2 Tim Chapter 2.

2 Tim Chapter 2.

In an address on this chapter, I would make mention of the name, Pastoral (shepherding).  The Pastoral Epistles were written to men shepherding the churches.  The Pastoral Epistles are the last three Epistles that Paul wrote.  They were written after his Roman Imprisonment mentioned by Luke in Acts.

           

The order of writing was 1 Timothy, Titus and, finally, 2 Timothy.  In 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul is free, but in 2 Timothy we note that he is in prison again.  2 Timothy is Paul's last Epistle.  He knows the end is near.  His life course is about run and the good fight is nearly over.  But he still has in his heart the care of all the churches and he is anxious for the preservation of the Christian faith.  Paul now looks for a successor.  It is only natural that he should do so.  The Churches need leaders.  Each generation must educate the rising one in the truths of Christianity.  Only thus can the faith be preserved.

           

Paul looks to Timothy.  Certain Christian prophets had spoken concerning Timothy and the special work that was to be his.  The hands of the presbytery had been laid upon him.  He was in some sense Paul's successor.  This is not `apostolic succession', as ecclesiastics understand it. 

           

The Epistle is occupied with Timothy's special charge.  The idea of a special charge to preserve Christian truth and the Christian way of living, by preaching and teaching.

           

Some have thought Timothy a timid person, but I think it more correct to speak of him as a well-tried veteran.  Paul's exhortations to Timothy, to exercise courage and strength, are best under-stood in the light of the greatness of the responsibility that was now being placed on his shoulders.  And this responsibility was made much more difficult by the fierce persecutions that Christians were now suffering under Nero and also by the falling away of so many, and the invasion of false teaching.

           

Some Critics deny the Pauline authorship of these Epistles.  We do not deny that there are some real difficulties.  The Critics feel that Paul's exhortations to Timothy seem artificial and overdone.  They think it strange that Paul should have exhorted a trusted fellow labourer in this way.  These two men had spent many dangerous days and nights in the service of Christ.  Why should Paul now speak to him as if he was only a common local parson very apt to fall down on his job?

           

Paul's language will not seem strange if we consider the special difficulties connected with the new charge given to Timothy.  Timothy must carry on Paul's work not just in respect of the care of the churches, but also in making preparation for the continuance and preservation of Christian doctrine and tradition. 

           

Timothy might well feel his unfitness.  He might well shrink from such a responsibility.  The possibility too that he might soon follow Paul in suffering martyrdom was obvious.  In days of persecution, leaders would be singled out for special attack.  Hence Paul writes in a special and authoritative way urging him to fulfil his ministry.  Timothy may also be regarded as a representative man.  All who preach the Word in some measure share in the same charge.

           

2:1.  Timothy must be strong.  A similar word was spoken to Joshua who was to succeed Moses. 

"Thou" - "yes you," entrusted with special ministry. 

"Therefore" - because you have received the Spirit of power.  

"My child" - Paul exhorts him as a father exhorts his son.

"Be strengthened" - become continually the recipient of strength which is not your own.  Be continually strengthened by the grace which is in Christ Jesus.

           

The best commentary on these words is found in 2.Cor.12, "My grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in weakness."  For only Divine Grace could give Timothy strength, and that grace is available only in Christ Jesus.

2:3-6.  Three Parables:

             a.  The Parable of the soldier.

             b.  The Parable of the athlete.

             c.  The Parable of the farmer.

The three parables teach one vital lesson - that nothing is achieved without wholehearted effort.  No task, ambition, office, charge, or calling in life is crowned with success without a certain consecration and devotion to the work.  The attainment of anything worth-while, and the doing of anything with any worth, requires a readiness to suffer hardship, a necessary self-discipline and patient work.

           

In each parable there is a reward, but it is a reward that can only be obtained by consecrated effort.  This is true of the three parables.  For all three parables emphasize the need of consecration to the task in hand.  In each parable some particular aspect of this wholehearted consecration is emphasized.

             

a.  The soldier.  The soldier must "endure hardness."   This is an active word.  It refers to the hardships a soldier meets in doing his duty.  The soldier must "rough it." The soldier does not expect an "easy life."  His occupation means the sacrifice of many luxuries and comforts.  The soldier must be ready to face danger, suffering and privations.  He is ready to face the worst. He is content with his lot. He does not attempt to improve the standard of his living by entangling himself in business affairs.  He is willing to forego anything that would hinder him from doing his duty to the entire satisfaction of his Commander.  The only reward he seeks is that he may please his Commander.  The word `please' has something of the force `to be of use to his commander.'

