New Testament survey (16): 2 Timothy

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)

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (2 Timothy 4:2)

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Overview

[1] 2 Timothy, from Thru The Bible Radio with Dr. J. Vernon McGee ©, with free downloads Notes & Outlines (PDF), Complete 5-Year Study (MP3)

The two verses that state the theme and sound the tone of this second epistle are these: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15). “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).

You can, I think, emphasize one word in this epistle above other words. That word is loyalty: (1) loyalty in suffering (ch. 1); (2) loyalty in service (ch. 2); (3) loyalty in apostasy (2 Timothy 3–4:5); and (4) Lord loyal to His servants in desertion (2 Timothy 4:6–22). (Read the complete article)

[2] Book of 2 Timothy, from gotquestions.org (this website is also available in Afrikaans, Arabic, Bengali, Burmese-Myanmar, Cebuano, Chinese - Simplified, Chinese – Traditional, Hausa, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malaysian, Persian-Farsi, Portuguese, Quechua, Sesotho, Spanish, Swahili, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese, Zulu, and 70 other languages)

Paul encourages Timothy to remain passionate for Christ and to remain firm in sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:1-2, 13-14). Paul reminds Timothy to avoid ungodly beliefs and practices and to flee from anything immoral (2 Timothy 2:14-26). In the end times there will be both intense persecution and apostasy from the Christian faith (2 Timothy 3:1-17). Paul closes with an intense plea for believers to stand firm in the faith and to finish the race strong (2 Timothy 4:1-8). (Read the complete article)

[3] 2 Timothy, from Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)

WRITER: The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 1:1)

DATE: The touching letter was written by Paul to his "dearly beloved son" shortly before his martyrdom (2 Timothy 4:6-8), and contains the last words of the great apostle which inspiration has preserved.

THEME: Second Timothy (in common with Second Peter, Jude, and Second and Third John) has to do with the personal walk and testimony of a true servant of Christ in a day of apostasy and declension. The key-phrases are, “All they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (2 Timothy 1:15); and, “A good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). The Asian churches had not disbanded, nor ceased to call themselves Christian, but they had turned away from the doctrines of grace distinctively revealed through the Apostle Paul (see Introduction, p. 1189). This was the proof that already the apostasy had set in its first form, legalism.

The natural divisions are four:

1. The Apostle’s greeting, 2 Timothy 1:1-18
2. The pathway of an approved servant in a day of apostasy, 2 Timothy 2:1-26
3. Apostasy and the Word, 2 Timothy 3:1-17
4. A faithful servant and his faithful Lord, 2 Timothy 4:1-22

Discussion

[1] Key verses: 2 Timothy 1:7; 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2, 7-8

[2] Key words are “ashamed” (2 Timothy 1:8, 12, 16; 2:15) and “endure” (2 Timothy 2:3, 10; 4:3, 5)

[3] Webster’s definition of “apostasy” is: total desertion of principles of faith. Apostasy is not due to ignorance; it is a heresy. Apostasy is deliberate error; it is intentional departure from the faith. An apostate is one who knows the truth of the gospel (doctrines of the faith). (From J. Vernon McGee)

[4] Apostasy coming; authority of the Scriptures, 2 Timothy 3:1 - 4:5

• Conditions in the last days, 2 Timothy 3:1-9
• Authority of Scriptures in the last days, 2 Timothy 3:10-17
• Instructions for the last days, 2 Timothy 4:1-5

[5] Characteristics of men in the last days when “perilous times shall come

• Lovers of their own selves
• Covetous
• Boasters
• Proud
• Blasphemers
• Disobedient
• Unthankful
• Unholy
• Without natural affection
• Trucebreakers
• False accusers
• Incontinent
• Fierce
• Despisers of those that are good
• Traitors
• Heady
• High-minded
• Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God
• Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof

For the meanings of the words above, please refer to the King James Dictionary which provides definitions for 837 words or phrases used in the King James Version of the Bible.

[6] Inspiration, from Easton's Bible Dictionary:

that extraordinary or supernatural divine influence vouchsafed to those who wrote the Holy Scriptures, rendering their writings infallible. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" (R.V., "Every scripture inspired of God"), 2Ti 3:16. This is true of all the "sacred writings," not in the sense of their being works of genius or of supernatural insight, but as "theopneustic," i.e., "breathed into by God" in such a sense that the writers were supernaturally guided to express exactly what God intended them to express as a revelation of his mind and will.

Further study (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] 2 Timothy: Introduction, Argument, and Outline, by Daniel B. Wallace, Th.M., Ph.D

[2] Outline of 2 Timothy, by David Meyer

[3] 2 Timothy: “Call to Completion”, by Dwight Edwards

[4] 2 Timothy: Perseverance in Difficult Days, by Bob Deffinbaugh, Th.M

[5] Passing the Torch of Leadership … Last Words of the Apostle Paul, A Devotional Commentary on the Book of 2 Timothy, by Paul G. Apple

Sermons on 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (Be like the Bereans! Acts 17:11)

[1] Sermon illustrations, from bible.org

[2] Archeological Finds Confirm The Bible, by Jarred Edgecombe, First Baptist Church

[3] The Breath of God, by Randy D. Starkey, East Bend Baptist Church

[4] Sufficiency of Scripture, by Pastor Jeremy Stephens, Southview Baptist Church

[5] A Place To Stand - The Bible, by Jay Ulrich

[6] Bible Intake 2, by Josh S Blake

[7] Can I Trust the Bible? by Randy Weece

[8] All Scripture is God-breathed, by Richard Rioux

[9] An architect’s view of the Bible, by Amos Washington

[10] The Profitability of Scripture, by Phillip W. Mansfield

[11] I Believe – The Christian’s Confession, by David Krueger

[12] For The Love Of God Is Biblical, by Billy D Strayhorn

[13] The Centrality of God's Word, by Thomas C. Black

[14] The Holy Scripture is essential, by Pastor Peter McCreary

[15] God Breathed the Word, by Rev. Mark Perkins

For other available sermons, please surf to Sermon / Preaching resources. Sermons are also available from South McGehee Baptist Church, McGehee, Arizona; Central Baptist Church, Lowesville; First Baptist Church, Mountain View, Missouri; Swift Creek Baptist Church; Word of Life Baptist Church, Pottsville, Philadelphia; Palm Springs Baptist Church, California; South Woods Baptist Church; Grove Baptist Church, Ulster; Dudley Baptist Church, United Kingdom; Independent Fundamental Baptist Sermons, Fundamental Christian Radio Broadcasts, Off-Site Audio Page and The Christian Radio Tuner

Notes: (1) This ministry does not necessarily endorse or share all the views and opinions expressed in the materials, resources or links mentioned in these posts. Please always refer to the Articles of Faith and Biblical distinctives of Baptists when you study these materials. (2) This lesson is part of the projected 300 plus lessons. From time to time, the lessons will be updated, revised, combined, formatted, and edited to comply with the VOA Simplified English word list. Later on, these lessons will be categorized, numbered sequentially, and made available as PDF downloads.