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Teaching Notes 2 TIMOTHY 1 to 4
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The first Quarantine in the USA since 1918 continues. I have completely lost count of the days at this point. It is 24 or something.
We made joke. We did not have any Palm Branches for Palm Sunday. So, we held up Cat Grass. (No offense to the real King :)
"The grass withers and the flower [fades], but the word of [the Lord] endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8."
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ll TIMOTHY
Written by Paul while in Prison to Timothy (at the church in Ephesus).
One of 3 Pastoral Books by Paul. They are: 1 Timothy, Titus and 2 Timothy.
Paul was in his final Imprisonment in Rome before he was executed. Thus 2 Tim would have been written about 66AD or 67AD. There no extant papyri (scholars correct me on this if I am wrong). However, there are many many copies in the Greek and later the Latin. Complete copies of all of 2 Timothy appear in Codex Sinaiticus.
Paul was in his final Imprisonment in Rome before he was executed. Thus 2 Tim would have been written about 66AD or 67AD. There no extant papyri (scholars correct me on this if I am wrong). However, there are many many copies in the Greek and later the Latin. Complete copies of all of 2 Timothy appear in Codex Sinaiticus.
Paul’s Final Word
His Dying Shout of Triumph
The book of Acts closes with Paul in prison in Home about the
year 63 A D. The common belief is that he was acquitted.
returned to Greece and Asia Minor, was later re-arrested. taken
back to Rome, and executed about 66 or 67 A D. This Epistle was
written while he was awaiting martyrdom.
Background of The Epistle
The Neronian Persecution. The Great Fire in Rome occurred
S4 A D. Nero himself burned the city. Though an inhuman brute.
he was a great builder. It was in order to build a new and
grander Rome that he set fire to the city, and fiddled in glee at
the sight of it. The people suspected him; and historians have
commonly regarded it as a fact that he was the perpetrator of
the crime. In order to divert suspicion from himself he accused
the Christians of burning Rome.
The Bible makes no mention of Nero’s persecution of Christians.
though it happened in Bible times and is the direct background
of at least two NT books, I Peter and II Timothy, and was the
persecution that brought Paul to his martyrdom, and, according
to some traditions, Peter also. Our source of information is the
Roman historian Tacitus. He knew that the Christians did not
burn Rome. But somebody had to be made the scapegoat for the
Emperor’s crime. Here was а new and despised sect of. people,
mostly from the humbler walks of life, without prestige or influ-
ence, many of them slaves. Nero accused them of burning Rome,
and ordered their punishment.
In and around Rome multitudes of Christians were arrested and
put to death in the most cruel ways. Crucified. Or tied in skins
of animals, and thrown into the arena to be worried to death
by dogs, for the entertainment of the people. Or thrown to the
wild beasts. Or tied to ’stakes in Nero's gardens, pitch poured over
their bodies, and their burning bodies used as torches to light
Nero’s gardens at night, while he drove around in his chariot,
naked, indulging himself in his midnight revels, gloating over the
dying agonies of his victims.
It was in the wake of this persecution that Paul was re-arrested,
in Greece or Asia Minor, possibly at Troas, II Tim 4:13, and
brought back to Rome. This time by the agents of Rome, not as
at first by the Jews. This time as a criminal, 2:9, not as at first on
some technical violation of Jewish law. For all we know, it may
have been in connection with the burning of Rome. For was not
Paul the world leader of the people who Were being punished
for that crime? And had not Paul been in Rome for two years
just preceding the fire? Very easy to lay this crime at Paul's
door. But whether that was the charge we do not know. His-
trial had proceeded far enough that he knew there was no
hope of escape. While waiting in the Roman dungeon for the
“time of his departure” he wrote this last Letter to Timothy. his
bosom friend and trusted co-worker, begging him to be faithful,
in spite of everything, to his trust as a minister of Christ, and to
hurry on to Rome before winter, 4:21.
Paul's Note of Triumphant Faith
In that dark hour is one of the noblest passages of Scripture.
Being executed for a crime of which he was not guilty. His
friends forsaking him, and leaving him to suffer alone. The cause
for which he had given his life being blotted out in the West
by persecution, and in the East going into apostasy. Yet no hint
of regret that he had given his life to the service of Christ and
the Church. No hint of doubt but that the Church, though now
apparently being defeated, would eventually be triumphant. And
no hint of doubt but that the moment his head would be cut
from his body he would go straight to the arms of HIM whom he
had loved and served so devotedly. This Epistle is the exultant
cry of. a dying conqueror.
