[2Timothy]

‐Introduction‐Overview1)1:1‐7RememberandStayStrong2)1:8‐18AHolyCalling3)2:1‐7ALifeofEndurance4)2:8‐13AFutureHope5)2:14‐26PowerofWords6)3:1‐9AppearancescanbeDeceiving7)3:10‐17TheRealThing 8)4:1‐8ItchingEars9)4:9‐22MinistryisPeople

Cornerstone

WrittenbyMilesO’NeillandErinSmith

Leader’sGuide

2TIMOTHYINTRODUCTION 1

Welcometothebookof2Timothy.This‘Pastoral’EpistleisagreatbooktostudyasagroupandIamexcitedthatyouaretakingthetimetoleadothersthroughit.ItisoneofthethreePastoralEpistles,1stTimothy,2ndTimothyandTitus.WhileitcomesbeforeTitusintheBible,mostscholarsbelievethatitactuallyfollowsTitusinitschronology.ThereforeitisprobablythelastletterwehaveofPaulasheanticipateshisdeathimminently.4:6‐ForIamalreadybeingpouredoutasadrinkofferingandthetimeofmydeparturehascome.Lastwordsarealwayssignificantandoftengiveusanoverarchingglimpseintothepassionsofthespeaker.Thisiswhatwehaveherein2Timothy.Paulissoontoleaveandhegiveshislastinstructionstothechurchhehasgivenhislifefor.Itisanexcitingbook.WesitontheprecipiceofthebeginningsoftheChurchofJesus.ItischallengingasPaulexhortsTimothyandusaswelltostaythecourseandtonotbetimidbutliveoutthegracethatwehavebeengiven.ThefamousscenefromBraveheartcomestomind.WilliamWallaceinfrontofhisgatheredtroopsstirringtheirheartstoactionforthecauseofthehomeland.Here,PaulstirsourheartstoactionforthecauseoftheGospel.Yourtaskasaleaderwillbetotakethelessonsthatfollowandusetheframeworktoleadtheparticulargroupyouhaveaccordingtothelevelandpacethattheycanhandle.Youcanaddordeletequestionsinordertotailorthestudytoyourparticulargroup.Sitdownaheadoftimeandgothroughthelessonsyourselves.Usearedpenandwriteinthemargins.Whatarethequestionsthatyouhaveasyoureadtheletteralongsidethelessons?Wherewouldyouwanttogodeeper,wherewouldyouwanttosimplyreadthecommentsincluded?(Readtheincludedarticle‘AskingChristCenteredQuestions’togainvaluableinsightintoaskinggoodquestions).Thereisalotofroomtousethestudyasaframeworkandmakeityourown.Furthermore,Ihighlyrecommendpurchasingthe1and2Timothy/TituscommentaryintheNIVApplicationCommentaryseries.YoucanfinditonAmazonforabout$15.Itwillhelpyougainrichinsightintototheletterandgiveyouconfidenceasyouleadthroughit.Inthisstudy,youwillfindthatweareattemptingtofocusonsomekeyelementsofwhichyoumusthelpyourgroupsee.Firstofall,youwanttohelpthemseeaprocessofstudyingtheBible.Youwanttohelpthemseethatcontextishugelyimportanttounderstandingtheauthor’sintentions.YouwanttofocusoncertaindetailsofthetextbutzoomoutoftentohelpthemseewhereitfitsintoPaul’sreasoningandtheflowoftheletter.Evenmorethanthat,wheredoestheletterfitintothestoryofthewholeBible?ThisistheperhapsthenumberoneweaknessIfindasstudentsapproachtheBible.Theyignorethebiggerpictureandfocusinonparticularphrasesoftenmisinterpretingtheminthecourse.Inlightofthisthereisashortquiztotakebeforeyouenterintothestudyofthebook.Theseandotherapplicationquestionsaremarkedwitha

2TimothyIntroduction

2TIMOTHYINTRODUCTION 2

Secondly,youwillseeanintentiontobuildasolidfoundationintheChristianlifeontheGospel,thegoodnewsofwhatJesushasdoneforus.Itisboththestartingplaceandthecontinuingplacefromwhichallgrowthmusttakeplace.(AsTimKellersays,itisboththeABC’sandtheAtoZ’softheChristianlife)1.YouwillconstantlyseequestionsdirectedatbothPaul’sandthegroupmember’sinnermotivation.Iamattemptingtohelpyouleadpeopletoexposetheirheartsandnotjusttheiractions.SoyoumustalsohelpbuildafoundationinthebeautifulGospelofChrist’sloveandacceptancesothatChristbecomescompellingintheprocessofchange.Guilt,astandardofperformance,pressure,adesireforamoralorsatisfyinglifewillneverchangeaperson’sheart.OnlyasChristbecomesmorebeautifulandcompellingwillreal,timeenduringlifechangeoccur!Sounddifficult?Itis!Infactyoucan’tcauseit.YoucanbeapartandGodwantstouseyoutodoit,butrelax,yourpartisjustshowingupbeingprepared.GodpromisestouseHiswordtorichlyimpactlives.ThepressureisoffsoexperiencethefreedomoftheGospelasyouteachabouttheGospel!Finally,youwillseethatweattempttoasksomequestionsthatwillhelpyourgroupgrowindepthtogetherastheygrowdeeperintheirunderstandingofChrist.Prayoftenthroughthequestionsthathelppeoplerevealtheirheartswithone‐another.AsGodexposespeoples’hearts,theirsins,theirhopes,dreams,fearsandpains,anenvironmentthatcanreallypromotedeepchangebeginstoform.Aslightopensupintopeople’slives,Godsurgicallyremovespain,pressure,andheartacheandreplacesthemwithjoyandfreedom.Takestepsoffaithanddon’tshyawayfrominitiatingintimateconversationwherevulnerabilitycantakeplace.Andremember,youcanonlytakeyourgroupwhereyouarewillingtogoyourself.Attheendofthelastlesson,weaskthefollowingquestionsinreview.Youmaywanttokeeptheminthebackofyourmindduringthewholestudyandevenaskthemofyourgroupfromtimetotimeovertheweeksyoumeet.Theysummarizethelessonsthatcanbelearnedfromtheinspiredwordsofthisletterwell.

WhathaveyoulearnedaboutwhoGodis? Whathaveyoulearnedaboutwhoyouare? Whathaveyoulearnedaboutwhoothersare? Whathaveyoulearnedaboutwhatyouarecalledto? WhatheartmotivationsaretheretofollowChrist? SummarizehowPaulproposestohelptheChurchgrowinChrist?

2TIMOTHYINTRODUCTION 3

AskingChrist‐CenteredQuestionsThatTargettheHeartRickHoveIntheprocessofleadingasmallgroup,youwillemployawidevarietyofquestions.Youwillaskquestionsthathelpparticipantsseeimportantdetailsinthetext.Youwillaskquestionsthatencourageparticipantstowrestlewiththemeaningofthetext.Youwillaskquestionsthatencourageparticipantstoconsiderthesignificanceofwhattheyhaveread.Youwillaskquestionsthathelpparticipantsdiscoverthebigidea.Ideallyallofthesequestionsshouldpreparepeoplefortheapplicationthatisthegoalofyourstudy.AsyouleadpeoplerespondtoGodthroughhisWord,askChrist‐centeredquestionsthattargettheirhearts.Whyaskquestionsthattargettheheart?First,life‐changerarelyoccursfromsimpleknowledge.Thinkofallthethingsyouknowyoushoulddo.Youknowyoushouldexercise.Doesknowingthisinsureyouwilldoit?Youknowyoushouldcontrolyoureating.Doesknowingthisinsureyouwilldoit?Youknowyoushouldguardyourthoughts.Doesknowingthisinsureyouwilldoit?Youknowyoushouldshareyourfaith.Doesknowingthisinsureyouwilldoit?Life‐changerarelyoccurssimplyfrom“knowing”weshoulddosomething.Instead,life‐changeismoreoftenlikethis:knowledge⇒“wantto”⇒action.Someonecanknow,forexample,thatheshouldendaparticulardatingrelationshipbuthewillnotdoituntil,atsomelevel,hewantsto.Inotherwords,theheartiscentraltolife‐change.Thus,weneedtoaskquestionsthattargettheheartbothtoexposetheuglypartsofourheartsandalsotopointourheartstoChristsothatwewillwanttochangeinresponsetowhoHeis.Ifallthequestionsweaskinourstudyaremerely“knowledge”or“howto”questions,wewillnothelppeoplebecomewhoGodwantsthemtobe.Second,oneofthecentralmotifsoftheScripturesisthatGodwantsourhearts.MuchofChristianitytodayfailstotouchtheheart.Furthermore,therootofsinliesattheheartlevel–cursingGod,resistingGod,ignoringGod,makingourselvesGod,etc.WhenquestionstargetthehearttheyexposesinandpointthewaytothegloriousSaviorandtheawesomegospel.Whyaskquestionsthatare“Christ‐centered”?Fromthispointinsalvation‐historybelieversviewtheentireBiblethroughthelensofChrist.Thisisn’ttosaythatChristishidinginsomeobscureverseinLamentations.Rather,itissayingthatwereadLamentations,Psalms,MatthewandallScripturefromapost‐Christperspective,awareofwhoChristisandwhathehasdone.Christ,then,shouldbeatthecenteroftheChristianlife.Itonlymakessensethatour“sub‐text”shouldbe“Isn’tChristgreat?”OneofthemajorthemesoftheNewTestamentisourresistancetoChrist.Wemay,forexample,judgeothersbutattherootofthissinissomesortofresistancetoChrist.Makingquestions“Christ‐centered”getstoboththerootoftheproblemandthesolutiontotheproblem.Whatdo“Christ‐Centeredquestionsthattargettheheart”looklike?HerearesomeexamplesofChrist‐centeredquestionsthattargettheheart:•Thinkofsomeofthedarkestthoughtsthathaveevercrossedyourmind–thoughtswhichdeeplyhauntyou.

Christknowsthesethoughts.Howdoesthismakeyoufeel?•Whatareyouturningtoforloveinyourliferightnow?IfyouturnedtoChristforlove,

howwoulditaffectyourrelationshipswithothers?•ThinkofyourrelationshipwithChrist.IsChristmostoftenan“end”–theobjectofyourenthrallmentand

interest?OrisChrista“means”–someonewhoispursuedtogetyousomethingelse?Whyisthisthecase?

2TIMOTHYINTRODUCTION 4

•WhyisaslainLambwhoconqueredsobeautifulandworthyofadoration?•WhatarethingsapartfromGodonwhichyoubuildyouridentity?Ifyouridentitywas

inChristhowwouldyoubedifferent?

•What’sthemostsoul‐grippingthingyou’veeveranticipated...something,someperson,orsomeeventthatyouLONGEDfor?Tellusaboutit.DoyouLONGfortheappearingofChristwiththesamesoul‐grippingintensitythatyoulongforotherthings?Ifnot,whynot?

•ThegreatestinsulttoChristwasthecross.Itwastheplaceofgreatestshame.Hewasnaked.Hewashungasacriminalthoughhewasinnocent.Hewassuspendedonatreehemade.Hewastauntedbyjeerstosavehimself(likehecouldn’t).Isaiahputsitsopowerfully:“Hewasoppressed,andhewasafflicted,yetheopenednothismouth;likealambthatisledtoslaughter,andlikeasheepthatissilentbeforeitsshearersissilent,soheopenednothismouth.”Is53:7WhatisuniquelybeautifulaboutChristatthismoment?Or,putanotherway,howishisbeautydifferentatthismomentthan,say,whenheraisedLazarusfromthedead?WhatisbeautifulaboutaGodlikethis?

Althoughyoumightuse“Christ‐centered”questionsatvariouspointsinyourstudy,theywillbemosthelpfulasyoumoveto“application.”AsyouhelpyourgroupmembersrespondtoGodthroughhisWord,askquestionsthattargettheheart(especiallyheart‐resistancetowardGod)andpointthemtobeautyofChristandsufficiencyofthegospel.

2TIMOTHYINDUCTIVEBIBLESTUDYMETHOD 1

HowtoStudytheBible:InductiveBibleStudyMethodMilesO’Neill *InductiveBibleStudyMethodisamethodofstudyingtheBiblethathelpsguidetheprocessthroughasystemofstepsthathelpusgraspwhatabook’sauthorintendsforustolearnandapply.ThefocusofthemethodisinObservationtechniqueasdetailedbelow.IhavepersonallyfounditveryhelpfultohavesomeguidelinesandideasthathelpandmotivatemetoknowwhereIamgoingandhowtogetthemostoutofwhatIamreading.Thefollowingwillhelpexplaintheprocess,butaskastaffmemberformoredetailsasneeded.

HerearesomequotesestablishinganoverallthoughtinstudyingtheBible:‐“GodisbuildingakingdomofredeemedpeopleforHimself.”Unknownauthor‐“Establishthywordasthatwhichproducesreverenceinthee.”Unknownauthor‐“ForthewordofGodislivingandactive,sharperthananydouble‐edgedsword.Itpenetratesevento

dividingsoulandspirit,jointsandmarrow;itjudgesthethoughtsandattitudesoftheheart.”Hebrews4:12 Whatisthethemeofthesequotes?Whatissimilar?Different?

(ThesequotesservetocommunicatethattheBibleisdoingsomething!Itismoving,living,powerfuland

purposeful.WeshouldneverapproachtheBibleasabenignobject,ratherasalivingobjectusedbyGodtomoveusandchangeusandbuildHiskingdomonEarth.)

InductiveBiblestudymethod

Hook:Whichisthemostdifficultofthefollowing#1‐#3below?(Perhapsobservationisreallythemostimportant,ifwewoulddoitwell,itwouldleavefarlesstointerpretationandevenfiguringouthowtoapply,theapplicationwilljumpoutatusasweobservewell.)

Hook:Whichistheonewedothemostpoorly? (Especiallyoflate,therehasbeenwidespreadinterpretationwhichhasbeendoneverypoorlyandhasbecome

verydangerous...’JesusSeminar’,OpenTheismetc.Onceagain,ifwewouldobservewell,context,genre,intent,wewouldneedtointerpretfarlessandapplicationwouldbecomecompellinglyapparent.)

*Therefore,weneedtofocusonObservationasthekeytostudyingthescriptures.Therearecommentaries

writtenbyfarsmarterandmoreeducatedpeopletohelpusinterpretwell.FocushereonObservation.

1. Observation Context‐Oneofthecentraltasksofobservingwellistobeawareofthecontextinwhichaportion

oftheBiblewaswritten,(oranypieceofliteratureforthatmatter.)Thecontextinwhichaletterorbookwaswrittenhelpsusdeciphertheauthor’spotentialintentions.Ifwecandeterminethewriter’sintentions,ithelpsusseewhatheisactuallysayingandleadstointerpretingwellandalsoapplyingwell.ThustherearemanycontextualissuestobecomefamiliarwithasyouobserveabookoftheBiblewell:time,place,culture,andsettingoftheparticularwritingtonameafew.Then,onanevenbroaderscale,wemustalsolookatwherethewritingtakesplaceinlightofthewholehistoryofscripture.Asyoulookattheparticularsofacertainbook,findoutwherethatbookfitsincomparedtowhatallofscripturehastosayaboutGodoutworkingofHisdivineplan.Inlightofthatgreaterpicture,thisquoteisworthreading:

*”Scripture‐theOldandNewTestaments‐isthestoryofcreationandnewcreation.Withinthat,thereisthestoryofcovenantandnewcovenant.WhenwereadscriptureasChristians,wereaditpreciselyaspeopleofthe

2TIMOTHYINDUCTIVEBIBLESTUDYMETHOD 2

newcovenantandofthenewcreation.Wedonotreadit,inotherwords,asaflat,uniformlistofregulationsordoctrines.Wereaditasthenarrativeinwhichweourselvesarenowcalledtotakepart.Wereadittodiscover“thestorysofar”andalso“howit’ssupposedtoend.”Toputitanotherway,welivesomewherebetweentheendofActsandtheclosingsceneofRevelation.Ifwewanttounderstandscriptureandtofinditdoingitproperworkinandthroughus,wemustlearntoreadandunderstanditinthelightofthatoverallstory.Aswedothis‐asgroups,churches,andindividuals‐wemustallowthepowerofGod’spromisedfuturetohave

itswaywithus.AswereadtheGospels,wemustremindourselvesagainandagain[(oftheoverallstory]becausethepullofwesterncultureissostrongthatifwedon’titwillsuckusbackdownintodualism‐[thatthereisaphysicalworldandaspiritualworldandtheyaredisconnected,nottiedtogetherinonebigstoryastheBiblereallycommunicates]......itisthestoryofhowGod’skingdomwasestablishedonearthasinheaveninandthroughtheworkofJesus,fulfillingIsrael’sgreatstory,defeatingthepowerofevil,andlaunchingGod’snewworld.Aswereadtheletters,wemustremindourselvesthatthesearethedocumentsdesignedtoshapeanddirectthecommunityofthenewcovenant,thepeoplewhowerecalledtotakeforwardtheworkofnewcreation.AswereadRevelation,wemustnotallowthewonderfulheavenlyvisioninchapters4and5tolullusintoimaginingthatthisisthefinalsceneinthestory,asthoughthenarrativeweresimplytoconcludedwiththeredeemedcastingtheircrownsbeforethethrone.Thisisavisionofpresentreality,seeninitheavenlydimension.Wemustreadontotheend,tothefinalvisionofRevelation21and22,thechaptersthatfivefinalmeaningtoallthathasgonebeforeandindeedtotheentirecanon.Likewise,whenwereadtheOldTestament,wemustreadit‐asitmanifestlyaskstoberead‐asthelongand

windingstoryofhowGodchoseapeopletotakeforwardhisplantorescueiscreation,notthestoryofhowGodhadashotatcallingapeoplewhomhewouldsavefromtheworldandhowthiswasaborted,forcinghimtotrysomethingselse(acaricature,Iknow,butonemanywillrecognize).AndthismeansthatthroughtheOldTestamentmustbereadaspartof“ourstory”asChristians,wemustnotimaginethatwearestilllivingwithinthatmomentinthestory.Thestoryitselfpointsbeyonditself,likeasetofparallellinesmeetingintheinfinitelyrichnarrativeofthegospelsandthesuddenoutburstofnewlifeinActsandtheletters.[bracketsadded]‐SurprisedbyHope,NTWrightpp.281‐282

Wemuststudywholebookstounderstandthemessageinitscontext

(Illustration:readingaletterfromagirl/boyfriend.Whatifyoureadthemiddleparagraphsentencethatsays‘Ican’tstandyou,Idon’twanttobearoundyou!’Youcallthefriendandcussthemoutandbreakup!Theye‐mailyou,(youwon’tanswerthephoneofcourse...)andinwordsoftearsask,‘didn’tyoureadthesentencebeforethat’?Itread,‘Iloveyou!Icanneverimaginesaying‘........’!Context!Readitallinonesitting,don’tjustreadthemiddleanduse‘tweezertheology’(pluckingsomebitoutignoringthesurroundingcontext)oryoumayendupgettingthewrongmessage!)

