2 Timothy
Paul’s Letters · New Testament · Book 55 of 66- Author
- Paul
- Written
- c. AD 66–67, from a Roman prison
- Time covered
- His last letter, written shortly before his death
- Where
- To Timothy, still at Ephesus
- Written to
- His closest coworker, asked to come before winter
- Genre
- Letter — one of the Pastoral Epistles
- Chapters
- 4
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV
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Overview
These are Paul’s last written words. He is in a cold cell, most friends gone, expecting execution, and what he wants is his cloak, his books, and Timothy — before winter.
The letter is a charge: hold the pattern of sound words, endure hardness, preach the word in season and out. He knows what is coming, and he is not afraid of it: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Background
This imprisonment is harsher than the first. Paul is chained as a criminal, Demas has forsaken him, others have gone to other cities, and at his first defense no man stood with him.
Nero’s persecution had made association with Christians dangerous. Paul writes knowing the time of his departure is at hand, and writes mostly about someone else’s ministry rather than his own ending.
Key themes
- Guard the deposit: hold fast the form of sound words.
- Suffering is part of the work — endure hardness as a good soldier.
- Scripture is God-breathed and sufficient for the man of God.
- Difficult times will come, and truth will still be worth preaching.
- Faithfulness to the end, and a crown of righteousness laid up.
Outline
- Stir up the giftChapter 1
An unfeigned faith from his grandmother onward, and no spirit of fear.
- Soldier, athlete, farmer, workmanChapter 2
Be strong in grace, endure, and rightly divide the word of truth.
- Perilous times, and a sure bookChapter 3
What men will become, and what the Scriptures are able to do.
- Preach the wordChapter 4
The final charge, the finished course, and a request for a cloak and some books.
Key passages
- 2 Timothy 1:7 God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- 2 Timothy 1:12 I know whom I have believed.
- 2 Timothy 2:2 Commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
- 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God.
- 2 Timothy 3:12 All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God.
- 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.
- 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
Christ in 2 Timothy
Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel — which is why a man awaiting execution can write like this. He is the righteous judge who will give the crown, the Lord who stood with Paul when no one else would, and the one who abides faithful even when we are faithless.
Reading it
- Read it knowing it is the last thing he wrote; the small requests at the end are not small.
- Compare 4:6-8 with Philippians 1:21 — the same man, years apart, at the same conclusion.
- Chapter 2 is worth memorizing for anyone teaching others.