Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Paul's Final Instructions to Timothy


INTRODUCTION

            Paul’s main reason for corresponding with Timothy was to give his last instructions to him on continuing in the Christian life. 2 Timothy is an extremely personal letter that reveals Paul’s steadfast love and care for Timothy. He encourages him to use the spiritual gifts that he received by the laying on of hands by Paul. He wants him to be strong in the face of adversity and affliction because Paul understood that to stand for Christ would bring persecution.  Timothy needed to maintain a strong allegiance to Christ. He needed to dispense the Word of God precisely and exactly teaching others the truth of the gospel. Paul knew only to well the hardships of ministry. He had walked through the hardships and the struggles that are faced as one walks in the path laid out by Christ. One must be able to stand and endure these things faithfully for the sake of Christ and the gospel.

            The words spoken at the end of one’s life are words that will ring clear and true. We listen carefully as the last hour approaches and death is a certainty. It is at this point that the person will give their most important words of guidance. Paul wrote from his harsh confinement in a Roman prison knowing that his time was short. He gave very explicit directions to Timothy reinforcing the importance of our commitment to God and the procedure used to carry out His work. Paul speaks to Timothy of the last days and what to expect. Paul’s life was being “poured out as a drink offering to God”, and he encourages Timothy to be watchful, endure suffering and finish his ministry.

            He longs to see Timothy before he dies. He speaks of his feeling of abandonment as he faced his accusers, but the Lord stood with him and strengthened him. (2 Timothy 4:16-17). “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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 all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4: 7-8).

OVERVIEW OF HISTORICAL CONTEXT

            Paul was in Ephesus for three years establishing a church, and when he was preparing to leave he called the elders together to speak to them. Acts 20 records his words. He tells them that there will be danger for the church from outside of the church and from within the church. “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore, watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Acts 20: 27-31).

            Acts 28 finds Paul in Rome under house arrest. This allowed him the freedom to entertain friends and to minister to those who came to visit with him. He spent two years under house arrest, and it was during this time that he wrote letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Luke never says what happened to Paul’s case. Luke ends Acts with Paul still under house arrest. The dates of his arrest would be A.D. 60-62.

            It is difficult to say exactly where Paul went after his release from prison. We do know that Paul and Timothy went to Ephesus only to find false teachings in the church. Paul took the strong action that we see in 1 Timothy 1:18-20: “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.” Paul left Timothy in Ephesus and continued to Macedonia. Paul was confident in Timothy’s ability to handle the situation, and to teach sound doctrine (1 Timothy 1:3).

Paul’s second imprisonment was harsh. Paul was in chains according to 2 Timothy 1:16 and 2:9. It is believed that 2 Timothy was written in A.D. 67 just prior to Paul being martyred by Nero. “It is, therefore, recorded that Paul was beheaded in Rome itself, and that Peter likewise was crucified under Nero. This account of Peter and Paul is substantiated by the fact that their names are preserved in the cemeteries of that place even to the present day.”[1]

PAUL’S FINAL INSTRUCTIONS TO TIMOTHY

            Timothy was one of Paul’s converts, and traveled with him for many years. Timothy’s godly mother Eunice and grandmother Lois built a foundation for Paul to build on. Paul trained Timothy and began to give him more and more responsibility. “There is ample evidence that Paul wholeheartedly appreciated the selfless devotion with which Timothy supported and served him for the rest of the older man’s life.” [2]I hope in the LORD Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel” (Philippians 2:19-22).  Leaving Timothy in Ephesus was a huge step for Paul to take and as his spiritual guide he wrote letters to Timothy to give instruction. 2 Timothy becomes even more meaningful when one realizes that this is his final instruction to Timothy. “It begins by reminding Timothy of his relationship with Paul and his similar calling. He is to follow Paul’s model (1:11-13; 2:8-10; 3:10-17; 4:6-7) as he prepares to join Paul...Within the NT it is 2 Timothy that concludes the Pauline story.”[3] This was a letter from a caring spiritual father. Paul was a father in great need himself as he faced the loneliness and hardship of the Roman prison, but a father who was determined to give the final words of guidance to his spiritual son. The picture of Paul’s emotional state reminds us of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane where His sweat became like big drops of blood. Paul speaks of “being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6b).

