April 14th

II Timothy 1

This second letter to Timothy is like the first letter…it is occupied with the exercise of the ministry within the local church.  It was written soon after the first letter.  Paul was in prison at Rome…he did not expect to be freed again except by his “departure to be with the Lord.  This is the last writing of Paul preserved to us.  We can see Paul’s final attitudes.  Never does the apostle shine in nobler light.  His passion for the great work to which his whole energy has been devoted is strong as ever upon him.  This parting letter would be read often and especially by ministers and other Christian workers…never was its message more needed than today.  Paul’s great concern was not for himself it was for Timothy and the success of the Gospel ministry. 

Timothy was timid, suffered from physical ailments and was tempted to let other people take advantage of him and not assert his authority as a pastor.  It would not be an easy task for Timothy to succeed. 

We have seen that the first letter was a “charge”; this second one develops into a CHALLENGE…a challenge to fortitude and faithfulness in face of present testings and of further testing which were yet to come.  It is orderly writing.  The first 2 chapters are about the Christian pastor and his true reactions to PRESENT testings.  The last two chapters concern the pastor’s reactions to age-end troubles.  In chapter 1, the aspect is the pastors PERSONAL reactions; while in the remaining verses of chapter 2, it is that of his PASTORAL REACTIONS.  In each section, there is CHALLENGE and INCENTIVE. 

CHALLENGE:  Stir up, Be not ashamed, Be strong, Endure. 

INCENTIVE:  REMEMBER and in Paul’s own moving example. 

In the two letters, the gist of the CHARGE is that Timothy shall GUARD something which Paul in COMMITTING to him.  This something is called, “the deposit”.   Remember that Paul clearly defines the ‘DEPOSIT” IN THE FIRST LETTER 1:11.  The deposit is the Christian faith…the glorious Gospel, the truth. 

Paul’s own departure is close at hand.  He can look back over the years and say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have HELD INTACT the faith.”  But for the future, he must give this solemn, written charge to his dearest son in the faith, Timothy.  With this new sense of responsibility, Timothy is now to GUARD this priceless, vital DEPOSIT of Christian truth, he is to preserve it, protect it, proclaim it. 

The order of the charge:  I Tim. 1:11 The “glorious Gospel of the blessed God” is entrusted to Paul.  Paul “deposits” it in and as a special CHARGE to Timothy 1:18.  Paul exhorts Timothy 5:20 “GUARD the deposit”.  He will “guard the deposit  II Tim. 1:12 (the One he has believed).  Timothy is further to DEPOSIT the treasure of truth to other faithful trustees who are “able to teach others also 2:2

Much is repeated in these two letters.  THE FAITH, TEACHING, TEACHERS, DOCTRINE.  Teaching and doctrine are the same word in the Greek.  Appears about 14 times…THE SACRED DEPOSIT IS TO BE GUARDED DOCTRINALLY.  The leaders whom Timothy is to gather around him must be men who are APT TO TEACH. 

But WHY all the emphasis on “THE DOCTRINE” and the urgent necessity of TEACHING it?  Many warnings I Tim. 1:3, 1:7, 4:1, 6:3, II Tim. 4:3, 4: 3,4

The word Godliness is given importance:  3:5 “…holding a mere form of Godliness, but having denied the power thereof.”

I and II Timothy are a solemn voice for our own time.  I Timothy mentions often that SOME have turned aside 1:6, 19, 5:15, 6:10 6:21.  II Timothy Some has become ALL 1:15, 4:16.  Paul is striking a crisis-point…a critical challenge. …first a break away and second marks a break down.

Paul’s 2 letters give a PROPHETIC PHOTOGRAPH of our own 20^th century Christendom.  We, the Lord’s Timothys, ought to be studying them and praying over them again today!  They are precious at ANY time…yet their peculiar reference to the age-end days of ours gives them an urgent interest and significance such as they can scarcely ever have had before.  “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

Paul gave Timothy three essentials that he must possess to have success:

*COURAGEOUS Enthusiasm  1: 1-7:

Paul expressed his love for Timothy v. 1-2; Paul prayed for Timothy v.3-4; Paul had confidence in Timothy v. 5; God gave Timothy a gift! V. 6-7  It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to serve God and through Him, we can overcome fear and weakness.  HE gives us power for witness and for service.  It is futile for us to try to serve the LORD without the power of the Holy Spirit.  Talent, training and experience cannot take the place of His power.  Timothy did not need any new spiritual ingredients in his life; all he had to do was “stir up” what he already had.  The Spirit within him would give all the power needed for ministry.  Just as He does for each of us born agains today!!!

*SHAMELESS Suffering v. 8 – 12Paul was not ashamed, he admonished Timothy not to be ashamed and he reported that Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul’s chain…

Be not ashamed of the Lord’s testimony v. 8 – 10.  God gives us power…suffering may well be a part of a faithful Christian life.  Christians should not suffer because they have done wrong, rather, they sometimes suffer because they have done right.  When we suffer for doing good, then we are sharing Christ’s sufferings.

God has called us by His grace v. 9.  The emphasis is on GRACE,  God saved us…we did not save ourselves.  He called us, not on the basis of our good works, but wholly on the basis of His grace. 

Christ has defeated death v. 10.  Christ has “abolished death” made it inoperative, taken out the sting.  But He was also the Revealer of life and immortality.  Through the Gospel, Jesus has given us assurance of eternal life, resurrection, and the hope of heaven.  Our present body is corruptible, it dies and decays.  But the glorified body we shall have when we see Christ will not be subject to decay or death. 

Be not ashamed of the Lord’s prisoner. V. 11-12.  The people at Ephesus acted ashamed of Paul and the fact that he was a prisoner.  Paul gave Timothy four reasons that he should not be:  *Paul was called by God v. 11.  Paul was an apostle…one sent with a commission.  *Paul was a teacher of the Gentiles.  He shepherded local churches.  Even tho’ the word Gentiles is what had imprisoned him, the Gentiles did not want to stand by him who had brought them the good news.  *Paul was confident in Christ v. 12.  Paul emphasized the Person of Christ “I know WHOM I have believed.  Salvation is not the result of believing certain doctrines,…tho important…a sinner is saved because he believes/receives the Lord Jesus Christ.  In these difficult days, it is important that we stand true to Christ and be willing to suffer for Him and not be ashamed.  … And that we stand by God’s servants who are suffering for righteousness’ sake.

*SPIRITUAL Loyalty v. 13-18  Paul called upon Timothy to follow his example:  Be loyal to God’s Word. 13-14 “hold fast”.  Satan has always opposed God’s Word, “Yea, hath God said?” and he continues to ask that question.  When a church or any other Christian organization goes liberal, it usually starts with a weakening of their leaders’ convictions about the Word of God.  Be loyal to God’s servant v. 15-18.  False doctrines were spreading in the church… Paul would have loved to be free to preach the Word and defend the faith, but he was a prisoner…It was up to Timothy to get the job done.  Many had deserted Paul.  But there was one man who dared to leave Ephesus and come to Rome to assist Paul – Onesiphorus!

Every pastor is thankful for those faithful members who assist him in the work of the Lord.  Onesiphorus traveled from Ephesus to Rom and diligently looked for Paul so he might minister to his needs.  He located him and risked his own life to stand with him and assist him.  Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul’s chains.  He could have found many excuses for staying in Ephesus.  “He often refreshed me.  How we thank God for Christians who are a “breath of fresh air” in our hours of need/trial. 

The essentials for a successful ministry have not changed:  courageous enthusiasm, shameless suffering, and spiritual loyalty.