           

Verse 4, does not mean that Timothy is to do no manual work to support himself.  Some have understood the verse in that way and have said that the simple meaning of the verse is that Timothy must take a stipend and be content with it.  That is to read more into the verse than what is really there.  Paul says “no soldier,” and he is talking about a Roman soldier and what was expected of a Roman soldier.  The Roman law forbad the Roman soldier from carrying on any business that would interfere with his calling.  The soldier was an excellent illustration of consecration to duty and Paul takes the soldier as an illustration - an illustration of a man willing to face difficulties, trials, hardships, dangers and death, in the fulfilment of his duties.

           

We understand the parable of the soldier to mean for Timothy, first, that he has a ministry, and the fulfilment of it may bring him much hardness and suffering.  Secondly, that since his ministry requires the consecration of all his talents, energy and time, he must not let the earning of the necessary things for the support of his life spoil his ministry.  The soldier must be content with his pay.  He is content with a soldier's life.  Timothy must be prepared to `rough it' and to do without luxury.  To obtain the comfort, luxuries, etc. of the day, would get him involved in making money.  It is only too true that the craze of high living and the desire to have all the luxuries of life is perilous to a godly Christian life and testimony. 

           

The verse must not be taken to mean that Timothy must not do any manual work for his support. Simply that he, like the soldier, is a man wholly consecrated to his calling, (the reference to his being entangled in earning a livelihood, is to complete the picture of the soldier's devotion to his service as a soldier). As such, the soldier is an example to Timothy of the need of consecrated service.

           

b.  The Athlete.  The Parable of the athlete with the Greek verb used is cognate with our word `athlete'.  The Greeks originally used the word `athlete' of a wrestler. The athlete was not crowned except he had striven lawfully.  The famous Games held by the Greeks had rules governing the contests, their training and the conduct of the contests.  These rules must be strictly kept.  No man who had not wholly obeyed them could expect to be crowned.  Take for example, the Olympian Games:

* the competitors must first do 10 months training in a gymnasium

* they submitted to a rigid course of training

* there were rules about their diet, bathing, etc.

The training called for obedience and for self-discipline.

           

On the morning of the athletic events, the athlete went into the Council Hall and declared that:

* he was a true Greek

* that he had committed no religious or civil offences

* that he had thoroughly fulfilled his course of training. 

All these things the athlete must prove by witnesses.  If he had not fulfilled these conditions he could not lawfully win the crown.  To strive lawfully is to fulfil the conditions of the contest.  It consisted in doing a long period of hard training.  It meant sacrifice, self-discipline and strenuous work.

           

No untrained man could win the prize.  There was no such thing as `a dark horse.'  The olive crown was for him who had lawfully won the contest.

           

What is the lesson of the parable of the athlete?  Its lesson is that of effort, training and self-discipline expressed in obedience to the rules of the Games.  Training consists in obedience to some fixed schedule of work.  The contestant in the Games is a consecrated man - he is fulfilling the ambition of his boyhood days. All his life he has been keeping and preparing himself.  Whole-hearted Christian service is impossible without obedience to the Lord.

           

c.  The Farmer.  The farmer is a man who tills the soil.   The farmer who laboureth must first receive his reward.  His labour is the first charge against the fruit of the land.  Conscientious toil must have its reward, and be the first to be rewarded.  Whatever share that others may have in the fruit, the foremost share belongs to the labouring husbandman.  Labour must have its reward and the foremost reward must go to the toiler.  Thus the effort, toil, labour, industry, has the first claim to reward.  And the reward comes to the man who has carefully and conscientiously laboured. The farmer is a lesson to us.  To obtain his desired reward, he must plan, toil and carefully attend to his charge.

           

So the three necessary things to bring success: the `rough-faring' of the soldier, the prolonged training of the athlete, and the conscientious toil of the farmer - things most necessary to successful Christian service.

           

2:7.  "See that you don't miss the point that I am driving at.  The Lord will make it clear to you, providing you are really desirous to do His will."

           

2:8.  "Remember Jesus Christ" - "if you find it difficult to understand the lesson taught by the soldier, the athlete and the farmer, remember Jesus Christ, and in so doing, you will grasp the true meaning of it all."