“Wheneverwepickup theBibleandread it,even inacontemporaryversion like theGoodNewsBible,weareconscious of stepping back twomillennia or (in the case of theOT) evenmore.We travel backwards in time,behindthemicrochiprevolutionandtheindustrialrevolution,untilwefindourselvesinanalienworldwhichlongagoceasedtoexist.Inconsequence,theBiblefeelsodd,soundsarchaic,looksobsoleteandsmellsmusty.”JohnStott

*Therefore,asystemofstudyingtheBiblethatlooksforcontextualcluestotheauthor’sintentionsisveryimportant.TheinductiveBibleStudyMethodisjustthat.

StudyProcess:1.Firsttimereadthrough1xinonesittingtogainabroadfeeloftheletter.2.Readthrough2ndtimeandbeginrecordingthefollowinginajournal:Who,What, Where,When,Why

Who:Paul(vs.1) Where:FromprisoninRome

2TIMOTHYINDUCTIVEBIBLESTUDYMETHOD 3

When:AboutA.D.64? What:LivingunashamedlyforChristbyHisGrace Why:Thereseemstohavebeensomefalseteachingsbeingproclaimed.Paulsends

Timothytocorrecttheerrors.ThoughTimothyisyoungandhasatimiddisposition,PaulcallshimtoliveouttheGospelofgraceinabrokenworld.

3.Readthrough3rdtimefocusingonasearchforTHEMES.

(Ask,whatdoyouknowaboutthemesin2Timothy?Anyversesorsectionsyouknowof?Havethemworkonthisduringtheweek.UseTitus,1Timothy,and2Timothy.Havethemwritedownallthethemestheyfindwithreferences.)

Persecution/SufferingShame/PowerPoweroftheWordHandletheWordaccuratelyFinishStrongRememberyourstoryGiftofGodGraceforRightLivingSpiritualMultiplicationThelastletterofPaultohisunderstudyHardWork Soldier Farmer AthleteFoundationonChristHolyLivingKeepfromfoolishargumentsCulturalAwarenessLiveoutministry

*AkeytostudyingaPaulineletterisdiscoveringitstheme.Ifyouareconfusedaboutasection....rememberthethemetohelpinterpretit.

Inlightofthemainthemes,whymightPaulhavewritten2Timothy?(correctfalseteachinginthechurch)

HowaboutChapter1?(giveTimothyencouragementtoaccomplishthedifficulttaskthathewasbeinggiven)

HowaboutChapter4?

(admonitiontocorrectthefalseteachingwithsoundteaching)

4.ObserveRepeatedwords,Transitionwords.(Ask:Whataresometransitionwordsandwhymighttheybeimportant?ie.therefore,so,foretc.)‐Paulisusuallymakingastrongpointwithtransitionwords...ie.Chapter2:1(Ask:Whataresomerepeatedwordsthatyouhaveseenin2Timothy?

2TIMOTHYINDUCTIVEBIBLESTUDYMETHOD 4

Grace,Word,Ashamed,ChristJesus;theseallpointtosignificantthemesPaulisaddressingandthinksareveryimportant.)

5.ObserveQuestions,Confusingstatementsandideas. Writedownthequestionsandideasthatyouwanttopursuemoreatalatertime.6.LookforaControllingverse Selectaversethatyoucouldmemorizethatsummarizesthebookwell.Perhaps2Timothy4:1‐2?This

willhelpyourememberthethemeofthebookandhelpyouholdontothemainmessageandevenhelpyouliveandapply.5yearslateryouwillbeabletograspsomeofwhatyouhavestudiedasyoumemorizethecontrollingverse.

7.Outlinemainsections

ThisandthefollowingsteparethemeatofwhatyouwillspendtimeonintheInductiveMethod.OutliningiskeytogainingagraspontheintentionoftheauthorofNTwritings.Ifyouweretouseromannumeralsinanoutline,howwouldyouarrange2Timothy?Perhapsthereare4mainsections...5,6...Howwouldyououtlineitandwhatwouldyoucalleachsection?(thishelpsgainanoverallviewoftheletterandhelpsputthedetailsineachsectioninthelargercontextofwhatPaulisintendingtowrite.)

9.Outlinefurtherdetail Ifyouchose4mainsections...nowoutlineeachsectioninfurtherdetail.10.Diagramsections

Createagrammaticaldiagramforsectionsthatyoureallywanttodigdeeperinto.(Forinformationondiagrammingaskastaffmember).

11.DowordstudiesChooseakeywordanddigdeepertogainafullerunderstanding.‘InChrist’ismentioned31timesinEphesians...Paulmaybetellingussomething!?Tryanddigdeepertounderstandthatphrasebetter.Usecrossreferencestootherletters,lookitupinacommentaryyouownoron‐line,lookthewordsupinadictionary...maynotapplytothisphrase...Thiswillhelpyougraspthewordandmeditateonitssignificance.

12.CreateaChart

5Yearslater,whatwillyourememberfromtheletter?Creatingachartcangiveyouaquickglanceoverviewandrefreshyourmemoryyearslater.Beginwithyouroutlineofthemainsections.(BelowisthechartforEphesians.Useitasamodelbutmakeyourownfor2Timothyafteryoustudythebook.)Placethetitlesyouchooseunderthemainheading.Thenbrieflyoutlineeachofthe3headingsyoujustchoseunderthem.Dothatforallthesectionsyoucomeupwith.Finally,underthewholechart,writeoutyourcontrollingverse.Youhavenowcreatedachartthatyoucanquicklyglanceatandrememberalltheworkyouhavedoneinthebook.Atthispointyouwillreally‘own’thebookforyourselfforyearstocome.

2TIMOTHYINDUCTIVEBIBLESTUDYMETHOD 5

Ephesians

BeingChapters1‐3 DoingChapters4‐6

∙1:1‐2:10IdentityinChrist‐1:1‐3Intro‐1:3‐2:10Blessings

‐vv.3‐12:Chosen,Predestined,Redeemed,Revealed‐vv.13‐14:Spirit‐vv.15‐23:Knowledge‐vv.2:1‐10:Deathvs.Life

∙2:11‐22UnityinChrist‐vs.11:circumcision‐vv.12‐22:citizensofheaven

∙3:1‐21PurposeinChrist‐vv.1‐13Paul’scalling‐vv.14‐21Paul’sprayer

2.Interpretation

WhatistheAuthor’sBigIdea(ABI)giventhecontextinwhichthepassageisfound?AllinterpretationmustbedoneinlightoftheABI.Usecommentariestogetawiderangeofopinionsaboutconfusingquestions.(TryBibleGateway.comforasamplingofcommentariesforfree.

3.Application

• ViewofGod:WhathaveIlearnedaboutoneofthepersonsoralloftheTrinity?WhatdoIneedtobelieveaboutGod?WhatamInotbelievingaboutGod?WhataretheramificationsinmylifeofnotthinkingrightlyaboutGod?

• Action:WhatshouldIdoaccordingtotheBible?Isthereacommandtoobey?• Character:WhatshouldIbe?WhatmustIchangeifIamtobeholy?HowcanIbecomemorelike

Christ?Istherealessontolearn?Isthereasintoconfess?• Goals:TowhatcausesshouldIdevotemylifeenergy?WhatcanIdotochangetheworldsoitconforms

toGod'splans?• Discernment:Howcanwedistinguishtruthfromerror?HowcanIgaindiscernment?HowcanIgain

wisdomfromGodandthechurch?• Meditation:AskGodtorevealwhereHewantsyoutoapplythepassageyouarestudying.Memorizea

sectiontorememberandallowittopermeateyourheartandmind.

ControllingVerse:Ephesians2:8‐10Forbygraceyouhavebeensavedthroughfaith.Andthisisnotofyourowndoing;itisagiftofGod,notaresultofworks,sothatnoonemayboast.ForweareGod’sworkmanship,createdinChristJesusforgoodworks,whichGodpreparedbeforehand,thatweshouldwalkinthem.

2TIMOTHYINDUCTIVEBIBLESTUDYMETHOD 6

*Assignment:• Readarticle:‘TheMusicoftheGospel’byKeithJohnson• DotheApplicationofthenextsection‘2TimothyOverview’

SuggestedReading:

• HowtoReadtheBibleforallitsWorth,Fee/Stuart• God’sBigPicture,VaughanRoberts

2TIMOTHYOVERVIEW 1

(ToldbyJohnMacArthur)‐SomeyearsagoIhadthewonderfulopportunityofvisitingthemagnificentandratherstunningcityofRomeandspendingseveraldayswanderingaboutinthatgreatplace,seeingallthathistoryhastosayandtovisuallyrepresentthroughtheartandthearchitectureandthestructuresofthatancientplace.MymindwasstaggeredatthescopeofhistoryrepresentedinRomebecauseitgoesbacksomanythousandsofyears.IwasstunnedbythemagnificentarchitectureandthegreatworksofartthatIsaweverywhere,fromtheRaphaelstatuesinthelittleplazasofthecitytothegreatworksofartattheVatican.ButonethinginmyvisittoRomestoodoutaboveallotherthingsandthatwasvisitingtheruinsofwhatwasknownastheMamortine(?)PrisonintheancientcityofRome.WhenIsayruinsIdon'twanttomisrepresentthesituation.WhatisnowremainingoftheMamortinePrisonisadungeonintheground,literallyacircularpitabout30feetindiameterwithaholeatthetopalittlelargerthanthatofamanholeinthestreet.ThatwastheplaceofincarcerationforthecriminalsofthetimeoftheApostlePaul.Thatprisontodayhasontopofitabuildingandtoseetheprisonyouclimbthestairs,enterthebuildingandyou'regivenalittlebitofatour.Youlookthroughtheholeandyoucanseethepitunderneathwithitsstonefloorandstonewallsintheshapeofacircle.Wewerethenallowedtogodownintothepitandfoundtherejustacoupleofthingsofinterest.Firstofall,therewasanaltarbuilttherebysomeRomanCatholicsatsomepointinhistory.Andthenagainstonesectionofthatcircularpittherewasadoor,agreatlargedoorthatwasabletobepulledupandthendroppedbackdowninplace.Theguideinstructedusconcerningthealtarwhichhadbeenbuiltinsomewhatrecentcenturiesandthentoldusthatthedoorbasicallywasthereforexecutionpurposes,thatitwascommontoplaceprisoners,droppingthemthroughtheholeintothedungeon,uptoabout30to35prisoners.Andtheninordertomakeroomforthenextgroupofcriminals,thedoorwouldbepulledopenandrunningalongsidethatcellwasthecitysewagesystemofRome.Asthedoorwaspulledopen,thecellordungeonwouldfillwiththesewageanddrownalloftheprisonersandwashthembackout.Thedoorwouldbeshut,theplacewouldbedrainedandreadyforanother30to35criminals.Itwasamovingexperiencenotonlybecauseyoucouldstandthereandimaginewhatwentoninthatplacewithsanitation,withoutlight,withoutanyofthecomfortsthatwemightimaginetobeabsolutelynecessaryforexistence.Andyoucanimagineitjammedwith30bitter,angrycriminalsabouttobeexecuted.Butwhatmadeitsoverystunningwasthatoneofthepeoplewhohashadagreaterimpactonmylifethanalmostanyonewhoeverlived,oneofthemenwhohasbeenmyteacherinmanywaysthroughtheyearsofmyministry,oneofthemenwhomIlovebeyondothermenspentthelastdaysofhislifeinthatveryholeintheground.HisnameistheApostlePaul.AndIwasmoveddeepwithinmyheartasIcontemplatedhiminthatplaceawaitingexecution.InaverypublicdisplayofhatredfortheChristhetaughtandthegospelhepreached,hewasnotdrownedinsewage,hewastakenoutofthatplaceandhisheadwasplacedonablockandanaxecutitoffhisbody.AndpubliclytheRomanssaid,"WewillnottoleratetheteachingofJesusChristnoranyonewhorepresentsHim."AndwhenyoucanthinkbackandimaginethelifeoftheApostlePaul,alifeofself‑sacrificeonbehalfofthespreadofthegospel,thelifeofamanwholivedliterallytocommunicatethegreatestmessagetheworldhaseverheardinorderthatmenmightknowjoyandgraceandmercyandforgivenessandpeace,whenyouimaginethatthat'showheendedhislifeitseemslikesuchatragicandungratefulexpressionofman's

2TimothyOverview

2TIMOTHYOVERVIEW 2

response.Whatanunjustrewardforaninnocentman.Notjustaninnocentmanbutamanwhohadbroughtthegoodnewsofsalvationtotheverypeoplewhotookhislife.Hehadenduredsomuch.In2Corinthianshechroniclesabitwhenhesays,"Infarmorelabors,infarmoreimprisonments,beatentimeswithoutnumber,oftenindangerofdeath,fivetimesIreceivedfromtheJews39lashes,threetimesIwasbeatenwithrods,onceIwasstoned,threetimesIwasshipwrecked,anightanddayIhavespentinthedeep.Ihavebeenonfrequentjourneysanddangersfromrivers,dangersfromrobbers,dangersfrommycountrymen,dangersfromtheGentiles,dangersinthecity,dangersinthewilderness,dangersonthesea,dangersamongfalsebrethren.Ihavebeeninlaborandhardshipthroughmanysleeplessnightsinhungerandthirst,oftenwithoutfoodandcoldandexposureandapartfromsuchexternalthingsthereisthedailypressureuponmeofconcernforallthechurches,"2Corinthians11:23andfollowing.Allofthisheendured,selflesslysacrificinghislifeandanycomfortthatanyonemightassumetobejustbasicforthesakeofreachingpeoplewiththewonderfulgoodnewsofsalvationinJesusChristandthisishowitends...inastinkingdarkdampunsanitarypitinthegroundoccupiedbyabunchofcriminals,wefindhim.It'snotthefirsttimehe'sbeeninprison.HewasinprisoninJerusalem.HewasinprisoninCaesarea.HewasinprisoninPhilippiandhehasbeeninprisoneveninRomebeforethis.HisearlierimprisonmentinRome,however,wasmuchmoremildthanthisone.Infactthenhewasinhousearrestandnotactuallyinaprisonatall.UnderRomanguardbutinahousewherehisfriendscouldcomeandgofreelyandhecouldcontroltheenvironmenttosomedegreeandtherewerecomfortstobehadinthatplace.Infact,inhishouseimprisonmenthewasabletowriteEphesians,Philippians,ColossiansandthewonderfullittlelettertohisfriendPhilemon.Itwasaproductivetime,atimewhenhecouldwinmanyofCaesar'shouseholdtofaithandsoattheendofPhilippianssays,"ThoseinCaesar'shouseholdwhoareinthefaithgreetyou."Butthatwasfiveorsixyearsbeforethis.Hehadbeenreleasedfromthatfirsthousearrestandhavingbeenreleased,youremember,hewenttoEphesus,metTimothyhissoninthefaiththere,leftTimothyinchargeofthechurchatEphesustosetitrightforitwanderedintermsofdoctrineandbehavior.Andthenpursuedamissionarytouragainfromwhichhesoonwrotealettercalled1TimothytotellTimothyexactlywhattodointhechurchatEphesuswherehehadlefthim.Afterwriting1Timothyit'sapparentthatforafewyearshewanderedaroundpreachingandteachingandspreadingthegospelofJesusChrist.Infact,ifwecanputthepiecestogether,weassumethathewentfromEphesusovertoMacedonia,visitedNicopolis,Crete,MilitusandsomethinkhemayevenaswellhavegoneasfarasSpain.HealsoverylikelywenttoTroas.Nowthere'snochronicleofthat,thosearebitsandpiecesthatweillicitoutofhisletters.WereallyhavenospecificrecordlikewedointhebookofActsforhistimepriortobeingimprisoned,forthetimeafterhisimprisonmentgivesusnosuchrecord.Butnodoubtforthosefiveorsixyearsbetweenthefirstepistleandthesecondone,heismovingaboutministering,preachingashealwaysdid.Suddenlyinthemidstofthisnew‐foundfreedomheisarrested.VerylikelyattheplacecalledNicopolis.Whatcausedittobe,whatmadeithappenthathaltedhisprogress?Wellin64A.D.NerowhowasaninsanemadmantorchedthecityofRome.Hesetamatchtotheplaceandburnedit.Notwantingtobearthepublicshameandthepublicwrathforthatkindofthing,hepusheditoffonthisgroupcalledChristiansandblamedthemfortheburningofthecityofRome.Asaresultofthat,anavalancheofanimositybrokeoutagainstthebelieversinJesusChristanditwasintheradiatingofthatanimosityoutofRomethatpermeatedthewholeRomanEmpirethatfinallycaughttheApostlePauleventuallyandcausedhimtobearrestedbecausehewastheleadingspokesmanfortheChristianfaith.HewasthentakenbacktoRomeanddroppedintotheholeinthegroundattheMamortinePrison.Andsoheistherebecauseofafuriouswaveofpersecution.TheleadingChristianshavebeenarrested,manyhavebeenexecutedandPaul,ofcourse,isnext.Aswecometo2Timothythat'sthesceneinwhichwefindthe

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ApostlePaul,sittinginthedungeon.Hislibertyofafewyearshasnowendedandheisbackinthemostdifficultincarcerationofhislife.Andinthatdungeonhesetsouttowritethelastletterheeverwrote.Thisishis"swansong."ThisisthefinalwillandtestamentoftheApostlePaul.Thesearehislastwordsandassuchweshouldlistentothemwithgreatconcernandcommitment.NowhechoosestowritetoTimothy.Ofallthepeoplethathemighthavewrittento,ofallthechurchesthathemighthavewrittento,hechoosestowritetoTimothyandthereisgreatreasonforthatwhichweshallseeinamoment.ApplicationQuestions:

Whatarethedifferenttheoriesonauthorship?Onaudience?

Whatarethedifferentthemesincluding1TimandTitus?Categorize5majorthemes.

Survey‐howwouldyoubreakup/dividethebookof2Timothy?Developabriefoutlineandassemblethemostforcefulpassagesineachthemementionedabove?

Whatarethecontroversialpassages/themesin2Timothyandwhatarethedifferentresponses?

HowdoesthesituationoftheaudienceplayintowhatisincludedinthesePastorals.TheBigPicture:

Wheredoes2ndTimothyfitintothewholestoryoftheBible?Takethefollowingquiz.

YoumustknowsomeabouttheOldTestamentifyouaretounderstandtheNewTestament.SometimestheOTseemsoutofplaceandarchaic,butitisessentialtounderstanditscontextifyouaretograspthesignificanceofwhattheNewTestamentteaches.Givethisquizattheendofagroupsessionandtellmemberstoworkonitduringtheweek.Comebacktogetheranddiscusstheanswer.

