2 Timothy Background

• Background (Adapted from Constable; Morgan)
• There is some suggestion Paul was release after the first letter to Timothy and the letter to Titus
Titus 3:12 (ESV) — 12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
• There are a lot of cities named Nicopolis. Most likely this was on the western side of Greece as no ministry had yet been established there
• Paul probably wrote I Timothy and Titus in late 63 and early 64
• Rome was burned in July 64 AD, and Nero had blamed the Christians
• It became dangerous to be a Christian
• It was dangerous to have contact with Christian leaders
• This letter was probably written fall 67
2 Timothy 4:9–14 (ESV) — 9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
• He was probably arrested in Troas and could not get his personal possessions (View map for Troas, Ephesus, and Nicopolis)
2 Timothy 4:16 (ESV) — 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
• Doesn't sound like the first trial went very well
2 Timothy 4:6 (ESV) — 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
• Paul seemed to feel his sentencing was a fait accompli
• Early church tradition has Paul and Peter executed before the winter of 67-68 AD
2 Timothy 4:21 (ESV) — 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.
• Nero committed suicide in June 68
• This letter was most likely written in the weeks before his execution
• Purpose
• First letter to Timothy
1 Timothy 3:14–15 (ESV) — 14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
• Conditions had changed since Paul's first letter
• Characteristics of the last days were becoming increasingly obvious
2 Timothy 3:1–7 (ESV) — 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
• The letter is Paul's attempt to encourage Timothy to fulfill his responsibility as a leader during the last days (every believer ministers in some way and so this has applicability to us as well)
2 Timothy 1:6 (ESV) — 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,
• We need to use the gift(s) given to us by the Holy Spirit (you can build up your gift)
• His call to the ministry
2 Timothy 2:1 (ESV) — 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,
• We also need grace -- all those things that we don't deserve
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV) —
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 4:1–2 (ESV) — 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
• We absolutely need God's word
2 Timothy 1:8 (ESV) — 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
• We need to share our faith
2 Timothy 2:22–23 (ESV) — 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.
• We need to be a witness for Jesus Christ that draws people to the savior
2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV) — 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
• What is our ministry? What are we doing to fulfill our ministry? Let's do it well
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) — 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
• In our ministry
2 Timothy 1:14 (ESV) — 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
• Guard the word
2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV) — 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
• Make disciples
Outline
      I. Salutation 1:1–2
      II. Thanksgiving for faithful fellow workers 1:3–18
         A. Timothy’s past faithfulness 1:3–7
         B. Charges to remain loyal 1:8–14
           1. Exhortation to be courageous 1:8–12
           2. Exhortation to guard the gospel 1:13–14
         C. Examples of faithful and unfaithful service 1:15–18
      III. Exhortations to persevere 2:1–26
         A. Charge to endure hardship 2:1–13
           1. Timothy’s duty 2:1–7
           2. The examples of Jesus and Paul 2:8–10
           3. A popular saying 2:11–13
         B. Charge to remain faithful 2:14–26
           1. Faithfulness in public ministry 2:14–18
           2. Faithfulness in personal life 2:19–21
           3. Summary applications 2:22–26
      IV. Directions concerning the last days 3:1–4:8
         A. Characteristics of the last days 3:1–13
           1. Evidences of faithlessness 3:1–7
           2. Negative and positive illustrations 3:8–13
         B. Conduct in the last days 3:14–4:5
           1. Adherence to the truth 3:14–17
           2. Proclamation of the truth 4:1–5
         C. Paul’s role in the last days 4:6–8
      V. Concluding personal instructions and information 4:9–22
         A. Fellow workers and an opponent 4:9–15
         B. Paul’s preliminary hearing in court 4:16–18
         C. Additional greetings and instructions 4:19–21
         D. Benediction 4:22
Constable, T. (2003). Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (1 Ti 6:20). Galaxie Software.


• Key Verse(s)
2 Timothy 4:7 (ESV) — 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
• Verses on the race
Acts 20:24 (ESV) — 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
1 Corinthians 9:24 (ESV) — 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
Galatians 5:7 (ESV) — 7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Philippians 2:16 (ESV) — 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,


• Application
• How am I doing running the race?
• What is really important to me? What do I do first? What is my priority in life?
• At the end of my life, what will I say?