2 Timothy 3.1-9

In the last section Paul identified the source of the false teaching as ultimately demonic. The false teachers which plague the Church are in fact ensnared by the devil. They are captives to do his will. And thus we learn something of Satan's tactics. The danger to the Church is not so much overt paganism or even the secular humanism of our day but the false gospel which looks true but in fact is something else. It builds on speculation, diverts the attention of the flock away from Christ, and perverts and destroys the Christian life. Paul deals with this in his other epistles and Timothy has heard it before as well. This came up in the first epistle with regard to ascetic practices and Christian piety rooted in such exercises.

But now Paul takes it a step further. He's getting ready to depart the scene and wants Timothy to mark well the fact that this demonic activity, this false Christianity is something that will be characteristic of the entire age.

2 Timothy 2.20-26

Continuing his allusion to the solid foundation established and sealed by God, Paul speaks of a great house. What's he referring to? At first it's not entirely clear and his illustration seems to break down or get side tracked.

Is he referring to the Church and 'dishonor'-able vessels within it? You might think that at first glance but when we look at the further personalized exhortations in v.22 which seem to flow out of this illustration we are led to conclude the great house (as it were) is a reference to Timothy or in general terms to the believer. This is a continuation of the charge in v.14 to remind them (the elect v.10) of these things, be diligent to (v.15), but shun (v.16) and now finally in v.22 the exhortation to flee.

2 Timothy 2.14-19

Timothy is further exhorted to 'remind them of these things'. Who is Timothy exhorting? This is referring back to the elect in v.10. The elect whom Paul suffers for and he applied to them the faithful saying of vv.11-13. Timothy is commanded to repeat and revisit these ideas concerning our union with Christ and the nature of our profession as well as the danger of denial and apostasy.

Part of the warning, for a solemn warning it is, is that they do not strive about words to no profit and with this charge the implication that such strivings can lead to the ruin of the hearers.

2 Timothy 2.3-13

Again Paul encourages Timothy to 'endure', to share in the suffering and thus 'war' a good warfare. The non-carnal weapons of the Christian are utter foolishness to the world but as Christians we live our lives on a different level. Like Elisha's servant we have our eyes opened and we see the spiritual realities of the universe.

2 Timothy 2.1-4

Chapter two continues with an exhortation and application of the previous points. Timothy affectionately referred to as Paul's spiritual son is pointed to the previous examples of suffering loyalty and perseverance. He is encouraged to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1.13-18

Paul continues to exhort Timothy to hold fast to the pattern of sound words, the doctrine which Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles has conveyed to him. Paul is explicit that the purity of the Gospel and by implication the sound or healthy Christian life is tied to 'words'... to ideas, doctrines and concepts rooted in true reality given to us via revelation. Knowing God through His Word is the route to holiness as opposed to human wisdom or unreliable emotion. This is not to say we do not 'feel'. By no means does it suggest that but the criteria for knowing Truth is through the Word and it is the sound and solid Word which produces sound and solid Christian living.

2 Timothy 1.8-12 Notes

Paul has concluded the opening passage by pointing to the reality that the genuine and grounded faith Timothy possessed emboldens him (and us) to stand fast in the face of the suffering all Christians must necessarily endure. It is not something we need to fear but we understand that it testifies to the power of the Gospel and brings glory to God.

2 Timothy 1.1-8 Notes

Setting and Purpose:

Paul is writing to Timothy his assistant and protégé. Paul it would seem knows that he will soon die. There is a good possibility that this setting is what we would call Paul's Second Imprisonment. The tone here is quite different from the other Prison Epistles. This coupled with some other evidences from the Pastoral Epistles points to activities unaccounted for in the book of Acts. Despite the assertions of some unbelievers, this does not discredit the integrity of the Biblical Text.