It refers to the divine revelation that was communicated through the apostolic teaching which was communicated to the Christian community in Ephesus by Timothy and is now recorded in both the Old and New Testaments.
The second command required Timothy to make it his top priority of always being prepared to publically proclaim with authority as a herald the message of the gospel to the Christian community during favorable circumstances and unfavorable circumstances.
The unfavorable circumstances are described by Paul in Second Timothy 4:3-4 and thus, they would involve the Christian community not tolerating sound teaching from the Word of God.
It would also include the Christian community wanting to have their ears tickled resulting in their bouncing from teacher to teacher because of their own sinful desires.
Lastly, it would involve rejecting the truth contained in the Word of God and also turning aside to myths or false doctrine which are nothing but myths.
Consequently, the favorable circumstances would be when the Christian community accepts and embraces sound doctrine.
It would also mean that the members of the Christian community are not restless and don’t bounce from teacher to teacher to fulfill their own sinful desires.
They reject false doctrine and remain faithful to the teaching of the Word of God.