            Paul’s final instructions to Timothy are beneficial to us today. He tells Timothy: “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7). All these things would be beneficial to Timothy’s ministry.  Paul advised Timothy to revive the spiritual gifts that are in him. In 1 Timothy 4: 14 he is told not to neglect the spiritual gift that was given to him. “The Spirits presence is the crucial matter, but that presence does not automatically ensure a quickened, fervent Spiritual life. Both individuals and the church as a whole are exhorted to keep the gift aflame.[4] When God gives us a gift we are responsible for the use of it. The gift should be exercised by use and should be used with diligence in our ministry wherever God has called us. At times it takes a deliberated effort to use our gift in a way that is pleasing to God and furthers his kingdom here on earth. It is through the Holy Spirit that we receive our gifts and are emboldened to use them. God’s Spirit does not give fear, but gives us the power to use our gift, and love to spread about, and a sound mind or self-control so we are effective witnesses of His power and love. We must never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ. “For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed unto Him until that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

            Paul tells Timothy to be faithful. Paul accentuates Christ’s strength working in Timothy not Timothy working in his own strength. Paul wanted exponential growth which meant Timothy passed the message to righteous men who passed it on to others who would pass it on, and on and on it goes causing exponential growth. When Paul led people to Christ he did not just walk away but cared for them to bring them to maturity. This is what Timothy was doing.

Paul uses three example of faithfulness which makes us feel the importance of this. He uses a soldier, athlete, and farmer. “Metaphorical use of the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer to encourage commitment, self-control, discipline and preparedness occurs elsewhere in Paul (1 Cor. 9:7; Eph 6: 11-17; 1 Thess. 5:8) and more widely in the secular ethical writers. Structurally, each example encourages a specific mode or quality of behavior and links it to a goal that the practice of that behavior will obtain.”[5] We are in spiritual warfare. Our enemy, the devil, is on the prowl like a lion seeking someone to devour.

Athletes do strenuous training to prepare for the competition. “He is to look above in the text to the overriding requirement made of him-suffering. The attempt to avoid suffering, or situations that might lead to suffering, would amount to a breach of the rules.”[6] They must compete within the rules that are set if they are to win. “Paul makes reference to the adherence to the rules of the games in 2 Timothy 2:5: “And if a man also strives for masteries, yet he is not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”[7] We as believers must walk in God’s way in all faithfulness.

Farmers are hard workers. To bring in a crop takes persistent work and care. It is than he gains an abundant crop. “The activity of “hard work” connect with the theme of singlemindedness (the soldier) and discipline (the athlete), so once again the example does not endorse just any kind of activity but specifically diligent and focused activity.”[8]  These are all illustrations of the faithfulness and hard work and study that must go into the ministry of the individual. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Paul gives an illustration of the great house that has vessels of gold and silver and wood and clay. “Some of honor and some of dishonor” (2 Timothy 2:20b). Timothy is to serve the Lord the Master in the power of the Holy Spirit to further his kingdom here on earth. We must be useful to our Master. He tells Timothy to “flee also youthful lusts, but to pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2: 22). “Paul underlines more than anything the goal of producing changed lives so that people within the “household” might be transformed from opposing to serving Christ. Timothy’s own behavior and the choices he must make are still in view.”[9]

Timothy is to continue to correct those in opposition to the truth. He tells Timothy to be gentle and humble and not quarrelsome. Paul’s hope is that they will come to repentance, and once again live and walk in the truth. Paul was a missionary, and deeply concerned about the young churches continuing mission in the world. He was training men to continue with his work. Christ was the foundation that the church was built on, but the apostles were the men building on this foundation, and the men they trained would have to carry on the teaching. “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” (2 Timothy 2:2). The men trained by the apostles would need to train others that would follow in their footsteps. In the Old Testament God instructed the Israelites to tell their children, so that the message would pass from one generation to another. “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Duet. 6:4-9).

