2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy.

Intro:

- Suppose you knew you were about to die, family is around, what would be the last thing you would want to say to them? You’d talk of the things that matter (Warwick) - Final words have significance, a weight - we’re going to look at the final words of a great man of God

 2 Timothy - series, today overview

- First Timothy was about the running of a local church, this letter is far more personal, directed to Timothy individually and  his personal walk. - emotional and personal

- This is the last letter Paul wrote, he knew his death was imminent. He was writing to Timothy his protégée, the one who’d been with him throughout most of his missionary work - he was the younger one who knew Paul’s heart and was to carry the baton

- This could possibly be the last communication between them - Paul wanted to see him in person but these words were to keep him on course after the veteran apostle was no longer there to guide him.

Expecting death at any moment, Paul encourages Timothy to persevere in his ministry, using his own life as an example. His advice to Timothy is both deeply spiritual and thoroughly practical. He uses the letter to defend his (and Timothy's) ministry and to warn that people will begin to turn from their faith.

- What were his reasons for writing: 1. He was lonely, many had deserted him, he wanted Timothy to join him. 2.He was concerned about the welfare of the churches which were undergoing persecution and attack by false teaching. 3.He wanted to prescribe the path which Timothy should follow in troubled times both inside and outside the church.

- These are the last words of a great man. What do you say to a younger co-worker when you relegate your entire life’s work? -  theme is LOYALTY and ministry to others who must carry on the task. With true spiritual insight, Paul realizes that what Timothy is is of much greater importance than what Timothy does.

- What was the message, the final words that Paul wanted to impart? - before we look at his message let’s look at his situation

His situation:

- written about AD 66 [OHP1] - book of Acts ends with Paul in prison in Rome he was released from prison in Rome in AD.62, he then went on a fourth missionary journey - this was when first letter to Timothy and Titus was written - the details of this missionary journey are not recorded in the NT but after writing 1 Tim Paul left Corinth went with Titus for Crete [map], left him there, returned to the mainland, on his way to Nicopolis where he intended to spend the winter he left Trophimus sick at Miletus and Erastus at Corinth. While at Nicopolis he visited Troas but was arrested in the house of Carpus and hurried to Rome. Paul was again imprisoned during the rule of Nero in AD.66. Many believe that Paul was made the chief scapegoat for Nero’s burning of Rome. Nero set fire to Rome in order to rebuild it to his liking. Since Nero was suspected of starting the blaze he blamed the Christians for it and ordered them all to be executed. Paul was arrested and at this time wrote 2 Timothy, the last letter he wrote.

- 1st Timothy a letter on how church at Ephesus should be run, 2nd Timothy is much more personal, see more of Paul and the situation he was in than in most of his letters

Read 2 Tim 1:4,8,12,15-17; 2:9,10; 4:6,7,9-22 [OHP2]

- suffering - Paul was imprisoned, this time not under house arrest but in a cold dungeon, chained as a criminal, cold and damp - repeated mention of suffering [2 Tim 1:8,12,16; 2:9; 3:11,12; 4:6,13,17]

- alone key verse (1:15) [OHP3] [4:9-12,16,21] - all had deserted him, felt the loneliness and abandonment keenly

- church going astray - not only physical suffering and emotional suffering but spiritual anguish - he could see people deserting the faith, going their own way and others leading the church astray with false teaching [2 Tim 4:3,4; 2:17,18; 3:5-8]

- knew that his death was imminent [2 Tim 4:6,7]

Paul was in prison, suffering, alone, deserted, church going astray, death imminent - everything was falling apart around his ears. - Here was the great apostle through whom the church was established in Asia and Europe

We view him as the model to aspire to - ? Victorious Christian life.