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1.Putthefollowingpersonsoreventsinsequence:(ifyouhavenoidea,lookthemup)David,Jesus,Trinity,CaptivityinEgypt,CaptivityinBabylon,Abraham,Noah,Joshua

2.LookatthefollowingPassagesundereachheading.Writeabriefsummaryofthetopicandhowitisexplainedbythepassageoritsthemes:

Creation:Genesis1and2Fall:Genesis3Redemption:Gen4‐2Timothy(thisoneisabitofabroadsectionofcourse.CanyoutracebrieflywhatGodisgoingthroughoutthehistoryoftheBibletoredeemHispeoplefromthecalamityofGenesis3?BringyourthoughtstogetherasagroupandseeifyoucanpiecetogetherthedifferentmembersthoughtsintoacoherentstorylineofGod’sworkofredeeming‘Israel’.Restoration:Revelation

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Hook/IntroHereisthesettingofthefirstchapter…..Paulisinchains.Heremarksaboutnotbeing‘ashamedofmychainsin1:16’.Furthermore,inverse17itsaysthatwhenOnesiphoruscametoRome,heeagerlysearchedformeandfoundme...whichmeanstosayitwasanobscureplace,hardtofind.PerhapstherewerenottoomanypeoplewhowereintheChristiannetworkwhowantedatalltobeassociatedwithPaulatthattime.Thosewhosoughttofindhimmayhavehadgreatdifficultyindoingso.Sohewasinaplacehardtofindandaplacewherehewaschained….prison.Chapter2verse9goesontotellushewasinaplacewithcriminals,animprisonmentasacriminal.EvensotheWordofGod,heacknowledges,isnotimprisoned.Furtherinchapter4wegetalittleclosertotheheartofthisman.Heknowshe'snearhisownexecution,chapter4verse6,"Iamalreadybeingpouredoutasadrinkofferingandthetimeofmydeparturehascome."Heknowshisdeathisimminent,heknowsitisnear.Andwhatmakesitsoverysad,downinverse16,whenhewasarrestedandsettodefendhimselfitsays,"Atmyfirstoffensenoonesupportedmebutalldesertedme,"andthensayswithsuchlovingkindness,"Mayitnotbecountedagainstthem,"whichsoundslikeStephenwhenhewasbeingstonedprayingfortheoneswhostonedhimandlikeChristwhowhenbeingcrucifiedaskedtheFathertoforgiveHiscrucifiers.Buthesays,"Atmyfirstoffensenoonesupportedme,"everyonewasafraidofthepersecutionandtheylefthimonhisown.Thatisthesituation.Notonlyisheexperiencingphysicaldiscomfortbutthedeepemotionalpainofhavingbeendesertedbyeverybody.That'sthegratitudethataredeemedchurchhasforthebelovedsourceofthatmessageofredemption?That'sallhecanexpectoutofpeopletowhomliterallyhegavehislifeintheexpoundingofthegospelofJesusChrist?Heonlyhasonefriendwithhim,verse11,onlyLukeiswithme.OnlyLukewassomewherenearbyanditmaybethatLukewasapartoftheletterinthesensethatitcouldhavebeenevendictatedtohim,ifnotwrittenbyPaulinthatdungeon.Goingbacktochapter1foramomentandverse15,wefindalittlemoreabouthissituationandthesorrowandsadnessofit.Inverse15itsays,"YouareawareofthefactthatallwhoareinAsia...that'sAsiaMinor...allofthemintheareaofEphesusandthesurroundingareaturnedawayfromme."Notonlyistherenoonetohisdefense,notonlyistherenoonebutLukeinRometobealongsideofhim,butnooneinAsiaMinorhasstucktruetotheApostle.They'vealldefected.Whatsadness.Whatawaytocometotheendofyourministry.WhenyoushouldbehavingaccoladesandyoushouldbeliterallyembracedbyallthepeoplewhohavelovedyoubecauseyoubroughtthemChrist,insteadyou'realone,you'reinapitinthecompanyofcriminalsandnoonearoundtocare.Inchapter4wegetalittledeeperintotheheartofPaulinthesadnessofthetime.Verse10hesays,"ForDemashavinglovedthispresentworldhasdesertedmeandgonetoThessalonica,"musthavebrokenhisheart."Crescens,he'sgonetoGalatia;Titus,he'sgonetoDalmatia."Verse12,"TychicusIsenttoEphesus."Backinguponeverseto11again,"OnlyLukeiswithme."Whatasadtime.Nobodytodefendhim.Nobodytobewithhim.Andhe'sstillsoconcernedaboutministry,onemanforsakeshim,Demas,andtheotherhesendsonmissionsofthegospel...Titus,TychicusandCrescenshavegonetoministerandI'malone.

2Timothy:1:1‐7 RememberandStayStrong

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Boy,whenIthinkaboutthatIwonderhowitwouldbetospendyourwholelifeinabsolutetotalself‑sacrifice,givingyourselfupforapeoplesotheymightcometoknowChristandthenbeliterallyaloneattheend.Sadtime.Andhehasneeds...hehasneeds.Heislonely.Chapter1verse4hesays,"Ilongtoseeyou,Timothy...Ilongtoseeyou,"it'saverystrongwordasweshallseeinamoment.HeliterallyhurtsinsideoverthepainofwantingtohavethecompanionshipofTimothy.Chapter4verse9herepeatstoTimothy,"Makeeveryefforttocometomesoon.Ineedyou,Timothy,andIdon'tthinkIhaveverylong."Andtheninverse11hesays,"PickupMarkandbringhimwithyou,forheisusefultomeforservice."ThatwasthesameMarkthatoncePaulsaid"Idon'twanthiminmycompany,he'sacoward,hedoesn'thavecourage,"andhesplitupwithBarnabasoverthatissue,nowhewantsTimothytocomeandbringthatbelovedchildinthefaithalso,Mark.Andtheninverse13hesays,"Andwhenyoucome,bringthecloakthatIleftatTroaswithCarpusandthebooks,especiallytheparchments."Heneededthingsforhisownphysicalcomfort.Bringmethecloak,atleastitwillbeaplaceonthestonewhereIcanliedownanditwillkeepmewarmwhenIneedthat.Bringmethatcloak,acloakofwarmth,acloakofrest,acloakofprivacy,ifnothingelse.Andbringthebooks,theparchments,thethingsmostdeartohisheart,thethingsonwhichwaswrittentheWordofGod.Inverse21,againhesays,"Makeeveryefforttocomebeforewinter."Pleasehurry,Timothy.Yourheartalmostbreakswhenyoucometounderstandthescene.ApparentlyNerohadwantedtokillhimalreadyonetimebutsomethinghadstoppedNeroandhehadbeensparedfromthelionsofdeath,asitwere.IffornootherreasonGodsparedhimtheninorderthathemightwritethismarveloussecondepistlethatwemightbeblessedbyit.Soit'sprobablyabout67A.D.orsoashetakesuppenordictatestoLukeandthisiswhat'sonhisheart.He'scomingtotheendofhislife.Hesaysinchapter4,"Ihavefinishedthecourse,Ifoughtthegoodfight,I'vekeptthefaith,I'mreadytobeoffered,thisisit.AndIwanttosaythisbeforeIgo..."AndhewritestoTimothybecauseTimothyisthekeytocarryingonthework.Sowhatheisdoingin2Timothyispassingthetorch,passingthebaton,passingthemantle,asitwere,oftheprophet.Heatthisparticulartimeisinhisuppersixties,maybe66or67yearsofageandhavingspenthislifenowreadytogotobewiththeLord,havingaccomplishedallthatGodwantedhimtoaccomplish.Timothyisinhisupperthirties,maybe36or37,andcarriesthebruntofresponsibilityforministryandextendingthekingdominthenextgeneration.Timothyishischildinthefaith,hisprotégé,hisstudent,hisdisciple.AndTimothyfacestoughtimes,persecution,hostility,animosity,resentmenttothemessage,resistancetothetruth.Anditwillnotbeeasy.Webelievethatatthetimeofthewritingofthis,TimothyisstillinEphesus.He'sbeentherethreetofiveyears.SometimebetweenwhenPaullefthimthereandwhenPaulwritesthisletterhehasseenhim.PerhapshewentbacktoEphesusandtheymetthere,butTimothyisstillinEphesus.WebelievethatbecauseofthereferencetoEphesusinchapter1:18andalsoafurtherreferencetoEphesusinchapter4verse12wherehesays,"IhavesentTychicustoEphesus."Inotherwords,Iknowyou'recomingtobewithme,soIsentTychicustotakeoverforyouthere.SoweassumefromthatthatheisstillatEphesus.It'sbeenthreetofiveyearstryingtosetthatchurchright,it'sbeenaveryverydifficulttime.ButPaulwantstobesureTimothycarriesonthework.CanIgiveyoualittleinsightintogreatmenofGod?Theyhaveasenseofmissionthatexpandsbeyondtheirownlife.Theyarenotdrivenbyambition,theyaredrivenbymission.Theyarenotdrivenbytheirownsenseofsuccessortheirownneedtoattain,theyareconsumedbythebiggerpicture.AnditwasfarmoreimportanttoPaulthattheworkgoonthanthathislifegoon.Hedoesnotwritehislastletterandsay,"Woeisme,lookwhat'shappened,allofthisIhavegivenandnowIhavenothing."Hedoesnotwriteandcastigatethepeoplewhohaverefusedtoshowtheirheadsandidentifywithhim.HewritestocarryonthemissionbecausegreatmenofGodaremovednotbypersonalcomfort,personalsuccess,personalattainment,butbymission.They

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seethemselvesasengulfedinsomethingbeyondtheirownlifetime.Andthedesireofhisheartistopassthebatonandcarryontheworkandbuildupanewgenerationofgodlymen.ThespecificinstructiontoTimothyiswiththatinregard."Timothy,you'llhavetodothistocarryonthework."Andtheworkmustcarryon.TheworkthatJesusbeganmustcarryonuntilJesuscomesandfinishesitHimself.Now,withthatasageneralunderstanding,hisinstructiontoTimothybeginsinchapter1verse6andrunsallthewaytotheendoftheepistle.ThewholeepistleisbasicallyinstructiontoTimothyforhowTimothyistocarryonthemission,thework,themandate,theKingdomministry.It'sclear,it'sdirect,itisdemandingexhortation.ItcallsforthebestthatTimothyoranyothermanorwomanofGodhastooffer.Butwhatyouhavetounderstandbeneaththesurfaceis,itisveryimpassionedbecausePaulisveryconcerned.Listencarefully.HeisconcernednotonlyaboutthemissionitselfbutaboutthestateofTimothy.He'sconcernedaboutTimothy...knowshimwell,knowshisstrengths,knowshisweaknesses.HecaresforTimothyandtheworkthatChristwantstodothroughhim.JohnMacarthurAudienceandTheme:ThePastoralEpistleswereprobablywrittentotheEphesianchurch.Forsure,thereweresomefalseteachingsbeingspreadthatweredamagingtheChurch.Paulseestheteachingasserousenoughthathemustgiveauthorityforittobeaddressed.TitusandTimothyareyoungerleadersinthechurchwhomPaulauthorizestoteachandrebukeinHisandChrist’sname.Thetworecipientswerenot‘Pastors’inourtraditionalsense,butratherleaderssentwithauthoritysenttoinstructbelieversforanunspecifiedtime.TheyweresentonamissionofsortstoaccuratelydefendthetruthoftheGospelandsorestoresometotruefaithaswellas‘liberatesomefromdeath’!TherearetwomajoropinionsamongstcommentatorsonthesituationtowhichPaulisaddressingintheseEpistles.Onethoughtisthatthereseemedtobeafalseteachinggoingaroundrelatedtoan‘over‐realizedeschatology’.Thereweresomethatwereteaching‘theresurrectionhadalreadytakenplace’.(2Timothy2:18)ThisisprettyelaboratewordingIknow.EssentiallysomeseemtohavebeenteachingthattheresurrectionofJesusthatbelieverswerewaitingfortofreethemfromthislifehadalreadyhappened.Theytaughtthattheblessingsthattheafterlifepromisedwerealreadyhere!Theybelievedeternalsalvationhadcome.Thischangedalotabouthowtheysawlifeandtheworldaroundthem.Theywerestartingtoliveasceticlivesofspiritualprideessentiallyremovingthemselvesfromtheworldthatsurroundedthem.Somegaveupmarriage!Theylivedstrict‘spiritual’livesapartfromtheworld.TherewerebelieversthatweredisregardingBiblicalteachingabouttheethicsoflivingouttheChristianlife.Theyweren’tlivingaslightsfortheGospelinhopeofsalvationtocome.Beforeyoujudgethemascrazy,onecanactuallyeasilycorrelatethesituationtotoday.Theever‐presentChristiansub‐cultureflourisheswhereverChristiansgatherandcloistertogether.WecanremoveourselvesfromthecultureandlivelivesthatlackinfluencefortheGospel.Itgoestoshowthattheologydoesmatter!AnotherthoughtisthattherewasafalseteachingrelatedtolegalismintheChurch.Youcanseeitatthebeginningof1Timothy‐‘chargecertainpersonsnottoteachanydifferentdoctrine,nortodevotethemselvestomythsandendlessgenealogieswhichpromotespeculationsratherthanthestewardshipfromGodthatisbyfaith’1:3‐4or‘somewilldepartfromthefaithbydevotingthemselvestodeceitfulspiritsandteachingsofdemons,throughtheinsincerityofliarswhoseconsciencesareseared.WhoforbidmarriageandrequireabstinencefromfoodsthatGodcreatedtobereceivedwiththanksgivingbythosewhobelieveandknowthetruth.’4:1‐4Perhapstherewasateachingcirculatingtoreignintheactionsofbelievers.MaybesomeweretakinglibertiesinthefreedomoftheGospelandsometeacherswereputtinglegalismintotheprocessofreturningtoethicalChristianbehavior?Faithseemstobeonthelinevs.alegalisticrequirementofrighteousliving.

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Eitherway,thewordsfromthepastoralepistlesfromPaulareimportanttouswhowanttolivefortheGospelinourworldtoday.Whetherfromlegalismorfromanotherbaddoctrine,therewasbadteachingthatwasaffectingthewayChristianfaithwasbeinglivedout.SoalsotodayweareinaculturewhereonecanfindanyteachingunderthesunfromtheBiblethattheycouldwanttofindiftheysochoose.WeneedtobeapartofharnessingthepowerofthetrueGospelthatinteractswithcultureandchangesculture,butdoesnotacquiescetoculture.Keepthesethoughtsconstantlyinmindasyoustudy2Timothy.ItwillcontinuallybeaciphertohelpusunderstandandapplywhatPaulhastosaytoustoday.Ifyouwanttolearnmoreabouttheissuessurroundingtheaudience,listentoD.A.Carson’sFlowThoughtin1Timothy2:http://www.cbmw.org/Conferences/Different‐by‐Design‐2009/Session‐1‐The‐Flow‐of‐Thought‐in‐1‐Timothy‐2

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Look1.Introduction(1:1‐2)

“Paul,anapostleofChristJesusbythewillofGodaccordingtothepromiseofthelifethatisinChristJesus”

Whatisanapostle?Onewhoissentonamission,weareallthereforelittle‘a’apostles.SpecificallyPaulisanapostleofJesusChristsentonamissionbyhimdirectlyatDamascus.GobackandreadActs9:1‐32.Observetogetherwhathappens. WhywasitimportanthereforPaultoemphasizehisapostleshipsentbyGod?

Hewascomingagainstfalseteachinginthechurch.Hehadtoestablishcredibility.InthissenseitwasnotboastingforPaultomentionhisauthority.Hewasnotsayingthathewasspecialonhisown,butratherhadaspecialrolegivenbyGod.Inotherwords….listenup!

GiventhatthiscomesthroughPaulfromGod….whatisthesignificanceforustodayasreadersinmoderntimes?Ithasauthorityforustodayaswell!God’scommandsandexhortationsaretimeless.Theremaybesomeculturalattachmentsthatweneedtothinkthrough,buttheoverallmessageisstillbindingonustoday.

Whatissimilartoyourownstoriesofconversion?

Whatisnotsimilar?

WhatisitthatPaulunderstoodathisconversion?TherewasanincredibleunderstandingofJesus’LordshipthatPaulsawrightaway.HerealizedthatgivinghislifetoChristdemandedeverythingofHim.HewascompelledbysuchtopreachthemessageofChristimmediately.Acts9:20‐ImmediatelyheproclaimedJesusinthesynagogues,saying,“HeistheSonofGod.”ImaginewhatwashappeninginPaul’sheartandmind.JustdaysagohewaspersecutingfollowersofJesus!Heunderstoodtheradicaltransformationthathadtakenplace.HerealizedhisincredibleneedfortherescueofasaviorandassuchfellwholeheartedlyinlovewithHewhohadsavedhimfromsuchwaywardness.

Towhat‘promises’mighthebereferringto?WheredoweseethepromisesofGodinthebigpicture

oftheBible?WhataresomeOTpromisesvs.NTpromises?

Comment:YoumustseetheNTanditsindividualbooksinlightofthebigstoryoftheBible.YouareindangerofinterpretingorapplyingtheindividualNTbooksandexhortationsincorrectlyifyoudonot.Aglaringexample:ManysaythattheGodoftheOTismeanandharsh,whiletheGodoftheNTislovingandbenevolent.ThoseideascomefromalackofunderstandingoftheconnectionbetweentheOldandNewTestaments.IntheOTwedohavepicturesofGodactinginseeminglyharshways.WealsoquicklyseethelovingcharacterofChriststandoutintheNT.However,lookalittlecloser.AsyouseethegrandplanofGodplayoutintheOT,youseenotonlyhisharshtreatmentofthosethatstrayfromHim.Butrightalongsidethatdemeanoryouseetheloving,patient,long‐sufferingrelationshipwithHischosenpeople,

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Israel.Whatismore,intheNT,throughChrist’smouth,youhavesomeofthemostharshlanguageexplicatingtheterrorsofhellthatyoufindanywhereintheBible.Oftentimesourdisconnectcomesfromthetemporalvs.eternalnatureofGod’spunishmentdisplayed.Weareanatural,physicalculturethatseeslifeinthehereandnowinsteadoftherealityofeternity.When,intheOTweseeGod’scharacterofjusticebeingplayedoutinthetemporalwebecomeuncomfortableandrejectthataspect.ie.HarshpunishmentsforIsraelanditsfoes.Hisloveontheotherhandisactuallymuchmorelong‐termintheOTandyoumustnotmissthat.ItisseenfullyinthecontextofthewholestoryofGodworkingoutsalvationoverhundredsandhundredsofyears.Wehaveahardtimeseeinglifeinthatcontext.OntheotherhandintheNTweseeGod’slovetemporallydisplayedinChrist.Hehealstheweekandfeedsthepoor.Ourculturelovesthatkindofdisplay.Itiseasytograsp.Yetwequicklyoverlookthelongterm,eternalnatureofhisjusticecommunicated.ItisnotlessenedbutactuallyrampedupintheNT.LookatRevelation14.Thatisreallyscarystuffanditismeanttoscareusindeed!TherealityisthatWesternlifeiscenteredaroundthehereandnowandindeedmuchoflifeisaimedatextendingit….diet,exercise,safetyetc.InsuchaculturewewillmissthebigpictureofGod’scharacterandwillbeindangerofnot‘SeeingHimRightly’andintheendnot‘LivingRightly’.Backto2Timothy:Herewehaveaverysignificantstatementrightatthebeginningoftheletter.Paul’sworkis‘accordingtothepromiseoflife’.Whatpromiseishereferringto?ManyscholarsthinkthatheisactuallyreferringbacktothestoryofGod’spromiseforus.Genesis1‐2:Godcreatedtheheavensandtheearth…soonandsoon.Onthe7thday,differentfromeverypreviousday,thereisnoend….andGodrested.Whywastherenonightnorendtotheday?ItisasifGodwereindeedinvitingusintothatsamerestthatheexperienced.ItisnotthatHenolongerworks,butHisworkisdoneoutofastateofrest,thatalliscomplete.HeinvitesusintoastatewhereweacknowledgethatallisdoneandthereisnothingleftoutsideofHiscontrol.Thatisreallife!Abraham:GodmadeacovenantwithAbraham.Youmustunderstandtheramificationsofthiscovenantintheestablishmentof‘life’forus.

