In Season and Out of Season (2 Timothy 4)

I'd like to share with you my thoughts on 2 Timothy 4 which I recently studied. 

In vs 2 Timothy is encouraged by Paul to…

preach the word, be instant in season and out of season. 

“Instant” means there should be an urgency when it comes to preaching the word. 

“In season and out of season” means Timothy should preach when there’s opportunity and when there’s no opportunity, he should make one. 

Vs 3 explains the reason for this urgency…

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears

Vs 4 continues… 

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables

A fable is that which is fabricated by the mind, sometimes for the purpose of deceiving others.

2 Peter 1:16

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables…

The book of Titus refers to “Jewish fables”

Titus 1:14

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Hence the “fables” mention in 2 Timothy are probably those fabricated by Jewish teachers.

There are many false teachers in the world but there are many more who seek them out.

Yes, some teach that “gain is godliness” (1 Timothy 6:5) but how many sin-laden people flock to listen, thus promote the false teacher to fame.

Hence those with “itching ears” are just as guilty as the fable-makers.

1 Tim. 6:3 tells us that sound doctrine is "according to godliness” and vs 6 of the same chapter, “godliness with contentment is great gain”. 

Yet many would rather hear that “gain is godliness” than “godliness is gain”.

In vs 5 Paul continues his instruction to Timothy… 

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

Watch means be sober, calm and collected in spirit, dispassionate and circumspect.

The work of an evangelist is to preach the good news of peace and salvation by Christ.

Make “full proof” of thy ministry means to thoroughly accomplish and fulfil to the utmost.

In verse 6,7&8 Paul mentioned that his martyrdom, at the hands of Roman Emperor Nero, was looming. 

However he had “fought a good fight, finished the course and kept the faith.”

Paul made “full proof” of his ministry. Furthermore he fought a “good” fight, meaning he played by the rules thus was worthy to receive the victor’s crown. 

In vs 9,13&21 Paul asks Timothy to visit him in prison from where he wrote this epistle.

In vs 16&17 Paul describes his experience in court whilst giving a speech in defence of himself

no man stood with me, but all men forsook me…Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me…

When no man stands with you, what do you have? 

Confidence in your relationship with God?

I’m reminded of Galatians 1:10-16 in which Paul boldly stated that he was NOT a man-pleaser but a servant of God. 

The gospel that he preached was not of man neither did he receive it from man. 

He received it by revelation, when God revealed his son IN him, that he might preach him among the heathen. 

Furthermore in receiving this revelation, he "conferred not with flesh and blood".

Paul was confident that he knew God and God knew him.

He was also confident that God had given him a message and commissioned him to preach it, even when others forsook him.

I am personally inspired and encouraged by Paul’s boldness and confidence in the Lord

Self love vs death to self (2 Timothy 3)

I'd like to share with you my thoughts on 2 Timothy 3 but let's begin by reading the first seven verses of this chapter.

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Vs 1 speaks of the “last days” being “perilous times”

I believe Paul was referring to the times in which Timothy lived, yet the same problems have been evident throughout church history, up to the modern day.

Vs 2-4 describe people who serve SELF and in their service to self they hurt others.

Yet they have a “form of godliness” which is why they’re able to “creep into houses” “seduce” and “deceive”.

Vs 5 says these deceivers have a “form of godliness but deny the POWER thereof”

The POWER is repentance, death to self.

In vs 6&7 they “…lead captive silly women laden with sins…ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”.

These “silly women” are never able to come to the knowledge of the truth BECAUSE they are laden with sins and have not been taught repentance.

It is through repentance that one receives the knowledge of the truth.

In vs 8 “lovers of self” and “lovers of pleasure” “resist the truth” and are therefore “reprobate”, meaning rejected by God and cast away “concerning the faith”.

In sharp contrast, Paul draws Timothy’s attention to his own exemplary doctrine and manner of life.

