2 Tim 4:1-8 Charge on how to live in the last days

Outline (my edits to Constable's original outline)
1. Salutation 1:1–2
2. Faithful Service 1:3–18
1. Fan the flame 1:3–7
2. Don't be afraid 1:8–14
3. Examples of faithful and unfaithful service 1:15–18
3. Exhortations to discipleship 2:1–26
1.  Making disciples 2:1–13
1. Picture of Discipleship 2:1–2
2. Characteristics of Disciple-Makers
3. The examples of Jesus and Paul 2:8–10
4. Importance of Faithfulness 2:11–13
2. Serving as  Disciples 2:14–26
1. Handling the word 2:14–18
2. Being an example to others 2:19–21
3. Living as a disciple 2:22–26
4. Directions concerning the last days 3:1–4:8
1. Characteristics of the last days 3:1–7
2. Warnings about false teachers 3:8-9
3. Conduct of a disciple in the last days 3:10-17
1. Example of Timothy the disciple following Paul 3:10-13
2. Importance of the word of God for disciples 3:11-17
3. Paul's charge to Timothy 4:1-5
4. Paul's role in the last days 4:6-8
5. Concluding personal instructions and information 4:9–22
1. Fellow workers and an opponent 4:9–15
2. Paul’s preliminary hearing in court 4:16–18
3. Additional greetings and instructions 4:19–21
4. Benediction 4:22


2 Timothy 4:1–5 (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. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.


• Review this section so far:

Verse	Clause	Purpose
3:1	But understand this, that in the last days …	What is coming
3:10	You however have followed my teaching, …	His preparation
3:14	But as for you, continue in what you have learned … All scripture is breathed out by God …	His resources
4:1	I charge you in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ …	His duty or responsibilities

• Paul has warned Timothy, encouraged him, and reminded him, now he charges him
• Verse1: What is the preamble of the charge and its purpose?
• In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus
• Will judge the living and the dead (Includes Christians and maybe focuses on Christians)
• His appearing -- Grk word epiphaneia -- glorious manifestation of a god (used of the Roman Emperors when they would visit a location)
• His kingdom is the millennial kingdom (also relates to believers)
• Summary: The Lord is returning (soon); he will judge us for how we are living and have lived our Christian lives (note: eternal life is based on what Christ did on the cross); and then will set up the kingdom (our roles to be determined by how we have lived -- works)
• What are the parts of the charge?
• Admittedly, Timothy is a leader of the church, although I do not believe this is limited to pastors as we all lead in some way and in some settings (even passively -- if you don't want to do something in a group -- you are leading by your refusal to be a part -- that causes the perceived leader to possible change the action)
1. Preach the word -- Grk word kerusso means to herald it or proclaim it -- It is related to other words which simply mean "tell"
• I will agree that some people are heralds of the word
• But all people have a responsibility to know it and tell it to others
2. Be ready in season and out of season
• In my view, the only way to be ready is to be prepared.
• At work, I spend a lot of time reading articles on my subject area. I want to be ready. I want to understand the latest technology. I want to understand the problems. I want to be able to intelligently converse. I have to read
• We need to study. We need to read the word. We need to memorize the word. And we need to apply the word -- or quite frankly, you will not be ready
• Grk word for ready, ephistemi, means to stand by
3. Reprove
• We can hardly reprove someone if we are not regularly in the word ourselves
• The word means to tell someone there fault, but also add the end of the sentence "with complete patience and teaching"
• How do you do that? My approach, I'm not sure that is the best approach. The bible says ___ _____ ____ ____, and so I have been convicted that I should do this ____ ____ ____
4. Rebuke
• This is a little harsher and means to charge. This is when the actions are clearly against scripture and the person claims to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Examples:
• Living together outside of marriage
• Lying on your taxes
• Stealing from your work
• Hiding income because you don't want to pay taxes
• Again, we need to add complete patience and teaching. A rebuke should not be a shouting match
5. Exhort
• This is more the idea of urging someone to do something
• It is a good thing they ought to do


• Latter three -- all with complete patience and teaching
• Time is coming -- people will not endure sound teaching -- what does that mean?
• It means that people will create their own idols of who God is
• People will say that they don't believe God is like that, but there God is loving and would never send a good person to Hell (this is an idol)
• They will only listen to the people or preachers they want to hear (notice the issue is not the word of God, but what they want to hear)
• Turn from truth (no absolute truth -- truth is how you find it -- INCREDIBLY SAD) to find teaching that suits their own passions (this is especially true in many churches where the teaching on sexual desires and relationships have changed to fit the attendee)
• Wander (no direction - defn 1A (medical) to dislocate limbs) to follow myths (also translated an invention or falsehood) -- myths are how we develop idols
• As for you -- we could argue this is an extension of the charge or rather a different way of reacting to truth that you might not like. What is the teaching?
• Be sober-minded. The Grk word nepho can actually be translated calm or steady or circumspect -- don't over-react
• Endure suffering -- that is pretty obvious, but the opposite is a better way to describe it. What is the opposite?
• To complain
• To gripe
• To whine
• To make sure everyone knows how hard things are
• Do the work of an evangelist -- sharing the gospel
• Fulfill you ministry -- serve God, not yourself


  Job or Ministry? (Anonymous, Constable Notes)

Job	Ministry
A job is one you choose;	A ministry is one Christ chooses for you.
A job depends on your abilities;	A ministry depends on your availability to God.
In a job you expect to receive;	In a ministry you expect to give.
A job done well brings you self-esteem;	A ministry done well brings honor to Jesus Christ.
In a job you give something to get something;	In a ministry you return something that has already been given to you.
A job well done has temporal remuneration;	A ministry well done brings eternal rewards.



2 Timothy 4:6–8 (ESV) —
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.


• What is Paul saying in verse 6?
• I am going to die soon
• The pouring out of the drink (wine) offering was usually the last act in the sacrificial ceremony (Hendrikson)
• Paul uses three more pictures to describe his life (two are athletic and one seems to be a steward)
• I have fought the good fight (soldier) -- he trained for the battle well; he was not defeated because of poor training (skills of fighting)
• I have finished the race (athlete) -- he also trained for endurance; he was not defeated by circumstances
• I have kept the faith (steward) -- he did not deny the gospel; he did not shrink back from telling people the truth
• What would be the result of Paul's life?
• Part of the believer's judgment, Paul would receive the crown of righteousness (a crown for people who loved his appearing -- they were more in love with the idea of being with God than with the world -- he spent his time living for God not for the things of the world)
• Five Crowns

Believer Crown	Reason	Reference
An Imperishable Crown	For leading a disciplined life	1 Cor 9:25
A Crown of Rejoicing	For evangelism and discipleship	1 Thess 2:19
A Crown of Righteousness	For loving the Lord's appearing	2 Tim 4:8
A Crown of Life	For enduring trials	James 1:12 Rev 2:10
A Crown of Glory	For shepherding God's flock faithfully	1 Pet 5:4



• Believer's judgment?
• Will we receive a crown or not?
• When the elders throw their crown at the Lord's feet, will we have anything to give?
• What does our salvation mean to us?