Genesis15:5‐6“LooktowardHeavenandnumberthestars,ifyouareabletonumberthem.Thenhesaidtohim,“soshallyouroffspringbe.”AndhebelievedtheLordanditwascreditedtohimasrighteousness.

Doyouunderstandthemagnitudeofthatpromise?Itwasthenestablishedinblood!GodwaspromisinglifetopeoplethroughthemanAbrahamandhisdescendants.ThesepeoplewouldcometobeknownasthenationofIsrael.ItwasbothaphysicalnationbutnowalsoanalogoustoanyonewhoisincovenantrelationshipwithJesus.Jesus’bloodwasforeshadowedinthecovenantestablishingbloodofcircumcisiongiventoAbraham.Godhasbeencarryingouthisplanfor‘life’forhispeoplefromthebeginningoftime.AndthiswholeplanleadstoGodbeingseenasmoregloriousandbeautiful.Thatisindeedthegreatestthinginalltheuniverse.Thegreatestthing,God,beinggreatlyseenisthegreatestthing!YouandIbeingintheplanofGodarepartofthegreatestthinginalltheworld!So,Paul,startinghisletterofftoTimothy,remarksthathisministry,Timothy’sministryandbyextension,ourministry,hasbeengiventousbeforethebeginningoftimeinGod’sdivineplanofgivinglifetohispeopleandsogivingGlorytoHimself!Whew….weareonlyoneversein!TheBibleisloadedwithgreatstuffifyoudigalittledeeperandask‘whyisthishere’?

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Inotherswords,longbeforethecreationoftheworld,GodhadPaulandTimothyinmindtoextendHisglory.WhenGodthenpromised‘life’toAbrahamthousandsofyearsbeforehehadPaulandTimothyinmindtocarryoutthatpromise!SoyouandIbyextension,followersofPaulandTimothyinChristarecalledfor‘suchatimeasthis’.WearepartofGod’sdivineplantoextendGod’sfamethroughouttheearth!(endcomment) HowdoyoufindGrace,MercyandPeace?Whatdothosewordsmeantoyou?WhydoesPaulpray

themforTimothy?ThinkaboutwhatlivingoutthisimportantcallingofextendingGod’sfamewoulddotoyouandthosearoundyouifitwerenotlivedoutofgrace,mercyandpeace…..whatwouldtheaffectsbeifitwerelivedoutofstrivingtoearnsomethingfromGod?Whatifyouweredesperatelytryingtofind‘life’throughwhatyoudoforGod?WhatifyoutrulyweretoliveapassionatelifeforGod’sgloryfromaplaceofgrace,mercyandpeace?Contrastthetwodifferenttypesof‘life’.

2.ThanksgivingandEncouragement(1:3‐7) WhatarethemainpointsPauliscommunicatinginthissection?Whyisithere?

PaulPraysforTimothyoftenPaulhasgreatfondnessforTimothy‐membershimwithtearsandlongstoseehimRemindsTimothyofhisfaithandwhenitbeganEncouragesTimothytomovestillforward‐FantheflameRemindsTimothytonotbefearful

Comment:CanyouimaginewhatthesewordswouldbeliketoTimothy?ImaginethatyouknowJohnPiperorforthatmatter,MartinLuther,orJohnCalvin.Imaginethatoneofthemwroteyouanintenselypersonalletterremindingyouoftheirconcernforyouandtheirjoyinknowingyouandlongingtoseeyou.Thentheyremindyouofyoursalvationofwhichtheywereawitnesstoseecomeabout.Imaginewhatsortofconfidencethatwouldgiveyouasyouperhapswereheadedoftocollege….orareheadedoffoverseastoaministryfield.Thatwouldbepowerfulcomingfromoneofthemforsure….howaboutcomingfromtheapostlePaul…sentbyJesusChristbeforethebeginningoftimeaccordingtothepromiseoflife?!

Doyouhaveanyoneinyourlifethatencouragesyouthisway?Haveyouever?

WhydoesPaulsaythathehasaclearconscience?Comment:Therecouldbetwowaystolookatthis.One,hehasaclearconsciencebecausehepraysoften.Thereforehisconscienceisclearbecausehehasdonehispart,donehisduty.WhatdoyouthinkaboutthatwayoflookingatitinlightofwhatPaulhasalreadysaidinthischapter?Secondly,itcouldbethatashereflectsonthegreatstorythatheisapartof,calledbyGodthroughthegraceofJesus,hisconscienceisclearsothathecanindeedprayfromthatplaceofpeaceandlife.Howdoyouseeit?

WhatwillgiveyouaclearconsciencebeforeGod?ThereisonlyonceplacewhereaclearconsciencewillcomefrombeforeGod.Thatisfromthegraceandmercythatheoffers!Gracemeansgettingsomethingwedon’tdeserve.Mercymeansnotgettingsomethingthatwedodeserve.Doyouseethedifferenceandthe

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importanceofboth?LifeandministrytoPaulmustbelivedfromhere.OftenitissaidhowgreatPaulwas.Really,itwashowgreathethoughtGodtobe.ThatGod’sgraceandmercywassoprofoundtohimthathelivedinabandonmenttohisownpursuitoflifeandpeace.

WhydoyouthinkPaulrefertohis‘ancestors’?

Hopefullyyouaregettingthisalready.PauldoesnotseeChristianityasa‘new’religion.HedoesnotseetheOTasunrelatedtohismission.ThereisaseamlesslinkwiththepasthistoryofGodandhispeoplethatiscontinuingoninthenewcovenantofwhichPaulrepresents.Paulcontinuallyseesthebigpictureandsohistheologyreflectssuch.LikePaul,forustounderstandthegreatmessageofChristandcommunicateittoourculture,weneedtoseethebigcontextofthestoryandnottruncatetheoverarchingbeautyofthegrandnarrative.

Transition:PaulgoesontoencourageTimothyinthreemainareas.Hetellshimtorememberhis:Conversion,Confidence,andContribution

Discusstogether: WhatisyourConversionstory?

Sharewiththegroupifyouhavetime.Maybeoneortwoeachweek. IsitsignificantthatTimothy’sfatherisnotmentionedinhisconversion?

Comment:Ithinkitmaybeverysignificant.WhereisTimothy’sdad?ThefemalesinthefamilyaretheonesthathavehadthespiritualformationinfluenceinTimothy’slife.NowwhatdoesTimothystrugglewith?Timidity…..Mightthatnotbethecaseifhisfatherwasmoreinvolvedinhislife?Thisisallspeculationandargumentfromsilence,butitisworththinkingabout.Justasweliveinaculturetodaywheremalerolemodelsareoftenabsentinthechurch….sowasitthesame2000yearsago?Isthisanothercaseofthe‘SilenceofAdam’?Ifyouareamalegoingthroughthisstudy,takehead.Thechurchneedsyoutostepup!IfPaulweretowritetoday….wouldhefindTimothy’sfatherpresentinhisspiritualformation?WouldhefindmalesinthechurchrespondingtoJesus’call?

WhatisyourConfidencenow?WhatisevidenceofHisrealityinyourlife,whatbuildsyour

confidence?Howhaveyouseenitatwork? WhatisyourContribution?DoyouknowhowGodhaswiredyouuniquelytomakeadifference

forHiskingdom?

Took

Writeashortlettertoyourself.Whatwouldyouwantsomeoneofinfluencetosaytoyouasan

encouragementinyourConversion,ConfidenceandContribution?KeeptheletterinyourBibleandasyouneartheendofthisstudy,youwillreviewitandseewhatyouwouldaddortakeaway.

AHOLYCALLING 1

Hook

DoyoufeelshameeveraboutbeingaChristian?Why?Whatcircumstancesinparticularbringshame?

InContrast,whendoyoufeel‘strongest’forGod?Whenareyouthemostconfident?

Transition:ThisisapowerfulsectionwherePaultellsusabouthiscallingandexhortsTimothy….andustojoinhim.ThisisoneofthefirstmajorsectionsofscripturethatIpersonallymemorizedandithasstayedwithme.Poweramidstsuffering,purposeandgrace,deathandlife,shameandconfidence,desertionandsteadfastness;therearemanycontrastsinthispassagepaintingapoignantbackdropforPaul’swordstostaythecourseandfollowChristtotheend.

Look1.EntrustedwiththeGospel1:8‐12

Whatistheargumentinthissection...whatarethemainpointsPauliscommunicating?‐Perhapsgivesometimehereinyourgroupforself‐discovery.Give10minutestoexaminethepassageandcomeupwithashortoutlineofwhattheessenceofPaul’sexhortationisinthissection.

‐Don’tbeashamedofChrist‐Why?TheirsufferingisachancetoexperiencethepowerofGod.WouldyoubelievethatsomeofthemostpowerfulmovementsinthehistoryofthechurchwerecarriedoutlargelybysufferingChristiansunderpersecution?Chinaisagreatexampletoday.‐Weweresavedforapurpose!

Notbecauseofourgreatness.Doyoureallybelievethat?HowwouldthatbelivedoutpracticallyifwereallybelievedthatisbyNOTHINGthatwehavedonethatwehavebeensaved?

‐AssuranceandConfidenceinChristiswhathasleadPaulawayfromshame.

Referringbackto1:1‐7,whywasPaulnotashamedandwhyshouldTimothynotbeashamed?“Neverforgetinthedarkwhatyoulearninthelight.”Iamnotsurewhosaidthat,butitisagreatquote.PaulremembersandcausesTimothytoreflectonwhathelearnedandwasgiveninthe‘light’.Nowthatthingsareabittough…a‘dark’time,heis…weare,temptedtodoubtandbetimid.Timothyneedstoremember.Thatisalwaysoneofourbiggestissues.WeforgetwhatGodhasdoneinthepast,justlikeIsraeldid.SuchashorttimeafterGodfreedthemfromEgyptandtheycrossedtheRedSea,theystartedwining,grumblingandcomplaining.Howquicklyweforget!

Fromwheredoesourculturederivepurpose?WhatisthecontrastfromwhichPaulsteersthe

foundationofourpurpose?Whataretheimplications?Comment:Weareapeople,perhapsmorenowthaneverbeforeinadesperatesearchtovalidateourexistence.Therewasatime,whenlifewasaboutsurviving.Itwasaboutliving,eating,andgoingon

2Timothy:1:8‐18 AHolyCalling

AHOLYCALLING 2

tothenextday.Stillinalargeportionofourworld,peopleworktoeatandsurvive.InAmericanculturetherehasbeenaradicalshift.Weworkinordertoplay!Weworkinordertoconsumemore.Wearenotknownforwhatwecreatebutratherforwhatwehave.Insuchaculture,ouridentityislefttoevaluateincomparisontothepersonnexttous.HowdoImeasureuptotheJones’downthestreet.HowdoIcomparetotheothersinmyclassetc.Paul’sidentityandpurposeisgroundedinanentirelydifferentsphere.Heisgroundedfirstlyingrace.HerealizeshowdesperatelyinneedofChristheis.IimagineheoftenreflectsonwhatlifewouldbelikewithoutChrist.Thismaybeagoodexerciseforyourgroup.Whatwouldyourliveslooklikew/oChrist?Ofcoursethereisdangeriftheywouldnotlookanythingdifferent.Second,gracedoesnotleadhimtostandonthesidelinesbecausehehashisfireinsurance.GraceleadsPaultogetbusywiththepurposesthatGodhaslaidoutforhim.HeiscalledtoaHolyCalling.HispurposeisinlinewithGod’srestorationthathasbeengoingonsinceGenesis3.HerealizesthatheissweptupinGod’swonderfulplanthattranscendshistory.Paulhasareasontowakeupeveryday.Itisnottoconsumemoreorproveshisworth.ItistohonorGodandliveouthisHolyCalling!

OfwhatsignificanceisthedeathandresurrectionofJesustoPaul?Whatfoundationsdoeshederive

fromit?Comment:Itiseverything.ItisthefoundationonwhichPaul’sverylifehisveryidentityrests.IsyourgroupconvincedofthedeathandresurrectionofJesus?Talkaboutit.Asksometoughquestions.Howdotheyknowitreallyhappened?Somequestionsfollow.ItsaysthatJesusabolisheddeathonthecross.Examinethatforabittogether.Whatdoesitmean?ThereisawordthatisimportantintheNTinthisregard.‘Propitiation’.Jesushadtomake‘propitiation’forthesinsofthepeopleiswhatHebrews2:17says.HereiswhatWikipediasaysabouttheword:(InChristianity,PropitiationisatheologicaltermdenotingthatbywhichGodisrenderedpropitious,i.e.,that'satisfaction'or'appeasement'bywhichitbecomesconsistentwithHischaracterandgovernmenttopardonandblesssinners.ThepropitiationdoesnotprocureHisloveormakeHimloving;rather,itrendersitconsistentforHimtoexerciseHislovetowardssinners.)Thatisagooddefinition.ThereforeJesuspropitiatestheFatherorsatisfiesthefather’sjustice…andhisjusticerequiresadeathpenaltyforsin.TheFatherismadepropitioustowhereHenolongerneedstocarryouthispenaltyofdeathagainstthesinnerbecausetheSonhastakenthatpenalty.Thisiscalledpenalsubstitutionaryatonement,averyimportantconcept.Nowgetthis.Jesusisboththepropitiation(n.)andthepropitiator(v.)becauseHeandtheFatherareone.Thereisincredibledepthandbeautyhere.HesatisfieshimselfwithHisowndeath.ThereforeHepaysthepricethatonlyhecanpayandyetkeepshisperfectcharacterofloveandjusticeintact.Ifhejustcancelleddeath….hewouldnotbejust…hewouldceasetobeGod.Youmaysaythatyouwanthimtojustcancelthedeathpenalty.Butyoureallydon’twanthimtodothat.Thatwouldmeanthatthereisnojusticeanylonger.WhentheHolocaustisaccountedfor…therewouldbenojusticecarriedout.WeneedaGodwhoisbothlovingandjustandJesus’propitiationiswhatmakesthatpossible.

Whathappenedonthecross?

WhydidJesushavetodieonthecross?Couldn’thehavejustforgivenus?

2.HoldFast:1:12‐18 Areyouconvinced….honestly?Howdowebecomeconvinced?Howwouldyourlifebedifferentif

youtrulywereconvinced?Whathasbeenentrustedtoyou?

AHOLYCALLING 3

Talkaboutyourfaith...isyourfaithsolid?WouldJesuscallyou‘fulloffaith’?Whatarethedangerstoyourfaiththatlurkaroundyouinparticular?

Whatwoulditmeantoguardthegooddepositwell?HowistheHolySpiritconnectedhere?What

willkeepyouinthegameforthelonghaul?TheHolySpiritisthekeyhere.Ifthisstuffisalltrue,thenwehaveacounselor,andadvocateforus.Wearenotaloneinthisrace!Youmustrememberthatandyoumustremindyourgroupofthat.Hewantsyoutoguardthedepositevenmorethanyoudoyourself!WearedeadinthewaterwithouttheHolySpiritcomingalongside.YoumaywanttotakeyourgrouptoJohn14:15‐15:11toexploretheconnectiontotheHSfurtherinthiscontext.PaulwasdesperatelyinneedoftheHolySpiritandcommunicatedsuchoften.Howwouldwenotalsoseethatneedaswell.SoyouhadbetterunderstandsometeachingrelatedtotheHS.Ifyouoryourgroupdoesnot,perhapstakeaweektogothroughsomematerial.Thereareseveralresourcesonthe‘resources’pageatwww.unccornerstone.com.

Took

Doyouknowyourcalling?AsPaulchallengesTimothytoadopthiscallingamidsttheletter’soverallcontextofagrowing,Christian,safesub‐culture,arethereareasinwhichyouneedtoleavetimidity?Thisweekjournalrelatedtothesetopics.PerhapssearchotherPaulinelettersforotherstatementsofPaul’spurpose:Ephesians3:1‐11,Philippians1:12‐30,Colossians1:24‐2:15.WhatarethemesofPaul’scallingthatyouwouldperhapsadoptasyourcallingaswell?

ALIFEOFENDURANCE 1

ReviewSpendafewminutesreviewingwhatwe’vetalkedaboutsofarinthestudy.Haveeachpersonshare: WhatareoneortwothingsPaulhassharedwithTimothysofarthathavestuckwithyou?

Wewanteveryonetorememberwe’rereadinganentirebook,soeachsectionrelateswiththeoneswehavepreviouslystudied.Andremember,thosealsofallinthebroadercontextoftheBibleasawhole,too!

Hook

Whohashadthebiggestimpactonyouspiritually?Why?Whatcharacteristicsaboutthispersondoyourespect?

Transition:Inthispassage,PaulencouragesTimothytowards3things:strength,amultipliedlifeandendurance.We’lldiveintomoreofwhateachofthosemeaninthisstudy.

Look

1.Strength(v.1) Wenoticeinv.1thatPaulsays“you,then...”Wheneveryouseeatransitionword,suchas“therefore”

or“then”inthiscase,itmeansittiesinwithwhattheauthorhaspreviouslybeentalkingabout.So,howdoesv.1‐2tieinwithwhatwereadlastweek?RememberthatlastweekPaulspokealotaboutshame.ThatwearenottobeashamedoftheGospel,whichwehavebeenentrustedwith(andtheGospelthathaschangedourlives!)SoPaulissaying,Timothy,beproud,notashamedoftheGospel.INLIGHTOFTHAT,then,bestronginthegracethatisinChristJesusandboldtosharetheGospelwithothers.