Chapter I. “I Know Him"
His Prayers for Timothy, 3-5. Paul opens almost every Epistle.
thus: prayers and thanks: Rom 1:9-10; I Cor 1:4-8: II Cor 1:3-4;
Eph 1:3; Pps 1:3‚9—11; Col 1:3-10; Thes 1:2-3; II Thes 1:3. “Thy
tears". 4: probably at their separation at Troas, 4:13. When Paul
wrote I Tim he was in Macedonia and Timothy was in Ephesus.
Possibly they later met at Troas, and possibly it was there that
the Roman soldiers seized Paul and hustled him off to Rome on
the humiliating charge of setting fire to the city.
Paul’s Assurance, 6-14. He had seen Christ. He had suffered for
Him. Christ, though unseen, was the one unquestioned reality of
Paul’s life, his intimate actual companion, and he “knew him", *
12, as one knows his best friend. “Preacher, apostle, teacher";
11:
“preacher”, proclaimer of the Gospel to those who never heard
it, foreign missionaries; “apostle”, with direct personal authority
from Christ; “teacher”, instructor of settled Christian commun—
ities, our pastors.
The Disaffection at Ephesus, 15-18. This was one of the saddest
things in Paul’s life. In Ephesus, where he had done his greatest
work, and almost turned the whole city to Christ. the false
teachers had so gotten the upper hand that they were able to
make capital of Paul's arrest to turn the church against him, at
the time of all times when he needed their love and sympathy.
II TIMOTHY
Chapter 2. Advice lo Timothy
Avoid Business Entanglements,1-7.
Paul advises Timothy to
take pay for his work as a minister, the very thing which Paul
for the most part had refused to do, before the churches had
become established. Possibly Timothy had been of a well-to-do
family, and had by now lost his money in persecutions. Being
reticent about the matter, he may have needed this advice.
Endure Suffering. 8-12. Paul, at that time, was enduring the
cruelest of all suffering for a good man, the charge of being a
criminal, 9. But notice, his mind is on “eternal glory”, 10 The
quotation, 11-13, may have been, from a hymn.
Handle the Word Correctly 14-21.
Do not distort its natural
meaning to bolster pet doctrines. The Church will depart from
the teachings of the Word. But within the historical visible
Church God will have a remnant of true believers, 19.
Be Gentle, 22-26. God's Word, in
the hands of a ministry
possessed of true Christian gentility will break down opposition
and hold the Church in its true course.
Chapter 3. 'Grievous' Times
Coming Apostasy, 1-14. The
determined effort of mankind to
corrupt the Gospel and thwart the. work of Christ is one of the
burdens of. the New Testament. It is spoken of again and again,
Mt 7:15-23; II Thes. 2; I Tim 4;
II Pet 2; Jude; Rev 17. The
terrible picture, 2- 5, with the exception. of temporary periods
of reform, is a fairly correct picture of the Visible Church as
a whole to this present time. “Jannes and Jambres”, 8, traditional
names of the magicians of Pharaoh, Ex 7: 11—22. “Lystra”, 11, was
where Paul was stoned, the home' of Timothy, which stoning
Timothy may have Witnessed. “All shall suffer persecution”, 12:
we are told that over and over, Mt 5: 10-12; Jn 15. 20; Acts 14. 22;
I Thes. 3:4; so that when it comes. We may be prepared for it.
The Bible. 14-17, is the one
antidote against Apostasy and
Church Corruption:
The Roman Church pushed the Bible aside,
2 TIM 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in
righteousness, 17 so that the servant
of God[a] may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
The Roman Church pushed the Bible aside,
and brought on the Dark Ages. The Protestant Church re-
discovered the Bible; but now neglects it.〝 Widespread disregard
of the Bible by the present-day Church is simply appalling.
Many prominent church leaders not only neglect the Bible, but
with great intellectual pride, in the name of “modem scholar-
ship", resort to every conceivable means to undermine its Divine
Origin, and toss. it aside as a patchwork of "Hebrew
Thought".