           

"Remember Jesus Christ”  Why is this verse "shot in," here?  Paul is about to speak of his own example, but feels it to be a reverent necessity and most fitting to call to our minds the supreme example of service and suffering. The wording of this verse is designed to emphasize the human life and experience of Jesus Christ. The first word "remember" points us back to the past, to His life, death and resurrection.  "Remember" takes us back.

           

"Jesus Christ"  This name occurs here only in the Epistle.  Our attention is directed to His sojourn on earth.  

"Of the Seed of David" - His humanity.

"Raised from the dead" - His exaltation (in his human nature).

           

He was really Man, descended from the line that had been a root in a dry ground.  He was the Suffering-Servant of Jehovah.  Paul draws our attention to His humanity and His ministry. Although marked by great suffering was rewarded with life and victory.  Paul would not allow anybody to think that the human experience, life and suffering of Jesus Christ had little place in his thinking, but rather that these things were vital truths of the Gospel that had been committed to him.

           

2:9.  Jesus Christ has provided for His servants a pattern of service.  They who serve the Lord must continually remember Him.  We need to remind ourselves that the One whom we serve was the Suffering-Servant.  Whenever we remember Jesus Christ, we remember One who has suffered.

           

Christ is our Leader, but Paul could rightly feel that he had in some measure followed Jesus Christ.  Paul had suffered great things for His Name.  In the service of Christ (or in the service of the Gospel), Paul had suffered unto bonds.  He had not suffered as Jesus Christ suffered, but he had suffered unto bonds.  Paul was in prison.

           

The word "suffered" is the same as translated "endure hardness,"

2:3. Paul was a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  He suffered much trouble and was in chains, treated as a malefactor.  Paul was confident that the cause for which he fought was not a losing one.  The Word of God is not bound.  Christian history has confirmed this fact.  God's servants may be imprisoned and slain, but the Word of God is not overthrown.

           

2:10.  The conviction that God's Word will abide and will conquer nerves Paul to endure all things for the sake of the elect.  What a great man Paul was and how much he was prepared to suffer.  Paul may include in "the elect" not only those saved at the time, but also those about to be saved. The Salvation that is obtainable in Christ Jesus is of such transcendent greatness that we might well wish and strive that all the elect might obtain it.  For it is a salvation attended with eternal glory.  The conviction that all was not in vain, encouraged and nerved Paul to endure all things for the elect's sake.  The true workman looks for only one recompense, and that is the success of his work.

           

2:11.  All through the verses we have considered the leading idea or aim is to strengthen Timothy for a ministry that will entail much hardship and suffering.  "If we had died together."  This must mean "if (or since) we died together with Christ."  Some understand these words as part of a martyr's song, and think the reference is to dying as a martyr.  I think it refers to baptism.  Paul's thought may be that in baptism we confess ourselves ready to suffer for Christ.  Paul may be thinking of Christians as soldiers anxious to serve their Commander, and in baptism, enlist to suffer, even to die if need be, on His behalf.

           

"We shall live together."  See Rom.6:4-5.  We shall live even now in newness of life and shall also share in the likeness of His resurrection.  "We shall live." - Because He lives, we shall live also.

           

2:12.  "If we endure."  - Remain steadfast.  The disciples must endure to the end.  If we endure suffering, we shall reign with Him.  The crown is not to be obtained easily.  The Olympian runner must endure much training to obtain his crown.  The Crown that Jesus wears is that which He wears as the Lamb who was slain.  He who is crowned with glory and honour first experienced the suffering of death.  It was the wearer of the `Crown of thorns" who was deemed worthy to wear the crown of glory.

           

"If we deny Him." - The words of this little hymn become more intensive as we read them.  The words become more demanding, each couplet is more solemn and more dreadful.  What is this denial?  Is it that of Peter's?  The defection of a man who stumbled because he relied on his own courage, zeal and strength?  Or is it the formal denial of Christ, i.e. rejecting Christianity when confronted with persecution?  Is it the backslider or the apostate?  I think it is apostasy.  The rejection of Christianity, when trial comes.  Matt.10:33, If we deny Him, then he will deny us.