Whatdoyouthink“bestronginthegracethatisinChristJesus”means?Howmighttheworldapply

thispassageandhowmightfollowersofChristfollowthisexhortation?Whatdifferencewouldtherebeintheresultingfruit?Timothyisexhortedthroughoutthislettertobestrongandtobebold.Paulisremindinghimhere,though,thathecan’tjustmusterupcourage.Hecan’tjusttryreallyhardandproducestrength.Paulistellinghim,hecanbestronginthecircumstancesheisfacingthroughtheGRACEhehasinChrist.“ThegraceofChristenablesTimothytobestrong”(NIVCommentary).Sowhatdoesthatevenmean?!Ifwearedependantonourownstrengthandeffort,theGospeltellsus,wewillinevitablyfail.ButoneofthebeautifulthingsabouttheGospelisthatgraceisextendedtous.ItisaswedependonChristandhispoweratworkwithinus(throughtheHolySpirit)thatwearemadestrong.ThefocusisonChristandhispoweratworkinTimothy,notonTimothy’sgifts,knowledgeorstrength.PaulisessentiallyremindingTimothytorememberthatGod’sgracewillsustainhimandgivehimstrengthashetakesonallthehardshipshewillfaceasaleader.Thiswouldbeencouragingthatthepressureisoff,sotospeak,forTimothytojusttrytobestronginandofhimself.Heiscalled,justlikeweare,tobedependantonChrist,notmusterupstrengthbyourowneffort.Onecanimagineintheworld,apersontryingontheirowntobefullofgrace.Somepeoplemightevencomeacrossthatway.Butyouhavetowonderwhattheunderlyingheartconditionmightbe.Apersondisciplinedtoliveonsomesortofgracemotivation,actuallyveryquicklymovestobeing

2Timothy2:1‐7 ALifeofEndurance

ALIFEOFENDURANCE 2

motivatedbytheirperformanceintheirdisciplineandsotheoppositeofgrace.Haveyoueverexperiencedthat?

Howwouldyousayourculturedefinesstrength?HowisthatdifferentfromtheviewScripturegives

us?Ourculturereallyscreamsatusthatweneedtobeself‐sufficient.Weneedtohaveitalltogether,bestrong,andnotneedanyoneoranythingelse.Ifwehaveweaknessweneedtohideitorpretenditdoesn’texist.That’sprettydifferentfromwhatScripturetellsus.Jesusrepeatedlytellsusthatitisactuallythebrokenheartedhewelcomesandisnearto.LookatwhatPaulsaysin2Corinthians12:9‐10.ThatisatruepictureofastrengthrootedinChrist.ThemainpointhereisthatPauliscallingTimothytobestrong,andthatisonecharacteristicthatshouldmarkhislifeasheleadsthischurchinEphesus.Butagain,thisisastrengthproducedbyChristasweareyieldedtohim.

2.Amultipliedlife:2:2 What“things”isPaultalkingaboutinthisverse?

PaulistalkingabouttheGospelhere.Rememberthattherewerefalseteachings,eitherrelatedtolegalismorviewofeschatology,goingonatthistimeinEphesus(referbacktoIntroportionofthestudyforspecifics).Especiallyinlightofthat,itisessentialthatTimothyprotectsthetruthsoftheGospelandpassesthemontoothers.WhathehasheardPaulteachandbasehislifeandministryon,heisexhortingTimothytoprotectandpasson.

Whatdoestheword“entrust”mean/imply?WhydoyouthinkPaulusesthatlanguagewhentalkingabouttheGospel?NoticethatnotonlyisTimothytoldhereto“entrust”theGospeltoothers,hewasalsoremindedin1:14thattheGospelwasentrustedtohimaswell.Whensomethingisentrustedtoyou,itissomethingofvalue.Ifsomeoneentrustssomethingtoyou,thentheyaretrustingyoutocareforsomethingofgreatworth.SoPaulissayingthathisteachings(i.e.theGospel)arevaluableandneedtobewelltakencareofasit’spassedtoothers.Example:Rentingvs.Owning…..PaulisaskingTimothyandindeedus,tobe‘owners’notjustrenters!Haveyoueverownedsomethingvs.rentingit.Howaboutarentalcar.Howdoyoutreatarentalcarvs.theoneyouown?Whenyouownsomethingyouinvestintoit.Youtakegreatcareofit….itisentrustedtoyou.Whenyourent,yousimplyuseitandreturnitinanyshape.Beowners!

WhatcharacteristicsisTimothysupposedtolookforinthoseheentruststheGospelto?Whywouldthosethingsbeimportantespeciallygiventhecontextoftheletter?Whatmighthebelookingforintoday’sworld?ThosewhoarereliableandqualifiedtoteachothersiswhatTimothyshouldlookfor.Abettertranslationforqualifiedmightbe“competent,”Anotherwaytophrase“reliable”isfaithful.ItisimportantforTimothytolookforpeoplewhoarefaithfultothisGospeltheywillbeentrustedwith.Rememberagainthecontext…therearefalseteachingsprevalentatthistime.ItiscrucialthattheGospelispasseddownthroughpeoplewhowillbefaithfulnottodistortit.Itiscrucialthatthesepeoplewillalsobecompetenttoteachthesesameunalteredtruthstoothers.PaulissoconcernedaboutthisbecausehelovestheGospel.Rememberthatheknowsheisabouttodiesoon.OneofthemainthingshewantstochallengeTimothytodoismakesuretheGospelispreservedandgoesforthtoothersunaltered.Andthemainwayheistodothat,accordingtothispassage,istopourintothelivesofbelieversandtrainthemupintheGospel.

ALIFEOFENDURANCE 3

Howmanygenerationsofpeoplearerepresentedinthisverse(v.2)?Howdoesthisstrikeyou?4generations–Thethingsyouhaveheardme(Paul‐1)sayinthepresenceofmanywitnesses(includingTimothy2)entrusttoreliablemen(3)whowillalsobequalifiedtoteachothers(4).

Thisisapictureofwhatissometimescalled“spiritualmultiplication.”Howhaveyouseenthisplayoutinyourlife?HowwastheGospelentrustedtoyou?Howhaveyouentrustedittoothers?Iusuallyliketotakeaminuteanddrawoutadiagramofwhatthislookslike.Forexample,mydisciplerincollege,Lisa,sharedtheGospelwithmeandpouredintomylifewhenIwasafreshman.AsIbegantogrowinmyfaithIledastudyandbeganpouringintoothers.OneofthosegirlswasnamedShannon.SheheardtheGospelherfreshmanyearandherlifechanged.Laterincollege,shebegantodiscipleotherUNCwomen.SheendedupgoingonSTINTinLebanonandpouredintowomen’slivesthere.Thepointis(anditmakesitclearertodrawitoutandhaveavisual)thatLisahadnoideatheimpactshewouldhaveonShannon’slifeandeveninthelivesofwomeninLebanon.Butshewasfaithfultopourintome,IintoShannonandsoon,sothattheGospelmovesforward.Asaleader,itwouldbereallyneatforyoutodiagramthisout.Whopouredintoyourlife?Now,whoareyoupouringintointhestudy?Andsinceyoumaybeleadingolderpeoplenow,whoaretheypouringintoaswell.Thisiswhatwemeanbyspiritualmultiplication…thattheGospelmoreeffectivelymovesforwardaswepourintoandtrainpeoplethatcanturnaroundanddothesameinotherpeople’slives.Considerthisquote:

“ThesoundteachingTimothyhaslearnedfromPaulistobepassedontothosecapableoftransmittingittoothergenerations.ThisisthelifelineofChristianity.IthasbeensaidthatChristianityisonlyonegenerationawayfromextinction.Whilethatisimprobable,itistheoreticallytrueinthatunlessthelife,faith,andteachingsofvitalChristianityareactively committed to the next generation, Christianity could become a footnote ofhistory.”(NIVCommentaryon2Timothy)

3.Endurance:2:3‐7 Whatdothese3illustrations(soldier,athleteandfarmer)haveincommon?Bringoutallthatyou

thinkof…..Althoughtheyseemprettydisjointedatfirst,eachofthemarepicturesofendurance.Thereissomeextentofwaitinginvolvedineachillustration‐waitingtowinthebattle,getthecrown,toseethecropsyielded.Eachofthesepeoplesacrificeandsuffertosomeextentforsomethingdowntheroad.Whydoesthesoldierfight?....Becauseofhisdevotiontohisofficer.Heisabletoendurethehardshipoffightingbecauseofthegreatergoodofpleasingtheofficer.Whydoestheathleterun?Becauseofwhatispromisedforhimahead.Heisabletoendureandfacethehardshipsoftheracebecauseofthegreatergoodofwinningandreceivingthecrownahead.Andthefarmerisabletoendurebecausewhathesowsnowhewillreaplater.

Whyarethesoldier,athleteandfarmerwillingtosacrifice/suffer?

Theysacrificebecauseofwhatthey’resacrificingFOR.Theendjustifiesthemeans.Becauseoftheoutcome(pleasingthecommander,winningthecrown,receivingthecrops)enduringisworthit.

SowhyisPaulsayingthistoTimothy?Whatishispointwiththeseillustrations?Paul,throughoutthisletter,isremindingTimothythattheGospelisworthit.Itisworthsufferingfor.Itisworthstandinguptofalseteachersfor.Itisworthnotbeingashamedof.Itisworthevengivingyourlifefor,whichPaulwillsoondo.HeisusingtheseillustrationstoremindTimothythathemustendureforthesakeoftheGospelanditgoingforth.Bestrong,Timothy,becausethisGospelisworthyandbeautiful.Bepouringyourlifeintoothers,Timothy,becauseitisamessageimportantenoughforthemtohear.Endure,Timothy,becausethislifeisn’tallthereisandwehavehopepastwhatwecanseein

ALIFEOFENDURANCE 4

ourcurrentcircumstances.PaulwantstoconveytoTimothythatwhateverhemightcomeupagainst,heshouldstaystrongandendureforthesakeoftheGospel‐becauseit’sworthit!

Took

DoyoureallybelievetheGospelisworthsacrificingfor?Ifittrulywas,howmightlifelookdifferent? WhatinyourlifecanbemoreimportantthanJesusandthegospel?Behonest. WhatmightGodbecallingyoutosurrendernow(likethesoldier,athlete,andfarmer)forthegreater

goodoftheGospel? FORNEXTTIME:BeforewecanentrusttheGospeltoothers,weneedtoknowitourselves,right?As

homeworktodiscussnexttime,haveeachpersoninthestudywriteouttheGospelintheirownwords.Ifyouwereexplainingthisgoodnewstosomeonewhohadneverheard,whatwouldbeessentialtoinclude?(Alsohavethemlookat“What’ssogoodaboutthegoodnews?”resourcetodiscussnexttime).

What’ssoGoodAboutGoodNews?(fromCCCNSDresources)

Inthefollowingpassagesidentifyeverythingthatisgoodnewsaboutthegospel.Ephesians1:1‐14Ephesians2:1‐10Romans5:1‐11Colossians2:8‐152Corinthians5:11‐211Peter1:3‐9ComparethesefindingswithRomans3:9‐28.Listeverythingyoulearnaboutthelostnatureofpeople

AFUTUREHOPE 1

Hook

Whatissomethingyouhopeforbutdon’thaveyet?Howdoesthathopeeffectyourlife?

Transition:Oneofthebigthemesof2Timothyasawholeisencouragementtobefaithfulandendure(whichwetalkedaboutlastweek).PaulknowsthathehasalimitedamountoftimeonearthleftandoneofthemainthingshewantstoleavewithhisdiscipleTimothyistoremainfaithful.Lastweekwelookedatourcalltoendure.Inthissection,PaulremindsTimothy(andus)ofWHY/HOWwecanendure.

Look:

1.Remember:2:8‐10 WhatspecificthingsdoesPaulwantTimothytoremember?Whywouldthoseinparticularbe

encouragingforTimothytoremember?Hewantshimto:(1) RememberJesusChrist,raisedfromthedead.(2) JesusChrist,descendedfromDavid.Whythesethings?ThisistheessenceoftheGospel,Christ’s

deathandresurrection.ThatiswhatPaulhasbasedhislifeandministryonandmustbewhatTimothydoesaswell.InalltheoverwhelmingcircumstancesTimothywasfacingandwouldfaceinthefuture,Paulboilsitdownforhim:focusonChrist.Itwouldalsobeencouraging,withallthatTimothywillface,torememberspecificallyJesus’resurrectionbecausehehasconquereddeathandisvictorious.WhateverTimothymayface(hismentorbeingexecutedsoon,falseteachersinfiltratinghischurch,persecution,etc)thebottomlineisthatJesusiswhoheclaimedtobe(seenthroughtheresurrection)andisalreadyvictorious(alsoseenthroughhis“risingfromthedead”).WhywouldPaulincludethefactthatJesusisdescendedfromDavid?ThereisathemerunningthroughoutthisletterofPaulremindingTimothythattheGospelisfarbiggerandmoreimportantthanjusthislife.Throughouteventhesefirst2chaptersPaulhasremindedTimothyabouthisheritage(1:5).ItisasifPaulwantsTimothytograspthatheispartofsuchalargerstory.YesGodwillusehimtohelptheGospelmoveforwardbutitwontstoponceTimothy’slifeisover.AndGodhasbeenatworklongbeforeTimothywasevenborn.PaulremindshimofthiswitheventhatonementionofJesusdescendingfromDavid…God’splanforredeemingmankindhaseternallyexisted.Andevenmoresubstantialthanthat,PaulmentionsDavidheretoremindTimothythatJesusdescendingfromDavidisapicture/reminderthatGodfulfillshispromises.TheMessiahthatwouldcomethroughthelineageofDavidcameanddiedandwasresurrected.

Whyisitimportantto“remember”whoChristisandwhathehasdoneinourlife?

Wecangetsofocusedonthehereandnow.WhatIneedtodotoday.Themonotonyofschool.Relationshipscanbeintheforefrontoflife.Itissocrucialformetoremember,likewetalkedaboutearlierinthisstudy,thatIhaveapurpose,aholycalling.IneedtorememberJesus’worksoIwillgrowinmyknowledgeandexperienceofhimandforarenewedperspectiveofwhatlifeisreallyallabout.Ifthereistime,agreatpassagewherewe’recalledtorememberisDeuteronomy8:2‐18.Oursinfuldefaultistomakelifeaboutusandwhatourhardworkhasaccomplished.RememberingwhoChristis

2Timothy2:8‐13 AFutureHope

AFUTUREHOPE 2

andwhathe’sdoneinmyliferemindsmeofGod’sgraceinmylife,howdependentonhimIreallyam,andshoulddrivemetowardsworship!

Whatdoyou,personally,tendtoforgetabouttheGospelandwhoyouareinChrist?Haveeachpersonshareifpossible.SomethingswecantendtoforgetisthatourrighteousnessandjustificationisbasedsolelyonfaithinChrist’swork,notourworks.Wecanforgetouradoption,thatweareGod’ssonsanddaughtersandthesecuritythatmeansforus.Therearelotsofthingspeoplecouldshare,thosearejustsomeexamples(LookatresourceinGospelTransformation,p.121).

Noteinv.8PaulsaysTHISismyGospel.PaulissayingJesusandhisresurrectionistheessenceofthatgoodnews.AndthisisWHY(rememberPaulisbiginthisletteratremindingTimothyoftheWHYs)hecanenduresuffering.BecauseChristisworthitanddeathnolongerhasvictory(overChrist,PaulorTimothy). Inv.9Paulsaysthatalthoughheischainedup,God’sWordisn’t.Whydoyouthinkhepaintsthat

contrast?WhywouldthatbeencouragingtoTimothy?Fromtheworld’sperspectivePaul’simprisonmentisthefinalword.He’schainedupinprison,endofstory.ButPaulhasadifferentperspective.YesheisinchainsbutGod’swordishishope.Andthatwillneverbeabletobechainedorimprisoned.Paulissayinghere,livefortheeternal.3thingsareeternal‐theTrinity,God’sWordandthesoulsofmen.It’sasifPaulissaying,sureI’minprisonsuffering,butthisisnotallthereis.God’swordishishope.Youcankillme(whichtheywill)butGod’swordwillgoforth.WhatacomfortthismustbeforTimothy!Putyourselfinhisshoesforaminute.Hismentorofmanymanyyearsisabouttodie.Howoverwhelmingthatcouldhavebeen!Butagain,PaulremindsTimothytopressonandhopeinGod’swordandseethebiggerpicturethatstretchesfarbeyondPaul,orevenTimothy’slife,forthatmatter.

WhatistheconnectionofPaul’ssufferingandtheelectexperiencingChrist?

ThroughouthislettersPaulsaysthathissufferingisworthitifitbringsotherstoChrist.It’snotsomethingwenecessarilyliketothinkabout,butasyoulookbackatthehistoryoftheChristianchurch,itisoftenthroughpersecutionandsufferingthatothersseethevalueofChrist.ThatisoftenapicturetoothersofhowaChristian’shopeisnotfoundonearthANDapicture,likewetalkedaboutlastweek,oftheGospelbeingworthevengivingyourlifefor.

2.Reign2:11‐13Note:NowPaulwillgoonintheseversestoexpoundonChrist’sdeathandresurrection,whichhementionedinv.8.AstheyESVstudyBibleputsit(v.11‐13),“thistrustworthystatementmovesfromcomforttochallengeandbacktocomfort:v.11bisareminderoflifeeveninthefaceofdeath;v.12callsforperseverance;v.13isareminderofGod’spreservingpowerandfaithfulness.” Whatdoesitmeanthat“ifwediedwithhim,wewillalsolivewithhim?”

LookatRomans6:5‐11formoredetailonwhatthatmeans(itunpacksthistruthmore).Asbelievers,theoldself(ourflesh)hasbeencrucifiedandinthatweshareinChrist’sdeath.Wealsoshareinhislife,orresurrection.KeepinmindthatPaulhasbeenfocusinginthispassageonChristbeingraisedfromthedead(v.8).Sothemainthingheisprobablyconveyinghere,isforTimothytorememberthatsinceJesuswasraisedfromthedead,wewillalsoshareinthatandexperienceaphysicalresurrectiononeday.Again,thiswouldbeanencouragementtoTimothywiththefearofpersecutionandmaybedeathloomingoverhim.

AFUTUREHOPE 3

Paulthengoesontosay“ifweendurewewillalsoreignwithhim.”HowwouldthisbeencouragingtoTimothy?Thistiesinwiththeillustrationwetalkedaboutlastweekoftheathlete.HowcanTimothypersevere?Wellonereasonisthathewillberewardedoneday.Thatshouldn’tbehismainmotivatorbutitisreality.AsbelieverswebothAREandwillonedayBEco‐heirswithChrist.ThatwouldbeencouragingwhenallotherthingsfromanearthlyperspectivemayseemchaotictoTimothy.AlsorememberthatNeroisinpowerinRomeduringthistimeandhasbeenbrutaltoChristians.Fromanearthlyperspectiveitmayhavelookedlikehewaswinningandincontrol.TimothyisremindedbyhisfriendherethatChristisreigningeveninthemidstofsuchsufferingandhewillonedayreignwithChrist.

