2 Timothy Chapter 4

2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Paul encouraged Timothy to preach the word of God.  To fully teach the word, Timothy would need to teach with patience and both encourage and exhort people along with rebuking some who were headed off course. The time came then and it is just as relevant today, that people will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, they would look for teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear.  The phrase “according to their own desires” reveals that this passage was addressing the same issue that Paul had discussed in the previous chapter.  The people heard and received the gospel, that Jesus had paid the penalty for their sins.  But they did not want to hear teaching about holiness; they wanted to walk according to their own desires, even though they were born again.  The truth that they were turning away from was that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit; we were bought with a price and should glorify God in our bodies instead of giving ourselves over to sinful desires. We see this same theme repeated again and again in the epistles of the New Testament.

Paul told Timothy to endure any afflictions or persecution that arose because of the gospel.  Even though Timothy was the pastor at Ephesus, he was to do the work of an evangelist and get people saved by preaching the gospel.

    

 2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

Paul was close to the time of his death.  He said he fought the good fight, he finished the race, he had kept the faith.  Paul had held on to the faith that we are made righteous by grace through faith in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He had held on through all the persecution and trials that he faced.  He did not get caught up in the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, or the desires or lusts of the flesh.  He lived a life that was fruitful and pleasing to God.  There was laid up for him the crown of righteousness.  Even though Paul had been faithful, he wanted to receive the crown of righteousness.  Righteousness is still the free gift of God to us in Jesus Christ.  

2 Timothy 4:9-22 “Be diligent to come to me quickly; ¹⁰ for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. ¹¹ Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. ² And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. ¹⁴ Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. ¹⁵ You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. ¹⁶ At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ¹⁸ And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! ¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. ²⁰ Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. ²¹ Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. ²² The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”

Paul was abandoned by some during his trial.  It is interesting that Paul said to get Mark and bring him, for he was useful to him in ministry.  This was Mark who had abandoned him on his first missionary journey.  Others did Paul much harm.  Ultimately, God stood with Paul and strengthened him and the gospel was fully preached through Paul, so that all the Gentiles might hear.  The bottom line of what we can do to affect the lives of people is to sow the seed of the gospel in their lives, so that it might bear fruit and God can confirm His Word as they believe.

Keith Oliver