10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience

He also gives Timothy a reality check…these deceivers are going to get worse and worse and they WILL persecute you for they despise those that are good.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Despite the perils, Timothy must CONTINUE in the truths learnt through Paul, knowing of whom he leant them.

14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them

It’s not just about WHAT you’ve learnt but WHO taught it to you. This is why Paul pointed out his “manner or life”. Those bearing bad fruit should not be listened to, rather turned away from.

Timothy was not only mentored by Paul but deeply influenced by his mother and grandmother who taught him the “holy scriptures” from childhood. 

Timothy must now use these scriptures to teach, reprove, correct and instruct others in righteousness. That they may grow and mature in the Lord.

Who is teaching you? Do you hold fast to the words of Jesus and Paul or to the words of Luther and Calvin? 

In Timothy’s time and throughout church history up to the modern day, there have been countless deceivers, who have a form of godliness but deny the POWER thereof.

The power is repentance, death to self, for this is the only way to be converted. 

A synonym for convert is metamorphose, like how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly.

The caterpillar represents our “old man” that when crucified and buried with Christ gives way to the “new man”. 

Like a beautiful butterfly emerging from a cocoon, we are raised to newness of life, a “new creature” IN Christ.

Rules for Spiritual Success (2 Timothy 2)

 In the previous chapter, Timothy was told to “hold fast the form of sound words” (2 Tim 1:13).

In this chapter Paul instructs Timothy to pass these sound words onto ‘faithful men” who can then teach them to others (2 Tim. 2:2).

Timothy must also teach those who oppose himself (vs 25), whilst avoiding “vain and profane babblings”, “foolish and unlearned questions” and strife “about words to no profit” (vs 14,16&23)

Furthermore he is to be gentle, patient, meek and “apt to teach”(vs 24&25), meaning a skilful teacher.

To be a skilful teacher it was necessarily for Timothy to commit himself to study, as a “workman that needs not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth” (vs 15).

Timothy was a workman for God’s kingdom.

Indeed Paul likened him to a farmer tilling the earth, an athlete striving for the prize and a soldier dedicated to military service. (Vs 4-6)

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Striving for masteries could allude to a wrestling or boxing match. In either scenario, to be awarded the victor’s crown, one must play by the rules of the sport.

6 The husbandman that laboreth must be first partaker of the fruits.

A farmer cannot yield a crop without following the rules of agriculture and first tilling the earth.

Likewise there are rules for spiritual success.

This chapter contrasts two groups of people, those who abide by the rules and those who don’t.

Faithful men and unfaithful men.

Vessels unto honor and vessels unto dishonor.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.

Only a vessel which is holy and set apart from the world, is fit for the master’s use.

There are no short cuts to spiritual success.

The ground of ones own heart must be tilled before one can till anothers.

One’s own vessel must be purged before one can help purge anothers.

Just as Jesus suffered leaving an example for us to follow, we suffer as an example for others to follow.

We suffer in the sense that we deny self. In denying self we lead by example.

How many hours did Timothy spend alone in diligent study? How many hours did he spend along side others patiently teaching them?

That’s what Timothy’s mother and grandmother did for him, in teaching him the scriptures from when he was a child.

That’s what Timothy's spiritual father Paul, did in writing him these letters. 

Hence Timothy was the fruit of all their labours.

Only through self-denial and patient continuance, is a spiritual harvest reaped. 

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Repentance and heart purity are foundational truths. 

For each individual the ground work must be done in their own heart and a firm foundation laid.

 

Yet how one builds upon that foundation also matters. Every brick and beam must be measured against the cornerstone, otherwise the building will be faulty.

Sound doctrine is that which is “according to godliness” and sound doctrine produces a sound building. 

That’s why Timothy was instructed both to “hold fast the form of sound words” and to pass them on to faithful men, that they may teach them to others.

Success in war, sport or farming doesn’t happen by luck or magic. Neither does spiritual success.