           

2:13.  "If we believe not, etc." - This verse is difficult.  It seems possible to give two quite different interpretations of the verse:-

           

a.  The faithfulness may be regarded as a matter of comfort, whatever our defection in believing.  Some who understand the verse in that way take it to mean that if we deny Christ, then He will deny us. But not every kind of faithlessness will cause Christ to reject us, He will remain

faithful in spite of our unbelief.

           

Some good points are to be said for this interpretation. Firstly, it seems difficult to associate God's faithfulness with our destruction.  Secondly, it creates no tension with the doctrine of the eternal security of the believer.  Thirdly, this view of the verse would be a bullkwark to God, in fierce trial, when faith is so apt to falter.  The faithfulness of God braces the believer to face persecution, being assured of final Salvation.

           

b.  But the faithfulness of God may be regarded as God's consistency with Himself, whether acting in severity, or in mercy.  In this case, His severity, upon those who believe not.  God always acts in perfect consistency with His own Person.  He cannot condone unbelief. He is always consistent.  He cannot deny His own Nature and Person.

           

This view is a very serious one and, if it is the correct meaning of the verse, then the verse becomes one of the most terrifying in the whole of Scripture.  It is hard to decide between these two interpretations, but I have a feeling that the second view is the correct one.  For Paul the zero hour had come.  He is issuing his final battle orders - and it is difficult to think that he would provide any words of comfort to deserters.

           

2:14.  The work of the ministry consists to a large extent in putting Christians in remembrance of those things so vital to their Christian life. 

           

"Solemnly charging" (diamarturomenos).  The servant of the Lord must speak with authority.  He must give grave and practical instructions.  Christians must be instructed in the true nature of the Church's mission.  Word-fighting is only a hindrance.  There is no profit and no use in such `logomachies'.  They only harm the hearer.  The Christian must "hold fast the Word of sound words,: (1:13).  "Wholesome words."

           

2:15.  "Study," - "be diligent," "hasten."   "Rightly handling."(R.V.).  Paul is not talking about methods of Bible-study, but about right methods of ministering the Word of God.  It is the correct handling of the Word of God in ministry. Timothy is to be diligent to present himself to God as an approved workman, one who need not be ashamed of his workmanship, but in a straightforward manner. 

           

The words "approved workman," suggests that Paul had some kind of skilled workman in mind, a mason squaring blocks, a ploughman making a straight furrow, a roadmaker cutting a road before him, a tentmaker cutting true to the pattern.

           

"Rightly dividing."  Literally "straight-cutting."  The emphasis is on straight.  Straight right.  "Rightly handling."   This verse suggests:

a.  The ministry Of the Word requires diligence.  The Lord's servant must be diligent.  This takes up the lesson from the soldier, athlete and farmer.

b.  The Ministry of the Word requires a real sense of our accountability to God.  Timothy must "show" himself to God.

c.  The Minister of the Word must not be content with anything less than God's approval.

d.  The Minister of the Word must be an approved workman.  An approved workman is one who rightly divides the Word of Truth.

e.  The Minister of the Word must aim at straightforward exposition of the Word.

f.   All ministry is essentially a ministry of the Word.

           

2:16.  The Preacher must shun (stand off from) vain babblings (empty utterances and so worthless).  The vain babblers (empty preachers) shall advance to greater degrees of impiety.

           

2:17.  The Word (discourse) of the vain babblers shall eat as a gangrene, R.V.  Two vain babblers are mentioned by name.  Hymenaeus (1.Tim.1:20), and Philetus, have missed the mark.  They were poor marksmen.

           

2:17.  The word `eat' is `pasture'.  It was used of a flock pasturing.  The word came to have a wider use, i.e. of a fire devouring.  It is not necessary to preserve the idea of pasturing here, but I have a suspicion that Paul does use it with something of that sense.  By the choice of this word he leaves the suggestion that the vain babblers are false shepherds, who by means of their preaching are feeding themselves on the flock.

           

2:18.  Some interpreters think they looked upon baptism as fulfilling the doctrine of the resurrection. 

           

2:19.  The firm foundation of God stands.  It has stood and remains standing.  Paul's faith and confidence is most remarkable.  The tide was going against him.  He was in prison.  Persecution raged at Rome.  Many were falling away.  Churches were becoming alienated from him.  False teachings were making serious invasions.  Well might Paul be dismayed.  We might expect him to be dejected and hopeless.  No.  How grand is his faith.  The firm foundation of God stands.  Apostasy may sweep along, the churches may appear fickle, perilous days were coming.  The firm foundation laid by God stands.  The aged apostle has not lost his faith.  He is not down in the dumps.  He still believes, still prays and still speaks words of power and courage.  He is certain, yes, he was never more certain, that the firm foundation that God laid stands.