Paulthensaysthat“ifwedisownhim,hewillalsodisownus;ifwearefaithless,hewillremainfaithful,forhecannotdisownhimself.”HowcanwereconcilewhatPaulissayinghere?Isn’thecontradictinghimself?What’sthedifferenceindisowningandbeingfaithless?TheGreekwordfor“disown”heremaymean“deny/refuse/saynoto.”UltimatelyifwedenyJesusasSaviorhewillHAVETO(becauseofhisjusticeandwhathehassaidinhisword)denyusafterdeathbecausewehaven’tbelievedinhim.Todenyisindirectoppositionofbelieving/trustingin,whichishowwehavesalvation.Lookat1John2:20‐23foranotherpassageonthis.Sohowisthisdifferentfrombeingfaithless?Hereisagoodsummary,again,fromtheESVStudyBible:“inthiscontext,todenyhimmustentailamoreseriousoffensethanbeingfaithless[becausethereisadistinctionmadeb/wthetwointhispassage].DenyingChristenvisionsfinalapostasy,incontrastwithatemporarylapseintrustingChrist(“ifwearefaithless”).ThosewhodenyJesuswillbejudgedforever;butallbelieverssin,andGodisfaithfulandwillpardon,restore,andkeepthosewhoaretrulyhis.”SopartofthedistinctionhereisthatthosedenyingChristarenotbelievers.WhatPaulissayinginthatlastverseisthatGodisfaithfulregardlessofourdegreeoffaith(providedwehaveplacedourtrustinhim).Godcan’tNOTbefaithfultohischildrenbecausethatwouldgoagainsthisowncharacter.

Took

Whataretheimplicationsinyourlifethatevenwhenwearefaithless,Godwillremainfaithful? HowdoesthepromiseofreigningwithChristencourageustopersevere? WeeachplaceourhopeinthingsotherthanChrist.Whatmightthatbeinyourlife?

POWEROFWORDS 1

Hook

Haveyoueversaidanythingcarelessthatyouwishyoucouldtakeback?Whatweretheresults?

Whatwouldyouhavedonedifferently?

Transition:JesusistheWord.GodrevealshimselfthroughlanguageandHeistheveryauthorandfoundationof language.Today’sacademiccultureismarkedbyaphilosophyfirstdevisedinFrancecalledDeconstructionism.History,Language,andevenMathareall‘deconstructed’today.Theyareevaluatedinlightofthehistoricalandculturalparadigmsinwhichtheywereandarecommunicated.Lookforitinyourclasses.Theyaredeconstructedastheyrelatetoaculturalunderstandingthroughwhichthetopicsareunderstood.Whatwethinkofhistoryisinextricablylinkedtohowweculturallyviewlife,purpose,realityetc.Soalloftheabovesubjectsarere‐evaluatedinlightoftheculturalbaggagethatwebringintoourunderstandingofeachdiscipline.ThereforeitisquestionedwhetherwecanreallyknowanythingconcreteaboutHistory.Languageissaidtobeculturallyunderstood.Asculturesdiverge,whoknowsiftheinterpretationoncerecordedwouldbethesameaswewouldinterprethaditbeenwrittentoday?Thisthinkingtranscendsintoallfacetsoflifeandknowledge.Forexample:Howdoweknowthatwhatyoumeanbytheword‘tree’iswhatImeanbytheword‘tree’?Yourunderstandingof‘tree’isconnectedtoallsortsofbackgroundeventsandcircumstances.Youfelloutofatreewhenyouwere5andbrokeyourarm.Atreefellonyourhouse5yearsago.Yourgrandfatherwasalogger.Alltheseexperiencesshapeyourunderstandingoftheword‘tree’.Howarewethentocommunicateinameaningfulrationalwaywherewecanbesurethatwhatyouaretryingtosayisheardthesamewaybytheoppositeparty?Whew….academicandirrelevantyousay?Well,let’sbringitclosertohome.HowdoweknowthatwhenJesususedtheword‘Sheol’meaning‘Hell’thatHemeantwhatwethinkofwhenwethinkof‘Hell’?Howdoweknowthatwhenyousay‘God’itiswhatIthinkofwhenIsay‘God’?Andsohowarewetoblameanyoneiftheirconceptof‘God’doesnotincludetheTrinitarianformulawithJesusasSonofGod?ThesearerealquestionsthatarereallybeingaskedtodayandareevenveryalivewithintheChurch.Thissectionof2Timothytalksabout‘Words’andPaulsaysthatwordsmatter!Theyarepowerful.ABiblicalunderstandingoflanguageisveryimportant.Withoutafoundationalpatternoflanguage,thereactuallyisroomforgreatdoubtwhetherrationalcommunicationisavailable.Ofcourseourexperiencetellsusthatrationalcommunicationisindeedpossibleandsowetrustitdaily.HoweverapartfromBiblicalfaith,therereallyisnofoundation.AndherewehavePaulremindingusaboutthepowerofwords.GobacktoGenesis1.Intheverybeginning,GodSPOKE!Heusedwordstocreate.InJohn1:1wearetoldthat“InthebeginningwastheWordandtheWordwaswithGod,andtheWordwasGod.HewasinthebeginningwithGod.Allthingsweremadethroughhim,andwithouthimnothingwasmadethatwasmade.”Thatispowerfulrelatedtothethoughtsintheseparagraphs.TheWord…languagepersonifiedinChristwastherebeforethebeginningoftime.LanguageisvaluabletoGod.ItisinfactpartofHisveryessence.CommunicationbetweenHeandtheothersoftheTrinity;betweenHeandus;andthatbetweenhumanityisimportanttoGod.Thereforeyourwordsmatter!Doyougetit?Itisnotenoughjusttosay“watchwhatyousaytoothers”today.“Why?”itmaybeasked,“theyarejustwordsandIcansaywhatIwanttosay”.Butthey

2Timothy:2:14‐26 PowerofWords

POWEROFWORDS 2

arenotjustwords.WordsareafoundationalpartofourexistenceandoneofthereasonsforwhichGodcreatedus…tousewords.WordsmattertoGod.Whatyousay…whatyoudon’tsay.Howyousayit.Doyouusethemcarelessly?Wordsaffecteternity.Wordsaffectlifetoday.WordsmattertoGod!

Look

InlightofthethemeofthePastoralEpistles,whyisthissectionhere?ThisisprettyclearatthispointIhope.Thisistheveryissuegoingoninthechurch.Therearesomeusingwordsinappropriatelyteachingsomesortofwrongdoctrine.Itiseitheradoctrineoflegalismoradoctrinerelatedtoanover‐realizedeschatologythatsaidthattheresurrectionofbelievershasalreadyhappened.

1.KeepRemindingNote:Pauluseswordsandheusesthempoignantlyandpowerfully.Whenyoucometothissectionhestartswith‘remindthem’.Hehasalreadytoldusto‘remember’.AndhehasrememberedwithTimothywhathashappenedinthepast.RememberingisanimportantthemeintheBible.Itiswhenweforgetthatwefallaway.Thisformof‘Remind’andthefollowing‘warn’intheNIVand‘charge’intheESVarecomplimentarywordsinthe‘present’tenseinGreek.Theythereforehaveamorespecificmeaningof‘KeepReminding’andconcurrently,‘KeepWarning’.Onedoesnotremindonetimeandgoon,butwearetoconstantlyremind…andberemindedofwhatPaulissayinghere.

WhatdoesPaultellTimothyto‘remindthem’ashemovesontosomespecificwarningsandteachings?Whatare‘thesethings’?Thisisactuallyaveryimportantclauseinthepastoralepistles.‘Thesethings’thoughnotspecificallydelineatedisaphraseusedseveraltimesin1/2TimothyandTitus.Ifwelookdirectlyprecedingthissectionto2:1‐13,hereareprobablyseveralthingsherethatareherereferredtothatareimportanttotheChurchandthatyouandIareremindedof:Immediatelyprecedingisagreatpromise:IfwedidwithHim,wewillalsolivewithhimetc….Thelineageofwhattheyareinvolvedin…backthegreatpatriarchDavid1:8.Therewillbesuffering1:9butthereishopeamidstsuffering!Perhapsthemostimportantpreviousreferenceisin2:2,“whatyouhaveheardfrommeinthepresenceofmanywitnesses”.Whatwerethesethings?

Whatare‘thesethings’thatmightbethecentralteachingofChristianitythatweneedtobeconstantlyreminded?(makealisttogether)ie.DeathandresurrectionofJesus,substitutionaryatonement(rememberfrombefore),salvationbyfaith

2.Charge WhatarethequarrelsthatariseamongstChristians?

ie.Literal7daycreationorfigurative,predestination,endtimes,women’srolesinthechurch,alcoholissues,infantbaptismetc.Arethesethingsimportant?Yes….butaretheyissuestospendtimeinquarreling?

Whichonesarevalidandwhichnotsovalid?Howdoweknow?Dothey‘ruinthehearers’?Arepeoplebeingbuiltupandunitygrowingoristheredivisionthatarises?

POWEROFWORDS 3

AreyourargumentsaboutBiblicalknowledgeusuallywithChristiansornon‐Christians?

3.Present WhatwoulditmeantopresentyourselftoGodinthetopicthatPaulisaddressing?Doyouthink

aboutpresentingyourselftoGodinyouruseofwords?Thisispowerful.DowemeasureourwordsasbeforethelivingGodwhoseesandhearsallthings?OurpresentationisfirsttoGodandthentothepeoplewithwhomwearecommunicating.OurweconcernedwithapprovalbeforeGodorbeforeman?Pursuethatquestionsomewithyourgroup.Whatistheaffectonourwordsinrelationtowhomweareseekingapproval?

Followtheargumentclosely.Isthis‘shame’thesametypeof‘shame’asvs.1:8?Why,whynot?This‘shame’isindeednottheshameofprevious.ThisisnotbeingashamedofLord.Thisisbeingsurethatnoshamecomesfromwhatwe‘do’beforetheLord.HowwouldyoumeasureorevaluatewhetherthereisshameinwhatyoudobeforeGod?Psalm115:1says‘nottousohLord,nottousbuttoyournamegiveglory’.Howmightthatbeadeterminingprincipleforwhatwordsbringshametous?

4.HandleRightly WhatdoesitmeantorightlyhandletheWordoftruthinyourcontext?Whatpracticalwayscanyou

‘handletheWordrightly’?Comment:Weneedtohearthisandprocessit!IamveryconcernedaboutthelackofBiblicalliteracyamongststudentstoday….eventhosewithachurchbackground.Veryfewhavehandledthewordrightly.VeryfewhavereallyeverstudiedabookoftheBible.VeryfewhaveeverreadthroughtheBibleinitsentiretyandyettheyclaimtobelieveit.MostoftheconversationsthathappenrelatedtoBiblicalknowledgeconsistofseveralstudentssittingaroundspeculatingoutoftheircommonignorance.WeneedtolearntogototheBiblicalsourceorpursueotherswhohavemorewisdomintheBibletofindanswers.Ouch,sorry,discusswhatyouthinkaboutthis……Discussamongstyourgroup:whatwoulditlooklikeasagrouptocommittohandlingthewordoftruthrightly?Willtheycommitto‘owning’abookoftheBiblebystudyingitwiththeinductivemethodforthesemester?WilltheycommittousingareadingplanandreadthroughtheBible?Willthecommittoavoid‘godlesschatter’aboutBiblicalissuesthattheyknowverylittleaboutandpursuelearningmorebeforetheyspeak?

Howwillyouknowifyouarehandlingitrightly?Getthemtofocusonthetext.Paulgivesusananswerheretoreflecton.Therewillbe‘Godliness’thatflowsoutinthehearers.Also,peoplewilldepartfrominiquity.Thisisactuallyanexamplewithintheanswertothisquestion.Rightlyhandlingthewordoftruthmeansto‘Observe’wellwhatscripturesays.Watchtheeyesofyourgroupmemberswhenyouaskthequestionabove.Dotheylookupandstartthinkingforthemselves?OrdotheylooktotheWordandaskthequestionsofthetext?

POWEROFWORDS 4

5.AvoidComment:Youdon’twanttobeHymenaeusorPhiletus!CanyouimaginebeingintheBibleforyourirreverentbabble!?Theymayactuallybetheprimesourcesoftheissuethatthepastoralepistlesareconcernedwith….’Sayingthattheresurrectionhasalreadyhappened’2:18b(rememberfromthebackgroundaboutover‐realizedeschatology).WearenotsureifthisisthemainissuelikeIsaid,butitcertainlywasanissue.

Reflecton2:19‐Inlightofthissection,whatcomfortisthisforusaswetrywithdiligencetoliverightlybeforeGodhandlingtheWordoftruthinadiverseandchangingculture?ThereisgreatassurancethatthoughweareresponsibletocarryoutReminding,Charging,PresentingHandlingRightlyandAvoidingGodisincontrol!WehaveapartbutGodhascontrolinallthis.Wedon’tfullunderstandhowthetwoworktogetherinGod’seconomybutHisplanswillnotbethwarted.

Took

Whatisanissuethatyouperhapshavetalkedaboutwithyourfriends,butinwhichyouactuallyhaveverylittleBiblicalinsight?PerhapsCalvinism?Perhapstheend‐times?Thisweekdosomeresearchinthatarea.Usewww.biblegateway.comasastartifyouneed.Don’tdotheresearchinanefforttohavesomeinformationtodominateadiscussionwithyourfriends.DoittohandlethewordoftruthrightlyandnotbeashamedbeforeGod!

APPEARANCESCANBEDECEIVING 1

Hook

WhataresomecommonproblemsthatunbelievershavewiththeChurchandChristians?Doyouthink

thosearewellfounded?Whyorwhynot?

Transition:IntheseversesPaulbecomesmoreseriousashedescribesthe“terribledays”whichhavealreadybeguntohappenandwillcontinue.Amainthemeintheseversesisbeingonguardagainstthosewhomayappeartobebelieversbutactuallyaren’t.Inthepreviouspassage,Paulhasbeentalkingabouthopingthatsomeofthefalseteacherswillrepent.Chapter3beginswiththeword“but”whichsignalsatransition.PaulwantstogiveTimothytherealisticpicturethatwhilesomeofthesefalseteachersmayrepent,somewillnotandoppositionwillcontinue.PaulisspecificallydescribingthefalseteachersTimothyhasalreadyencountered.Butthewarningisimportantforus,notjustTimothy,toheed.Pauldescribestheseun‐genuine“Christians”intwomainways:ashavingmisplacedloveandthe(false)appearanceofgodliness.

Look

1. MisplacedLove3:1‐4Note:WhenPaulusesthewords“lastdays”heisreferringtowhentheletterwaswrittenbuttheselastdaysalsorefertothetimeupuntilChrist’sreturn.Acts2:17marksthe“lastdays”asbeginningwiththecomingoftheSpiritatPentecost.Sothese“terribletimes”Paulreferstohavealreadybeguntobefulfilledandwillcontinueinthefuture.Sotodaywearestilllivinginthese“lastdays”becauseChristhasnotreturnedyet. WhatsticksoutaboutwhatPaulnoticesinthefalseteachers?Whatsignificanceisitthat“loversof

themselves”islistedfirst?Howisthatapictureoftheproblemofallofhumanity?Itisinterestingthat“loversofthemselves”islistedfirst.Reallyallofthoseotherthingsflowoutofthatheartcondition.Weloveourselves.Welovebeingcomfortable,beingourownauthority,beinghappy.TheessenceofsinisrebellionagainstGodandweseethatcorrelatetobeing“loversofthemselves.”EssentiallyIlovemyselfandwhatIwanttodooverloving,honoringandobeyingGod.Whenwelookatoursinupclose,oftenthereisaheartconditionoflovingourselvesmorethanGod.WesinandrebelagainstGodbecauseweloveanddesiresomethingmorethanHim.

Howdoyouseelovingyourselfattherootofyoursin?Bespecific.Comment:Whatissoimportanttoseeisthatoursinfulbehaviorscomefromsomethinggoingonintheheart.Youmayhaveheardthisanalogybutwhenwesee“fruit”onatreeweknowitstherebecauseitsconnectedtoa“root”that’scausingittogrow.Whenweseenegativefruit(sin)popupinourlife,alotoftimeswearetemptedtodealwithitonthesurface,behaviorlevel.“Ijustneedtostopdoingthis!IneedtoreadmyBiblemore.Ineedtostophangingoutwithsoandso”aresomethingswemaytellourselves.Thosestepsmaybenecessarybutifwedealwiththingsonthatlevel,weareneveraddressingwhatisgoingoninourhearts(the“root”level).Goingbacktotherootanalogy,thinkabout

2Timothy3:1‐9 AppearancescanbeDeceiving

APPEARANCESCANBEDECEIVING 2

gardening.Ifyoupullupweedsjustfromwhatyoucansee,theweedsmaybegonetemporarilybutuntilyoudigitupfromtheroot,youwillkeephavingweedspopup.SowhyamIsayingallthis?It’simportanttoseethatsinthatwedealwithalwaysgoesbacktosomethinggoingoninourhearts.Someonedoesn’tjustsleepwithmyboyfriend/girlfriendfornoreason.Somethingisgoingonataheartlevel.Itcouldbeboredom.Itcouldbelookingforintimacy.Itcouldbeanumberofdifferentthings,butwemustaskthequestion“Why”whenweseesininourlives:Whyisthatthere?WhatamIdesiringorlookingforataheartlevel?Andalotofthetime,whatisessentiallygoingoninourheartsisthatIlovemyselfandhavingmydesiresmetMYway,notthroughGod’stiminganddesign.

What,essentially,doesmylifereflectthatIlovethemost?

Thismayberepetitive,sotossitoutifyoufeellikeitis.Butagain,thepointhereisthathumanity’sproblemisthatweloveotherthingsandlivelifecenteredaroundthosethingsratherthanChrist.WemightSAYmylifeislivedwithChristatthemiddle,butsubtly(ornotsosubtly!)westarttobemoreenamoredwithrelationships,success,approval,happiness,comfort,etc.

Whatinsightdoesthisgiveusintoourculture,toknowthateveryoneisloving/worshippingsomething?Soforthenon‐believertheywouldn’tbeworshippingGod,butIneedtorememberinmyconversationswiththemthattheyareworshippingsomething.Itisamisplacedworship,ormisplacedlove.Thatshouldhelpusrelatewiththosewhodon’tknowChrist‐becausewehavethesameheartcondition.

2. AppearanceofGodliness3:5‐9Note:Itisimportanttoclarifyhere.Paulisdescribingwhatfalseteacherswilllooklikeinthe“lastdays.”Heisgoingtoaddinverse5thattheyarenotreallybelievers,theymightjustappeartobe.Althoughwecanpulloutsomeimportantconclusionsaboutsinandwhatthatevenlookslikeinourlives,notallofthispassageappliesordescribesusasbelievers.Weneedtorememberthisisspecificallydescribingfalseteachers/thosethatappeartobebelieversbutaren’t.Whatsinlookslikeinourlivescanstillbeextractedandappliedfromthispassage,butifwehavereallyplacedourfaithinChrist,theportionsofthispassageaboutnottrulybeingbelieversobviouslydoesn’tapplyordescribeus.

