2Timothy: 12 December 2008

2Timothy, chapter one:

v3f – Paul remembered to pray constantly for his brother in the faith and he admonished him to “fan into flame” what the Lord had given him. This reminds me of Php 2:12-13: Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in us, causing our will and our actions to accomplish His good purpose. Therefore, knowing that God will accomplish His work in us, “do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord.” Be willing to join with our brothers in suffering for Christ.

v9f – “He saved us and called us to live a holy life – not because of anything we have done but because of His purpose and grace.” Once again, it is all about God’s will. This reminds me of what Paul said in Eph 2:8-10 “. . . saved by grace . . . not by works . . . For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Christ is our Creator and God had all this planned in advance, including what He wanted us to do. God designed each one of us, especially those who are His, to accomplish part of His plan. That is why we must work out our salvation and live holy lives, so we can be His instrument.

God brought His grace to light through the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He destroyed death and through Him we can see life and immortality (eternal life). We are no longer bound to darkness, sin and death. The world will choke this message and that is why Paul suffered for the gospel. But because of our hope in Christ, he is not ashamed to suffer. He is convinced that what he has labored for God will be guarded until the day we stand before Him.

chapter two:
v1f – Stand strong.
1. Entrust the gospel to reliable men who will, in turn, entrust that gospel to others;
2. Endure hardship.

Paul gives the example of the soldier, the athlete and the farmer and he told Timothy to reflect on this. That is for us as well. Read the passage and reflect on the application to our lives.

Though Paul is chained, the gospel is not. We are to endure hardship and be diligent to speak the gospel so that all the elect will hear and “obtain salvation in Jesus Christ.”
1. If we died with Christ, we will live with Him.
2. If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him.
3. If we disown Him, He will disown us.
4. If our faith becomes weak, He remains faithful.

14f – Warn our brothers against quarreling about things that don’t matter. This reminds me of Romans 14 and Paul’s warning against dividing the brothers on disputable matters. This is not an order to stand down on doctrine. In the fourth chapter of 1Timothy and 2Timothy, Paul warns against falling for, or allowing, loose doctrine and false doctrine. We stand on doctrine, but we do not divide on the things that do not matter.

This goes along with the next verse: ” . . . a workman who is not ashamed . . . who correctly handles the word of truth.” Then, the next verse, “avoid godless chatter.” Once again, Paul hammers the message: Stand on truth, hold firmly to doctrine but do not become involved with the frivolous and do not divide on things that do not matter.

This has been the downfall of many. Paul implies here that many who have professed faith in Christ were not truly saved and their teaching has destroyed the faith of others. But God knows those who are His and if we are among them, we have an obligation to live a holy life. Paul gave the example of place settings for daily use and others instruments used for a banquet. Then we are admonished to clean ourselves up and make ourselves useful for a banquet.

This goes along with the next verse: “Flee the evil desires of youth.” And clean ourselves up, if you will, by pursuing righteousness (holiness), faith, love and peace, calling on the Lord with a pure heart. This verse is part of a trio:
1. Flee overcomes the flesh;
2. Faith overcomes the world (1Jo 5:4); and
3. Resist overcomes the devil (Jam 4:7).

This section begins with a warning against quarreling and ends with a warning against quarreling. Paul instructed Timothy to patiently instruct “in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.”

Everyone is created to accomplish a part of God’s purpose; more so for the elect. Satan has taken some captive to do his will. We live a holy life so that we are useful to God – banquet dishes, if you will. We stand firmly for the truth, holding firmly to doctrine, but we do not divide on disputable matters and we do not quarrel. Our hope is not in the affairs of this world. It is in Jesus Christ who destroyed death and conquered Satan. God’s purpose will always trump Satan’s will. That is our hope and we will see it if we endure hardship.

That is all the time. We will catch some more on our next run through the book. Tomorrow is the book of Titus.