           

What is this foundation?  Probably the inscriptions give a clue.  The word may translated inscription or seal.  It is both an inscription and a seal.

           

What is the inscription that seals?  It has two sides.  One side is "the Lord knoweth them that are his."  Apostas\cy, persecution and error may abound, but the Lord will always have faithful servants - men and woman who know Him, hear His voice and follow Him.  The other side of the seal is, "Let everyone that nameth the name of the Christ depart from unrighteous-ness."  These two inscriptions indicate the true nature of the foundation.

           

Paul had seen apostasy, but he had witnessed the steadfast faith of those who endured to  the end.  The foundation of God stood and could not be swept away.  Nero was exciting the persecution of the Christians.  Many probably fell back, but Paul had seen enough to assure him that the firm foundation of God stood.

           

The preaching of the babblers was like a gangrene, an eating sore, that fed upon the flock rather than fed them.  The leading babblers had missed the mark in regard to vital truth, but Paul says, "Notwithstanding (mentoi), the firm foundation of God stands."  'Stand' is an emphatic word.

           

The foundation has this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His.  Those who are on the Lord's side, they are known to Him.  He will not forget them.  They are His own.  A seal speaks of security and ownership and destiny.  This great truth `stand', "the Lord knoweth them that are His." - This is the seal that cannot be broken.  A seal speaks of:-

a.  Security.  "The Lord knoweth them that are His."  What security these words hold for us.  There is no disciple that is not known to the Lord.  He will never overlook any of His people.  We shall never be forgotten by Him.  Persecution, trial and suffering may come our way.  Let us not think that it is unknown to Him.  The Lord knoweth His own people.

           

b.  Ownership.  "The Lord knoweth them that are His.  That is, a possessive pronoun.  We all want to feel that we belong to someone.  There is no comfort like the assurance of belonging to God.  The Lord knoweth, yes, He knoweth all things, but what gives comfort is that He knoweth them that are His. 

           

c.  Destiny.  There is something purposeful behind His knowing.  He knoweth them in that He will take note of them - to bless them.  It is impossible to think of the people of God without thinking of their destiny.  Only the people of God are assured of a destiny.  The inscript-ion is twofold.  The first side says, "Let (imperative) everyone that nameth the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity.  The second side of the inscription seems to show the means of verifying the first inscription.

           

The Lord truly and without mistake knows all who are His own.  But that is no guide to us as to who are really the Lord's.  There are many who name the Name of the Lord, and how shall we determine whether they call upon the Lord with a pure heart.  There is a guide.  There is a mark by which we may in some measure determine who are the Lord's.  "Let everyone that nameth the Name of the Christ depart from unrighteousness.   

           

2:19-22.  The passage has in view separation from unrighteousness, more especially than that of separation from unrighteous men.

           

2:22.  The many kind of desires that mark young men, are to be fled from.  But he is to pursue practical righteousness, trustworthiness, love of the brethren, and those things that make for peace.

           

2:23.  He must pursue a ministry that will promote peace, rather than strife.  Useless controversy must be avoided.  The nature of Christian truth calls for proclamation rather than debate.  There were many sophistries which were the subject of endless debate.

           

2:24.  The servant of the Lord must not strive.  He must avoid debates and controversy.  "He must be gentle."  Gentleness is as important as zeal.  One has said that the Lord's servant must sometimes be zealous, but he must always be gentle.  Timothy wasn't to come the bounce.  He must avoid throwing his weight around.  How often we witness the disruptive effects of zeal.  An evangelist comes to an assembly, he is full of zeal, he swings the majority, he adopts an aggressive policy to those who don't fall for it. 

           

"Apt to teach."  Both ready and skilful in teaching.  The ministry contemplated in the Epistle, is largely a teaching ministry.

           

"Patient."  Patient to wrong.  Be patient when wronged.  An unusual word.  These verses emphasize the necessary qualities of a spiritual teacher.  I wonder what modern educationalists think of them. 

           

2:25.  The Teacher labours.  Fruit comes from God.