 Christ gave the “Great Commission” and the apostles were carrying this out as we as believers must do. Paul was insuring that Timothy was well taught and would be able to pass the message on. They are to focus on missions and evangelism, but more then that they must teach the gospel message in all truth and faithfulness. They were not to add or subtract but teach the truth as it had been taught to them. “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” (2 Timothy 4:3). Paul’s instruction to Timothy were important because there is nothing more important than the life-giving message of Christ. “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy1:13).

APPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

It is important today to exercise the gifts that the Holy Spirit bestows on us. “The church must not ignore the great spiritual needs around it, either by becoming exclusively self focused or by targeting only certain exclusive segments of unbelievers.”[10] Christ died for all people through all generations. We must walk in the Spirit, because walking in the Spirit is to use the gifts that the Spirit has given us to bring people to Christ. We do not work in our own strength, but through the strength given to us by Christ. We are completely dependent on him for our very breath. It is difficult to realize that we can do nothing and have nothing without Christ. We consider ourselves very independent, and yet we exist because God allows it.

Faithfulness is an important attribute. It speaks of commitment, self-control, discipline and preparedness. All these things are important as we walk with Christ fulfilling his will for our lives. We are in a spiritual warfare and are told to put on our spiritual armor. One can listen to the news and see and here of the wars and rumors of wars. There is even warring between neighbors, and in relationships. These are all the war for this world. Satan would take it for himself. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Like Timothy we are to stand in opposition to those stand against the truth of the Gospel. There must be sound teaching which means staying in the Word, so we know the truth and cannot be deceived.

“Faithfulness characterizes God’s loyalty to his covenant people and becomes a divine requirement pressing upon humans the need for a similar loyalty in their relationship with God.” [11] He was faithful to his covenant people and he is faithful to the church. As Christians our faithfulness is to God. Our loyalty belongs to our Savior. “We can have green leaves in drought and be like a tree planted by the river of waters and bring forth fruit and green leaves and prosper” (Psalms 1:3). We are to plant the seeds of the gospel. The seeds must be planted if you are to have a crop. The things that were true for Timothy are still true for us today. The Word must go forth in truth, and we must stand strong against false doctrine.

CONCLUSION

            Paul was very serious about the importance of passing the message to the next generation accurately. Teaching is of the utmost importance. It is through teaching that the “Great Commission” is carried out. The apostles are gone, but due to their commitment to the teaching of the gospel, and their willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ, because they had young men like Timothy who shared their passion for reaching the world for the Lord we have the Word available to us.

            Paul understood that to stand for Christ would bring persecution. He knew the hardship connected to the preaching of Christ. He encouraged Timothy to stand firm. He speaks to Timothy of the last days and tells him to fulfill his ministry. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Paul does not sugar coat the prospects for Timothy, but Christ did not sugar coat it for us. “Remember the word that I said unto you. The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20).

            Timothy had to have felt the loneliness of his beloved mentor and knew that he (Timothy) had chosen to walk the path that God had laid out for him. Timothy was imprisoned for a time for his faith. The end of Hebrews says he was set free. Paul spoke with candor to Timothy as he shares his thoughts and feelings. He had run a long hard race, but now his reward was imminent. “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 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” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

           

                                                                BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Bruce, F.F. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977.



Burge, G. M. “Faithfulness”. Edited by Walter A. Elwell. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2001.



Eusebius of Caesaria. “The Complete Works of Eusebius of Caesaria.” (Toronto, Ontario Canada: Public Domain, March, 2016), Kindle Book: Book 2, chapter 25.



Fee, Gordon D. Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 1996.



 Hoyt, Samuel L. The Judgement Seat of Christ. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Grace Gospel Press,

                         2011

           Platt, David. Exalting Jesus in 1&2 Timothy and Titus. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing,

                          2013.



Towner, Philip H. The Letters to Timothy and Titus. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Williams B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2006.











[1] Eusebius of Caesaria. “The Complete Works of Eusebius of Caesaria.” (Toronto, Ontario Canada: Public Domain, March, 2016), Kindle Book: Book 2, chapter 25.

[5] Ibid., 492.
[6] Ibid., 494.
[8] Phillip H. Towner. The Letters of Timothy and Titus. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Willian B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2006), 295.
[9] Ibid., 543.
[10] David Platt. Exalting Jesus in 1&2 Timothy and Titus. (Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Publishing, 2013), Kindle.

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