2 Timothy 4

2 Timothy 4  (NIV)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Personal Remarks

9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world,has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia,and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

19 Greet Priscilla[a] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.[b]

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Timothy 4:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
2. 2 Timothy 4:21 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

2 Timothy 4  (NIV)

How does Paul give his charge? (verse 1)

What is Paul's charge? (verse 2)

When should someone be prepared? (verse 2)

Will there be a time when people will not put up with sound doctrine? (verse 3)

Why will people gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear? (verse 3)

What will people turn their ears to when they turn them away from the truth? (verse 4)

What are we to keep in all situations? (verse 5)

What are we to endure? (verse 5)

What work are we to do? (verse 5)

What is to be discharged? (verse 5)

What does Paul say about his time? (verse 6)

How is Paul finishing his time? (verse 7)

What does Paul look forward to? (verse 8)

Who also will have a crown of righteousness? (verse 8)

Personal Remarks

Why does Paul ask Timothy to come quickly? (verse 9-10) 

Who has stayed with Paul? (verse 11)

Why does Paul ask for Mark to come with Timothy? (verse 11)

What does Paul ask Timothy to bring back to Paul? (verse 13)

What does Paul say concerning Alexander the metalworker? (verse 14-15)

Did everyone desert Paul at his first defense? (verse 16)

Why did the Lord stand by Paul's side and give him strength? (verse 17)

What will God do? (verse 18)

Who does Paul give glory to? (verse 18)

Final Greetings

Who does Paul speak about in his final greetings? (verse 19-22)

Application

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

With James 3 in mind

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry (make disciples so that you will be replaced when your time is done)

Interpretation

What does faithfully discharging all the duties of our ministry look like?

If Paul mentions that he left Trophimus sick in Melitus, what is he conveying? 

Thoughts

My friend Helen said that Paul and Mark were at odds with each other so it is very encouraging to hear they are able to work together again.

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. - verse 2

To accomplish this, someone needs to soak in the Truth in order to best present it without any blemish. Charge up before you CHARGE! 

James 3 (NIV)

Taming the Tongue

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. - verse 5

Keep your head in all situations

endure hardship

do the work of an evangelist

discharge all the duties of your ministry 

(If we are doing our job(making disciples) well, we will not be necessary to continue with the burden of all our ministry duties)

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  - verse 6

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. - verse 7

Father, I pray that we also may finish the race and keep the faith.

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. - verse 8

But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. - verse 17

The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen. - verse 18

The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all. - verse 22