- Ever felt that you have laboured in vain?  (Elim Sunday school) To Paul at the end of his life it seemed that the prospects weren’t good. Heresy in the church, persecution from outside, many faithful servants of God had given up on the task. He wasn’t unique in this - consider Stephen cut off in the prime of life before he’d had a chance to accomplish anything. Consider our LORD - life ended in death and all His disciples deserting Him [cf. Isaiah 49:4 But I said, “I have toiled in vain, I have spent My strength for nothing and vanity; Yet surely the justice due to Me is with the Lord, And My reward with My God.”  - written prophetically of Jesus] - discouragement the greatest weapon in satan’s armoury - even Jesus felt it. Lionel Gurney “Results aren’t our business!”

- we consider Paul a great success, and so he was, but that’s not how it appeared to him at the time.

Often the times when things seem to have gone the most wrong is the very time when God has accomplished His work - only when we are weak and have failed can God work, for then the work is seen to be Him and not us and the glory goes to Him and not us. That is why Paul gloried in His weakness [cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9 He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Cor 4:8-12 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you. ]

Seemed like a failure but no note of defeat or self pity or miserable because: 1/ commitment to the message and call, despite all that happened there remained the burning passion to preserve the truth and preach the Gospel - vital importance of the Word of God [2 Tim 1:8,11; 2:8] 2/ Had his eyes fixed on the future goal [2 Tim 1:12; 2:5,6,10-12; 4:1,8,18]

He is alone except for Luke, and longs to see Timothy again. Yet there is no hint of self‑pity; he regrets nothing and is full of gratitude to God. His last word is one of encouragement to all who follow after. He can face death without fear and without doubt. The race is over ‑ ahead is his reward.

 Paul had much to contend with during his years of Christian service, but he foresaw that his successors, Timothy included, might pass through even harder times. His concern was that they carry on the work even so and not give up.

His parting message:

- discouraging situation but Paul determined as ever to preserve the commission given him - all these points are different aspects of that, interrelated, flow into each other

- He saw doctrinal declension in the churches. The churches in Asia had defected from the Gospel of grace which he had proclaimed and had lapsed into legalism, gnosticism, mysticism and people chasing after teaching that suited them.

 Paul is entrusting his charge, the care of the churches to his son in the faith. He is passing the baton to Timothy, encouraging him to use the Divine resources available to the faithful  pastor in such a time of apostasy. As such its message is very relevant for us today - false teaching, people giving up - great number of Christians who have given up fellowshipping together.

- looking for faithful service, maintaining a faithful witness [2 Tim 1:5; 4:7 1 Corinthians 4:2 it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy] - loyalty, keeping on to the end

- Paul had come to the end of his life and seen some start out great and impressive but not last the distance [2 Timothy 4:10,11 Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.] and some start bad but finish great - faithfulness is what counts! Not how you start but how you finish - don’t give up!

- faith and faithfulness are the same - we must maintain the faith [2 Tim 1:13,14; 2:2,14] pass it on, ensure that it is preserved

- the church must continue - Paul’s concern: that we maintain the faith and ensure the continuity of the church of Jesus Christ [2 Timothy 1:14 Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.]

- despite the signs of declension Paul had not given up on the church [Matthew 16:18 I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.]

- it is easy to get discouraged but we must keep on keeping on [2 Tim 2:10; 3:10,14] don’t be ashamed [2 Tim 1:6,8,12,16] also easy to get distracted [2 Tim 2:4,16,22,23] keep on keeping on

- maintain the truth because assault by false teaching will come [2 Tim 2:16,17,18; 3:1,13; 4:3,4,15]

- how do you do this? Through teaching [2 Tim 1:13,14; 2:2,14]

- teach the truth, found in God’s Word [2 Tim 2:15; 3:15,16]

Conclusion:

- The church was under assault by man pleasing teaching, many going their own way, giving up - very much a message for the believer in the end times, relevant for us

- don’t allow yourself to become discouraged but keep on keeping on

- What keeps us keeping on, stops us getting discouraged? Having our eyes fixed on the future goal, hold fast to God’s Word and keep the call of the Gospel as our all consuming priority.