Whatdoyouthinkv.5meansthatpeoplecanhave“aformofgodlinessbutdenyitspower?”(ESV

translates“appearanceofgodliness”)Paulmakesitclearherethatalthoughtheseteachersarearoundthechurch,inthechurch,maybe“lookthepart,”theyarenotreallybelievers.Whilethesepeople“havetheexternalappearanceofgodliness,theydonothaveitsrealessence”(ESVStudyBible).Thewordfor“godliness”heremeans“pietyorreligion.”Paulissayingthatpeoplecanbeinchurch,professtobebelieversorlookreligiousbutnotbeactuallyconnectedtoChrist.Whenitsaysthattheydenyitspower,theyareliterallycutofffromthesourceofpowerfortheChristian‐theHolySpirit(becausetheyaren’tabelieverandwouldthereforenothavetheSpirit).SoforthesefolksPaulisreferringto,thereisnorelationshipwithChristthere.Theyaren’texperiencingtheSpirit’spowerandworkintheirlives.Itisjustmoralism.Itisthesepeople,whoprofesstobebelieversbutnevergenuinelyrepentandtrustChristthatwearetoldtohavenothingtodowith.

Howdoweseethis“appearanceofgodliness”happentoday?

Therearealotofpeopleinourculture(andprobablysomeinCornerstoneeven)thatthinkthatgoingtochurchequateswithbeingaChristian.ThatisneverwhattheBibleteaches.ItisaboutarelationshipwithChrist.Ask5peopleoncampushowtheywoulddefineChristianityandyou’llprobablyget5differentanswers.Therearemanypeopleinchurchesthataremoralbutaredoingthatintheirown

APPEARANCESCANBEDECEIVING 3

effort.ItisnothingthatisconnectedtoJesuswhatsoever,itsjustmoralliving.It’sanimportantquestionforustothinkthrough…amIjustdoingtheChristianthings(goingtochurch,readingmyBible,beingnicetopeople)orhaveIactuallytrustedinJesusandwhathe’sdoneforme?

Note:Inv.6Pauldescribesoneparticularwaythesefalseteachersareaffectingthechurch.Agroupofwomenhavebeentakenadvantageofbythem.Paulisnotsayingthatallwomenareweakhere,justasheisnotsayingallmenwilltakeadvantageofsuchwomen.Heisreferencingaspecificthingthathappenedinthechurchthere.TheNIVcommentarypointsoutthattheGreekwordingusedheremayindicatethatthesewomenwere“recentconverts,possiblyfromlivesofreligiousperversionorprostitution.”Whathe’scommunicatinghereisnotanattackonwomen,butadescriptiononhowtheseparticularwomenwereespeciallysusceptibletothesefalseteachers.Paulthenreferencestwomen,JannesandJambres,whoopposedMoses.AlthoughtheirnamesarenotmentionedintheOldTestament,thosearethenamesgiven(inJewishtradition)tothetwomagiciansMosesencounteredinthebookofExodus.LookatExodus7:8‐13and9:8‐12.

WhydoyouthinkPaulbringsupthese2men?Howshouldweapplythesection?

Whatmightseemgodlyorpowerfulcanbefalseanddangerous.ForTimothyandotherJewsreadingthis,thesenameswouldhavebeeneasilyrecognizedas2peoplewhogreatlyopposedGodandhistruth.BoththemagiciansandthefalseteachersofTimothy’sdaystandopposedtothetruth.Paulsaysherethattheyhavedepravedmindsandare“rejected”oraren’tbelievers.BringinguptheseexampleshelpsTimothyrememberthatoppositionlikethisisreallynothingnewinasense.Therehavebeenandwillcontinuetobepeopleinfiltratingthechurchwiththistypeoffalsehood.Itgetsalittletrickyinapplication.ArewetocarefullyexposealltheJannesandJambresinthechurch?ThemostquotedpassageinourcurrentcultureisnolongerJohn3:16,butnowMatthew7:1‘Judgenotlestyoumaybejudged’.Weareafraidthereforetocallanyoneoutonhowtheyarelivinginlightofwhattheyprofessinorder‘nottojudge’.IthinkthismightbeamisapplicationoftheMatthewpassage.Actually,therearegreatwarningpassagesintheBiblewhenittalksaboutourresponsibilitytoencourageone‐anotherintruthtowardsholiness.ThisMatthewpassageaswellasotherssimilaronesareactuallytalkingboutBelieversjudgingnon‐Believers.Wearenottodothat,fortheydon’thaveChrist.However,ifonedoeshaveChrist,thenwearetoencourageone‐anothertowardsholiness.ItisnotourroletoexposetheJannesandJambresinthechurch.ButwhatwoulditlookliketolookoutforourprofessingbrothersandsistersandstimulatethemtowardsChrist?

Whatistheencouragementasthepassageends?Whatistheencouragementforus?

JustliketheEgyptianmagicianswereshowntobefoolish,thefalseteacherswillbeshownforwhattheyreallyare,too.Evenwhenitseemslikewe’reinanoverwhelmingbattle,likeTimothyprobablyfeltlike,wehavehopethatChristisvictoriousandnothingwillthwarthimorhisplans.

Took

Reflectonyourown:HaveIreallyplacedmyfaithinChristoramIjustdoingtheChristianthing? HowhaveotherlovesslippedinandtakenmydevotionawayfromChrist? Inlightofthat,howcanIreorientmylifetofocusonChrist?

THEREALTHING 1

Hook Whatoneortwothingsdoyouwanttobetrueofyourlife?Howwouldyouwantpeopletoremember

youafteryourlifeonearth?

Transition:Oneofthemainthemesthroughout2Timothyistheideaofleavingalegacy.PaulwillleavealegacyoftheGospelbeingcentralandpowerfulinhislife.HewantsTimothytolivewellinordertoleavealegacyofotherpeopleknowingtheGospelthroughhislife.Butsometimeswelosethatbiggerviewandgetfocusedonthehereandnowoflife.OurfaithcanbeplacedonthebackburnerandwecanlivelivesfocusedonourselvesratherthanChrist.

Paulhasthismentalityinviewthroughouttheletterashe’swriting.HewantsTimothytostandfirminhisfaith,begenuineinhisfaith,inthemidstofthepersecutionheendures.InthisparticularpassagePaulwilladdresshowTimothycanstayfaithfulwhentherearesomanyunfaithful,falseteachersaroundhim.You’llnoticethatthispassagestartswith“you,however.”Nottobelaborthepoint,buttheword“however”showsthatatransitionorcomparisonishappening.Pauliscontrastingtheungodlinessandinsincerityofthefalseteacherswithwhatrealfaithshouldlooklike.Howdowecombatfalsehood,likewhatTimothywasencounteringallaroundhim?Paulfocuseson3things:consistency,embracingsufferingandremainingrootedintheScriptures.

Look*Youmaywanttospendalittletimereviewingagain.Youcouldsplityourstudyupintopairsorsmallgroupsandassigneachgrouponeofthesections(ch1,2:1‐13,2:14‐26,3:1‐9).Theycanthen“teach”thegroupbyreviewingwhatthemainpointwasfromthatsectionANDwhatspecificadviceTimothyisbeinggiven.Astheleader,alsoreferbacktotheintrosectionandremindyourgroupwhatthemainthemeofthebookasawholeis.

1. Consistentliving3:10‐11

WhydoyouthinkPaulbeginsbyreferencinghisownlife/example?Isn’tthatarrogant?AlthoughPaulknowsheisn’tperfectandisstillasinner(lookatRomans7ifyoudon’tbelieveme!)heisconfidentthathehaslivedalifepleasingtotheLordandthatGodhasusedhim.HeisthereforeabletoencourageTimothytofollowhisexample.It’snotthatPaulissogreat,it’sthattheGospelhasradicallybeenatworkinhislifeandhehascenteredhislifearoundtheGospel.Paulhasalsojustdescribedwhatthecorruptlifeofthefalseteacherslookedlike.Soheismakingacase,sotospeak,ofwhyhisfaithisgenuine.Hespecificallybringsuphisteachings,wayoflife,purpose,faith,patience,love,endurance,persecutionsandsufferings.Thosethings(esp.patience,love,faith)arefruitoftheSpirit.Heisnotbragginghere,butgivingatestimonytowhatGodhasdoneinhislife.Anddon’tforgetPaul’sconversioneither!Godhasdonethesethingsinhislifeandradicallychangedhim.Hewillgoon

2Timothy3:10‐17 TheRealThing

THEREALTHING 2

totalkmoreaboutthesufferingshe’sendured(whichwewilltalkmoreaboutlater).Whyishebringingthatup?Itisthroughthesufferingandhavingtoendurethatourfaithisreallyshowntobegenuine.

Whydoesour“wayoflife”(orhowwelive)mattertoGodifwearesavedbygrace?HowIlivereflectswhatIbelieve!Forexample,whenIamoverwhelminglyanxiousallthetime,whatdoesthatcommunicatethatIbelieveaboutGod?ItshowsthatIdon’ttrusthimverymuchandfeelthatIamreallytheoneneedingtobeincontrol.LookatTitus1:15‐16.Althoughthisisspecificallyaddressingnon‐believersthereisagoodwarningforusinthere,aswell.WecanclaimtoknowGodbutifourwayoflifedoesn’tmatchup,thereisadisconnect.Essentiallywearedenyinghimthroughouractions.Wewillallcontinuetostrugglewithsin,that’snotwhatwe’regettingat.Weareallbrokenpeople.ButthereshouldbefruitinourlifeandhowwelivereallydoesmattertoGod(andtootherswhoarewatchingus!).IapologizeforthethrowbacktoanoldChristiangroupfromthe90s,butIthinkthisquotefromDCTalkreallydoessumupwellwhyourwayoflifematters:“ThegreatestsinglecauseofatheismintheworldtodayisChristianswhoacknowledgeJesuswiththeirlips,thenwalkoutthedooranddenyhimbytheirlifestyle.Thatiswhatanunbelievingworldsimplefindsunbelievable.”

2.Embracesuffering3:11‐13Paulreferencesthesufferinghehasenduredandsharesabout3differentinstances.Ifthere’stime,lookuptheseversesforbackgroundonwhatheistalkingabout:Antioch(Acts13:42‐52),Iconium(Acts14:1‐7)andLystra(14:8‐20).Ifyoudon’thavetime,atleastsharethesereferenceswithyourgroupandtheycanlookituplater. ThebookofActsrecordsthreemajorsufferingsPaulendured.(13:42‐52,14:1‐7,14:8‐20)Referringto

thesepassages,whatinsightintoPauldoyougain?Hehassufferedveryoften!Andlikewetalkedaboutearlierinthestudy,heisnotonlysufferingphysically,butheislonelyandfeelsdeserted.Itisreallyhardforustograspthedepthofsufferingheenduredbecausewedon’tfacethatsamepersecutionnowinAmerica.Butremember,thesearerealexperiencesthathappenedtoarealperson.

Ashelooksbackonthissufferinginthe2Timothypassage,whatisPaul’sperspectiveandattitude?Inallofthoseinstances,hesaystheLordrescuedhimeachtime.Hepreservedhislifeeachtimeandnotonlythat,butworkedinPaul’shearttogivehimpowertokeepfaithfullyfollowingChrist.Weknowthatthistimewillbedifferent,andPaulknowsthattoo.Hewillnotbesparedfromdeaththistime.ButPaulhastheperspectivethatsufferingispartofthelifeoftheChristian.Heevensaystoliveagodlylife,meansthatyouwillencountersuffering.Again,hewantstobehonestandcandidwithTimothysohewillbepreparedandkeepwalkingwithChristwhenthingsgethard.OnethingthatcomesupoverandoveragaininthisletteristhatalthoughPaulhasenduredandwillcontinuetoenduresomuchsuffering,theGospelisWORTHittohim.RememberhiswordsinPhilippians3thatallthings,evenhislife,isrubbishcomparedtothegreatnessofknowingChrist.

Note:SoPaulremindsusherethatpersecutionisinevitable.WhenyoubecomeaChristianyouaren’tsigningupforaneasylifefreeofpain.Quitethecontrary,enduringsufferingistobeexpectedforbelievers.AndoverandoveragainintheNewTestamentwearetoldthatitisactuallythroughsufferingthatourfaithwillbetested,growandbeprovedgenuine.Inv.12Paulpointsoutaconnectiontosufferingandgodliness.Atruegodliness(versesjustthe“appearance”ofit)shinesthroughwhenwesuffer.Forthegenuinebeliever,godlinessisrevealedintrials.

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Howcansufferingallowtruegodlinesstoshinethrough?

3.RemainintheWord3:14‐17 WhatviewdoesPaulhaveoftheScriptures?WhatsticksoutaboutwhathetellsTimothyinv.14‐15?

HeagainexhortsTimothytoclingtowhathehasalreadylearned,theGospel,whichPaulhaspreachedtohimovertheyears.Don’tdeviatefromthosetruths.Theideaof“continuinginwhathehaslearned”givestheimpressionthatthereissomemovementforward.HeisnottomovepasttheGospel,butdeeperintoit.WenevercheckofftheGospelandmovetosomethingmoreadvanced.TheGospeliswhatweneedforsalvationbutalsoforoursanctification.Wedon’tmovepastitbutwillcontinueonsearchingthedepthsofitanditsimplicationsforourlives.SoPaulencourageshimtocontinueoninwhathe’slearned.HealsomentionsthatTimothyhasbeen“convincedof”thoseteachings.Inatimewhenfalseteachingsabound,Paultellshimessentiallytothinkback,rememberthatheknowsdeepdownofthetruth.Whentemptationcomestobelievesomethingelse,Timothy,rememberthetruthyouareconfidentin.That’shammeredhomewhenheremindshimthatfromlongagohehasknowntheseScripturesandthroughbeingrootedinthem,hehasgrown.AndonelastthingPaulpointsoutisthatTimothyneedstoremember“fromwhom”helearnedtheGospel.PaulistellinghimtoclingtotheGospel,rememberitsworkinhislife,andfromwhomhelearnedit‐Paulhimself,whosefaithhasbeenprovedtrueandgenuine.PauldefinitelyhasaveryhighviewofScripture.Remember,thesearePaul’slastwordstoTimothy.Shouldn’thebetellinghimspecificsaboutministry…certainthingstodo,toolstouse,waytodoministry?ButhechoosestofocusonTimothybeingreliantofScripture.Thatishowhewillstaystrongpersonallyandhowhisministrywillflourish.

WhydoyoureadtheBible?WhydoyouthinkGodhasgivenushisWord?ThroughstudyingtheBiblewegrowtounderstandwhoGodisandexperienceHimthroughthat.WearecalledtomeetwithGodinhiswordtogrowinourrelationshipwithhimandbecauseitglorifieshim.Ifwearehonestwithourselves,though,ourmotivationcanbetocheckitoffalistorbecauseitisjustwhatI’msupposedtodo.SpendingtimeintheBibleisdefinitelyadisciplinethatweneedtohaveinourlives,butsometimeswecanhavetheskewedperspectivethatspendingtimeintheWordcausesGodtoloveusmore.WhenIdon’tspendtime,helovesmeless.ThatmentalityisnottrueandwillleadustomeetwithGodinhiswordoutofobligationorfearratherthanoutofgratitudeandaheartthatwantstogenuinelyknowGod.

Whyisitsignificantthat“allScriptureisGod‐breathed?”

TheESVStudyBiblesummarizedthiswell:ThetermGod‐breathed“stressesthedivineoriginandthustheauthorityofScripture….WhereasitseemsthatPaulandTimothy’sopponentsstressedcertainaspectsorportionsofScripture,PaulstressestheauthoritativenessofallofScripture.ThedivineoriginofScriptureisthereasonforitspowertoconvert(2Tim3:15)anditsusefulnessintraining(v.17).BecauseScripturecomesfromGodhimself,allofitisprofitableinarangeofways,ultimatelyleadingtorighteousness.”WhenIreadtheBibleitisreallyabattlesometimestorememberthisisREALLYGod’swords.ThisWordreallyISlivingandactiveinmylife,asHebrewspointsout.Godreallyspokethesethingsandtheyhaveauthorityinmylife.Thisistrueandifwereallygraspedthatataheartlevel,wewouldhavelivesmorerootedintheBibleandbemoremotivatedtospendtimereadingit.

Workoutallthefunctionsofscripture….howwouldyouexplaineachtermpractically?Whyareeach

ofthefunctionsofScripturelistedimportant?Thefunctionspointedouthere:teach,rebuke,correctandtraininrighteousness.AndallofthoseINORDERTHATbelieverswillbeequippedineveryway.GodteachesusabouthimselfthroughtheBible.TheSpiritworksinourheartsconvictingandrebukingusaswereadScripture.ButGodnotonlyuses

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theBibletorebuke,Scripturealsoworkstocorrect,orproducelife‐changeinme.AndGoduseshiswordtogrowusinrighteousness,orhelpmeunderstandwhataholyandpleasinglifelookslike.Paulhassuchahighview(andcorrectview)ofthepowerofGod’sword.Itiswhatweneedtobethoroughlyequipped!

ItishelpfultokeepthesepurposesofScriptureinmindaswespendtimereadingtheBible.Herearesomequestionsyoucanthinkthroughforeachofthosefunctions:

Teaching:WhatdidIlearnfromthepassageIread?(Youcouldspecificallyask:whatdidIlearnaboutGod,myselfandothers?)

Rebuking:WheredoIfallshort?Andmoreimportantly,WHYdoIfallshort?(thisshoulddriveustoseeourneedforChrist,notjusttryingharderinourowneffort)

Correction:whatneedstochangeinmylife?How,throughGod’spower,willitbecorrected? Traininginrighteousness:Whatdoesitlookliketomovetowardsholinessinthisareaandsee

consistentvictory?

Took

Whatisthebiggesthindranceforyoupersonallyinspendingconsistent,qualitytimereadingtheBible?(itwouldbegoodheretorevisitourMOTIVATIONSofspendingtimeintheBible.IfIhaveaskewedviewofwhyI’mcalledtoreadtheBibleinthefirstplace,it’llbepurelyadiscipline.)

InwhatwaysdoyouwanttomoveforwardinbeingmorerootedandconsistentinGod’sword?

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Whataresomethingsourculture“preaches”thatarecountertotheGospel?(ofcourseotherreligiousbeliefsapplyhere,butthinkabouthowthiscanperhapshappenmoresubtly)Whataboutthosethingscanseemattractiveorbelievable?