Chapter 4. Paul's Last Words
Solemn Farewell Charge, 1-5. Paul knew the day of his
execution was approaching. Not sure that he would ever see
Timothy again, or even have the opportunity to’ write him an-
other letter. He begs him to keep his mind on the day of the,
Lord's appearing, and to preach Jesus with unceasing diligence.
Again false teachers, 3,4: That
bothered Paul. The per-
verse determination of men to corrupt the Gospel of Christ.
Paul’s Valedictory, 6-8. Grandest utterance of the grandest
mortal man that ever lived. The battle-scarred old warrior of
the cross, looking back over along and hard and bitter fight.
cries out in exultation, “I have won”. Not long afterward the
executioner’s ax released Paul’s soul from his worn, and broken
body to be home away by flights of angels to the bosom of his
beloved Lord. We imagine his welcome home to heaven sur-
passed any triumphal procession he had ever witnessed in Rome
to returning conquerors. Our guess is that when he got to heaven,
his very first act, after a rendezvous with the Lord, was to hunt
up Stephen to beg his forgiveness.
Personal Matters, 9-22. Whether
Timothy got to Rome before
Paul’s martyrdom, 9, we do not know. The first stage of Paul’s
trial had already passed, 16. Things looked so bad for him that
even three of his four companions in travel fled, and Luke alone
remained, 10,11. Whether Titus went to Dalmatia, 10, of his own
accord, or was sent by Paul, as he and Paul may have planned in
Nilopolis, Tit 3:12, is not stated. Those were dark days in Rome.
Known Christians had been murdered. Now they had the great
Christian leader himself on trial. It was dangerous to be seen
with him. “Mark”, 11: Paul wanted him. They had separated
years before, Acts 15:36-41‚- but he had been with Paul in his first
Roman imprisonment, Col 4:10. Mark and Peter worked together,
and if. Mark got to Rome, possibly Peter did also. One of the
traditions is that Peter was martyred in Rome about the same
time as Paul or soon after. The “cloak". 13: winter was coming
on, 21. and Paul needed it. The “books", 13, probably were parts
of the Scripture. “Alexander", 14. was no doubt the same Alex-
ander whom Paul had “delivered to Satan", I Tim 1:20, who now
had his opportunity to get even. And he did. He had journeyed
all the way from Ephesus to Rome to testify against Paul, which
he did with considerable success. The verse 17, may be a veiled
reference to Nero, or it may refer to Satan, I Pet 5:8. “Trophi-
mus". 20: this is a very interesting sidelight on Paul's power to
work miracles. He had in various places healed multitudes. But
here was one of his own beloved friends he could not heal.
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From The Bible Project (c)
2 Timothy 1 New International Version (NIV)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with
the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Thanksgiving
3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear
conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4
Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I
am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel
6 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.
7 For the Spirit God gave us does
not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
8 So do not be
ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join
with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and
called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of
his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the
beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our
Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed
a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am.
Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am
convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with
faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to
you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty
15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me,
including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he
often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when
he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord
grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in
how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.
2 Timothy 2 New International Version (NIV)
The Appeal Renewed
2 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust
to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me
in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a
soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his
commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not
receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The
hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7
Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David.
This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being
chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure
everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation
that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Dealing With False Teachers
14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God
against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who
listen.
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15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
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15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but
also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.
21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special
purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love
and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t
have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they
produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be
kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently
instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a
knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape
from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
2 Timothy 3 New International Version (NIV)
3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving,
slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4
treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such
people.
6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over
gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of
evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the
truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers
oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is
concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the
case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
A Final Charge to Timothy
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my
purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what
kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions
I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who
wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while
evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being
deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become
convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from
infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for
salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Footnotes:
2 Timothy 3:17 Or that you, a man of God,
2 Timothy 4 New International Version (NIV)
4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living
and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this
charge:
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time
for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
Personal Remarks
9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved
this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to
Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him
with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to
Ephesus.
13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will
repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him,
because he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone
deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side
and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed
and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to
his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19 Greet Priscilla[a] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20
Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your
best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus,
Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.[b]
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
Footnotes:
2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
2 Timothy 4:21 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi)
refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.
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New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Some content adapted from Halley, Henry H., Bible Handbook, Grayson Publishing, Minneapolis, MN. © 1927 - 1959, 1964
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Hugh C. Wood, Atlanta, Georgia
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