Transition:LastweekwefocusedontheroleoftheBibleinourlivesasbelievers.PaulreiteratedmanytimestoTimothythatitisessentialforhimtobedeeplyrootedinGod’sword,specificallytellinghimattheendofchapter3todosothathe“maybethoroughlyequippedforeverygoodwork”(3:17).Thepassagewe’lldigintothisweekpicksrightbackupthere.Paulwillbeexplaininghowthis“goodwork”willgetplayedoutinTimothy’sministry.God’sWordwillequiphim,butwhatexactlyishesupposedtodo?HerePaulwillgiveTimothy5commandsforhislifeandministry.Butremember,thisisontheheelsofPaul’sdiscussionoftheimportanceandpowerofScripture‐Timothyisnotbeinggivencommandshemustdoinhisownpower,butindependence.

Look

2. Paul’sfinalcharge4:1‐2Likewe’vebeentalkingaboutthroughoutthisbook,thesearePaul’slastwordstoTimothy,hisbeloveddisciple.Thischapterwouldbethelastofthelastwords.So,thismightbeimportant!Inthesefirst5versesPaulgivesTimothy5commandsinthefirst2verses:preach,beprepared,correct,rebukeandencourage.We’lldigdeeperintowhyeachofthoseareimportantlateron.Paulbeginsthissectionthoughwithsomeauthoritytohischarge.Thecommandshe’sgivenarenotfromPaulalone,butGod.He’stellingTimothytorememberhe’snottofocusonwhatPaulthinksabouthisministry,otherpeople,etc.buttohonortheLordashemovesforwardinministry.

Paulfocusesontwothingsinthefuture:futurejudgmentandChrist’sappearing/comingkingdom.In

lightofthecommandshe’sabouttogiveTimothy,whydoyouthinkPaulmentionsthesetwothingsinparticular?PaulwantsTimothytoremembertherealityofthosefuturethings.ChristwilljudgeandChristwillcomeagain.ThereisurgencyandimportanceinwhatTimothyiscalledtodoandit’snotPaulwhohascalledhim,itsGod.IfTimothyreallylivedinlightofthesetwothings,hisfocuswouldbeChristandhisapproval,notthecircumstancesaroundhim.ThisalsoaddsalotofauthoritytowhatPaulisabouttocommandhimtodo.It’snotjustPaul’sideasforsuccessfullivingandministry.HewantsTimothytorememberthathowheconductshimselfandleadsthechurchisunderGod’ssight.Thereisalsourgencyimpliedhere.Christwillcomebackandwilljudgeallpeople…theministryoftheGospelisurgent!

Pickoutthe5commandsTimothyisgiveninv.1‐2andperhapsunderlinetheminyourBible?(lookfortheverbs!)Inlightofthecontextonceagain,whyareeachofthesetaskssocrucial?

2Timothy4:1‐8 ItchingEars

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a. PreachtheWord:thisisnotanewcharge,Paulhassaidthisthroughoutthisletter.ButheremindshimoncemoreofthecentralityoftheWord.ThatmustbecentraltoTimothy’s(andour)ministry.WiththeGospelbeingwatereddown,changed,abandonedthisisobviouslycrucialforthechurchtomoveforward(inTimothy’sdayandours!).

b. Beprepared:he’stoldtobepreparedinseasonandoutofseason.ThereneedstobeasensewherewearereadyandwillingwheneverGodpresentsanopportunitytous.

Whatdoesitmeantobepreparedinseasonandoutofseason?AstheESVStudyBiblesays,beingprepared“whenitisconvenientandwhenitisinconvenient.”Obviouslybeingpreparedatalltimes.Weneedtothinkthroughwayswemightnotfeelprepared.DoIknowhowIwouldevencommunicatetheGospeltosomeone?CouldIcommunicatewhatGodhasdoneinmylifeclearly?Giveitsomethoughtastowaysyoumightwanttobemoreprepared.BeingalertisanotherwaytothinkaboutwhatPaulissayinghere‐weneedtobeonourguardtothefalseteachingaroundusandalerttoopportunitieswemayhave.Again,keepinginmindthefuturecomingandjudgmentofChrist.WhatPaulisNOTsayingisthatwemustbe100%confident.We’llprobablyneverfeelfullypreparedandthereneedstobeadependenceonGod’sSpiritofcourse.Butwedon’twanttoneglectbeingreadyatthesametime.

c. Correct:theselast3commandstieintogetherandspecificallyaddressthefalseteachingsTimothyishavingtodealwithinandaroundhischurch.BecauseoftheimportanceoftheGospelmessagenotbeingdistorteditisofutmostimportanceforTimothytocorrectthosewithfalsedoctrine.HemustnotshyawayfromdoingthatotherwisetheGospelgetscompromised.

d. Rebuke:Likecorrectingbutabitstronger.Timothyiscommandedtorebuke(speaktruthandcallpeopletorepent,isanotherwaytothinkaboutit)thosethatneedtobecalledoutinhisministry.Why?ForthesakeofprotectingtheGospelandthechurchmovingforward.

e. Encourage:hisroleisalsotoencouragepeopletowardsChrist.Andnoticeallofthesecommandsaretobedonewithpatienceandcarefulinstruction.Bothattitude(patience)andteaching(carefulinstruction)areimportanthere.

Note:NowPaulwillexplainWHYheisgivingthesecommands.Sowehavethisprogressiongoingonhere.Attheendofchapter3TimothyistoldtoberootedintheWordsothathecancarryoutthetaskshe’sbeengiven.Nowwe’vejustlookedatwhatthosetasks(orcommands)are.Nowwe’lllookatwhyhe’sbeengiventheseparticularcommandsanyways(ortheREASONforthechargehewasjustgiven).

3. TheGospel’sopposition(v.3‐5) WhatdoesPaulwarnwillhappen?(v.3‐4)

Paulsaysthatatimeiscoming,andhadalreadypartlycome,peoplewouldnottoleratesounddoctrine.WhatthatmeansisthatpeoplewouldmoveawayfromthetruthclaimsoftheGospel.ThatmightlooklikewateringtheGospeldown,addingtoit,takingpartsaway.Butbottomlineis,atimeiscomingwherepeoplewilltryanddistorttheGospel.Paulwarnsthattogiveauthorityorweighttotheirclaimsthesepeoplewillgatherothersaroundthemtoagreewiththem.WegetthepicturehereofpeopledriftingawayfromtheGospel,makingtheirown“gospel”andproppingthemselvesupwithpeoplearoundthemwhowillagreewiththem.Oneotherinterestingthingtonote:Paulsaysherethata“time”iscoming.Theword“time”thereisfromthesamerootwordasthewordtranslated“season”inv.2.Soalreadywe’reseeinga“season”thatTimothyneedstobepreparedfor.

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Let’sdigdeeper.WHYdoeshesaythiswillhappen?(v.3‐4)It’ssointerestingwhatPaulsayshereaboutwhythiswillhappen.Hesayspeoplewillnotputupanylongerwithsounddoctrinebecauseoftheir“itchingears.”Whatanimage!Whensomethingitches,wescratchit,right?Paulsaysthatiswhatwillhappen…peoplewillgetanitchforsomethingelsetobetrue,todistortpartoftheGospelorthrowitoutaltogether,andmanyofthemwill“scratch”thatitch.Paulsayspeoplewilldothis“tosuittheirowndesires.”SowhatyouhavegoingonhereisaLordshipissue.Mydesires,orwhatIWANTorWISHtobetrue,takesprecedentoverwhatisactuallytrueaccordingtoGod’sword.Itisaheart‐level,desireissuegoingonattheroot.AndPaulsaysthattheywillgatherteachersaroundthemtocatertotheirdesires.(Thesearenotteachersoftruth,therefore.)

Howdoyouseethis“itchingears”situationplayingoutinourculture?

Therearetonsofexamplesyoucouldshare.Onethatcomestomindmostisthetolerancementalityoftodaythatsaysanydoctrinethatmakesexclusiveclaimsmustbefalse.It’sfineforyoutobelievewhatyoubelievebutdon’ttrytosaythatshouldbetrueforeveryone.OuritchingearswanttobescratchedwithtoleranceoverwhatisactuallytrueaccordingtoChrist’sclaims.Youcanseethisplayedoutinchurcheseven.Oneexampleisafocusinsomechurchesonthe“prosperitygospel.”TheideathatGodpromisesusasbelieverstoblessusfinancially,withhealth,aneasylife,etc.andifwejustservehimenough,prayenough,giveenoughtithethatweareowedthatbyGod.MyitchingearsDOwanttobepromisedalifeofeaseandlotsofmoney.Butthatisn’twhattheGospeleverclaims.

Let’sgetalittleclosertohome.Wheredoyousee“itchingears”inyourownlife?Inwhatways/areasofyourlifedoyourdesirestakeprecedenceoverGod’sword?Therecanbelotsofanswerswiththisofcourse.I’dsayoneareaIseethisalotisintheareaofsexualpurity.I’vehadcountlessconversationsovertheyearswithstudentsthatareapatheticinthisarea.ThestandardisverymuchwhatotherpeoplearedoingandhowImeasureupNOTwhatGod’swordsaysaboutit.That’sjustoneexample,therearelotsofthingspeoplecouldshare.Andweareaffectedandcanbuyintoalotofwhatourculturesays,aswell,whichwetalkedaboutinthepreviousquestion.

Note:ThroughoutthisletterPaulcontrastsTimothy’sgenuinefaithtothefalse“faith”ofsomearoundhim.Hedoesthatagainhere.Paulnowmakesacontrast.“Butyou”startsoutverse5,contrastinghowTimothyshouldmoveforwardandbepreparedforseasonswheretheGospelisabandonedbypeople.Paul’sfinalchargecontinues…

WhatthingsdoesPaulencourageTimothytodoinv.5?Whydoyouthinkthesethingswouldbe

important?We’regoingtolookattheESVtranslationofthisversewhichIthinkishelpful(andthehomeworkforthisweekistolistentoatalkbyCrawfordLorittswhousesthistranslation.)Here’showtheESVsaysit:

“Asforyou,alwaysbesober‐minded,enduresuffering,dotheworkofanevangelist,fulfillyourministry.”

Don’tspendatonoftimehere,butdolookatwhatPaulischargingTimothytodohere.Firstofall,besober‐minded.NIVsays,keepyourheadinallsituations.Thistiesinwithwhatwetalkedaboutearlieraboutbeingpreparedforwhat’stocomeandalert.Don’tbetossedbyandforthbycircumstancesandfalseteachings.Stayfocusedandalert.Secondly,enduresuffering.Thisisnotanewchargeeither.PaulisrealisticwithTimothythathewillfacesuffering.Andremember,Paulisverymuchexperiencingitashespeaks!Bottomline,though,isthattheGospelisworthitandPaulreiteratesthattoTimothythroughouttheletter.Next,hetellshimtodotheworkofanevangelist.ThepointinallthisistheGospelmovingforth.SoTimothyshouldnevergetsoboggeddownwithothertasksthattheGospelisn’tbeingproclaimedinhisministry.

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Finally,fulfillyourministry.Essentially,persevereandfinishwell.AndwhatamodeloffinishingwellhehasseenthroughPaul!

SoPaulhasjustgivenafinalchargetoTimothy,someofhislastwordstohisdisciple.Wejustlookedatv.5wherehehasessentiallytoldTimothytofinishwell.InthenextfewverseswegetaglimpseintoPaul’slifeashereflectsbackonit.Wealsogetapictureofwhatitlooksliketofinishtheracewell.

4. Finishingwell(v.6‐8)Note:Wegetanotherglimpseinv.6thatPaulknowshe’sabouttodie.Hesayshasalreadybeenpouredoutandhistimeofdepartureisnear.Althoughhehasbeeninprisonbefore,histoneshowsthatheknowsthistimehewillnotbereleased.

WhatdoyouthinkitmeanswhenPaulsaysheisbeingpouredoutlikeadrinkoffering?Whythis

illustration?InordertogetthewholepictureofwhatPaulissayinghere,weneedtolookatwhatadrinkofferingis.LookatExodus29:39‐41andNumbers28:7‐8.Twothingsaboutthesedrinkofferings.First,thesedrinkofferingsintheOTwereasacrificemadetotheLord‐somethingissacrificedsothatGodishonored.Secondly,asyouseeinbothpassages,thedrinkofferingsproduceanaromapleasingtotheLord.Paulissaying(1)thathislifeisworthsacrificingforthesakeoftheLordandHisGospel.And(2)thatPaulseeshislifeasanofferingtotheLordwhichhedesirestobepleasingtoGod.Lookalsoat2Corinthians2:14‐16wherePaulalsousesthislanguage.HerightlyseeshislifeasanofferingtoGod,andhewantstoliveitinsuchawaythatGodishonoredandasweetaromatoGodandothersisproduced.Noticealsointhe2TimothypassagethatGodisdoingthepouringout.

WhatsticksouttoyouaboutPaul’sreflectiononhowhelivedhislife?Hismotivation?

OnceagainPaulgoesbacktoafavoriteillustrationofhis‐theraceimage.Hecanlookbackonhislifeandbeconfidentthathefinishedwell.RememberPaul’sstorythough‐hepersecutedChristiansforpartofhislife!Thisisn’tboastinghere,butconfidencethatGodhasworkedpowerfullyinhislifeandusedhimasavesselinministry.HeissayingthatthetaskGodhadgivenhimhadbeenaccomplished(that’swhythisisn’tapridefulthinghe’ssaying).Onethingthatsticksoutisthathekeptthefaith.Heenduredmanyhardthingsandsufferedalot.ButhefoundtheGospelworthyofpressingonfor.AndwhywouldthisbeencouragingtoTimothy?Againit’sacalltoTimothytopressontoo.Why?BecausetheGospel,Jesushimself,isworthit.Lookatv.8inparticular.Wehavetalkedaboutthissomealready,buthereweseePaul’sfocusisonthefuturehere.Yeslifehasbeenfullofsuffering,butthatisnottheendofthestoryandhehaslifeandrewardspromisedtohimafterdeath.Thisissosignificantwhenwerememberthatheisfacingdeath.HelivesinlightoftherealitythatChristwilljudgeandcomeagain.BecauseoftheGospel’sworkinPaul’slifethatisn’tascarythingbutsomethingtoanticipateandwhichmotivateshowhelives.WedoseeinScripturethattherearerewards,orcrowns,wewillbegiveninheaven.Weneedtokeepinmind,though,thatanythingrewardedisbecauseofGod’sgraceandwewilllaythosecrownsatJesus’feetanyways.

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Took

DoyouseelifeasanofferingtoGod?(likewetalkedaboutinv.6)Whatcankeepmefromhavingthisperspective?

Whatmotivatesyouinhowyoulivelife?Ifyoureally“longedfor”Christ’sappearing(v.8),howmightthatchange?

ListentoatalkonthispassagebyCrawfordLorittsbeforenextweekandbepreparedtodiscussanythingelsethatstuckouttoyouaboutthispassage.

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Whatinfluencehave‘people’hadinyourupbringing?Howhavetheyshapeyourattitudes,passions

andcallinginlife?Positiveandnegative…..Transition:

Oftenthepartingconclusionisthepartofabookthatwequicklyskipoverdotoitsseemingirrelevant,usuallyveryspecificandpersonalnature.Hereitwouldbeagreaterrortoquicklymoveonwithoutgivingthissectionadequatetime.Itisindeedspecificandprofoundlypersonal.Yetinsteadofcausingirrelevance,itactuallygivesusagreatglimpseintothewholecontextoftheletterandhelpsusunderstandPaulandhisheartwithincreasingclarity.PerhapsoneshouldreadthislastsectionatthebeginningoftheletterasitreallyhelpsusseeintotheintensepersonalstrugglesthathavesurroundedPaulandhisworkfortheGospel.Lifeandministryareaboutpeopleandrelationships.Ifyouhaveatendencytode‐humanizeandover‐spiritualizePaul,thissectioncomesasacorrective.ThisisPaulthehuman.ThisisamandeeplyaffectedbypeopleandrelationshipsaroundhimsothathewriteswithpassiontoTimothywarninghimagainstsimilarfolly.ThisisthegreatestmanofGodintheNewTestamentandpeoplehehasled,havefallenaway!Hehasbeenhurtandfrustrated.PeoplehavedeeplyaffectedPaul.Aswehavebeenchallengedbythisletterandnowaswecometotheendofitsstudy,don’tforgetthatministryisaboutpeople.Lifeisaboutpeople.ThoughTimothyissenttoataskinthechurch,histaskisrelatedtocaringaboutpeopleandtheirsouls.Whenpeopleareinvolved,therewillbehighsandlows,peaceandconflict.Butdon’tbediscouraged.Godhasbeendoingsomethingsincethebeginningoftime,fromPaul’sancestorsv.1:2throughthechurch,throughPaul,throughTimothyandyouandI.Continueonandfightthegoodfight!

Look1.RealLife

HowwouldyoudescribePaul’smoodhereinthissection? MakealistofthepeoplewhomPaulmentions….onewithtwocolumns,good/bad.

Whatarethecharacteristicsofthepeopleoneachsideofthechart?

Afterreadingthewholeletternow,whatcausedPaultoperseveredespitetheemotionalsetbacksof

someofthesehardsituations?

2Timothy:4:9‐22 MinistryisPeople

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Comment:Thereissomethingreallyawe‐inspiringhere.Paulwashurt.Youcanseethatinthisintenselypersonallanguage.HurtlikethishascausedmanytogiveupthecauseofChrist.InfactIhaveheardmanystudentsusethewords‘Burn‐out’whentheytalkaboutoneortwoshortyearsofministryoncampuswherepeopledon’trespondthewaytheywouldlikethemto.ForPaul,Ibelievethewords‘Burn‐out’werenotinhisvocabulary.Hedidnotviewrejectionordesertionfromthosearoundhimcausetogiveuponhiscalling.Christwastoogreatforthosethingstoside‐linehim.However,thereisagreaterrorinlookingatPaulandexclaiming….”wow,lookatPaul,weshouldbelikehim!”Imeanyesandno.OfcourseweshouldwanttoliveliveslikehimifweareChristfollowers.Butitreallyisn’tthatPaulwasthatgreat,butitisthatChristwasthatgreattoPaul.Paulwassoconvincedthathewaslivingforanaudienceofoneandthatoneintheaudiencewaswortheverything.HesawGodrightlyandthataffectedhimtotheverycore.OneofthepieceswemustseeinthisletteristhatPaullivedforChristwhowastheverygreatest,greaterthananyotherthingorpersontoPaul.ThatisultimatelywheretheChristianlifeislivedfrom.JonathanEdwardssaidthatthedifferencebetweenaChristianandnon‐ChristianisthatthelatterseesJesusas‘useful’buttheformerseesJesusas‘Beautiful’.Ponderthatthought.HowdoyouseeHim?

Took

WhathaveyoulearnedaboutwhoGodis? Whathaveyoulearnedaboutwhoyouare? Whathaveyoulearnedaboutwhoothersare? Whathaveyoulearnedaboutwhatyouarecalledto? WhatheartmotivationsaretheretofollowChrist? SummarizehowPaulproposestohelptheChurchgrowinChrist?