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II.
TIMOTHY
I. BACKGROUND
1. Author
- Paul, the apostle: 1:1 2. Date
- Probably, the last letter Paul wrote before being executed by the Roman
government in A.D. 65-66: 4:6-8 3. Setting
- Paul writes this 2nd letter to Timothy while the aging apostle is
imprisoned in Rome. Timothy has been
in Ephesus for a while seeking to
mature the saints and now Paul wants Timothy with him in Rome: 4:9,21 II. PURPOSE OF
THE BOOK
1. Key
Verses: 1:6-7, 13; 2:1-2,14-15; 3:14-15; 4:1-2 2. Theme: Timothy is instructed by the apostle Paul
to continue steadfastly in the direction that Paul had already taken so that he may fulfill his
ministry. It appears that Timothy is
being charged to continue the work that Paul had started because Paul is soon to die: 2:1-2;
4:5-8 3. Paul's
Instruction to Timothy to: 1) Stir up his gift: 1:6-7 2) Hold forth the gospel and do not be ashamed of it: 1:8-14 3) Train other faithful men:
2:1-2 4) Be willing to suffer hardship:
1:18; 2:3-13; 3:12;
4:5 5) Charge the brethren to avoid vain words: 2:14-26 6) Abide in the word: 3:14-17 7) Proclaim the word: 4:1-4 8) Fulfill his ministry: 4:5 4. All
of these instructions are applicable to anyone who seeks to be an
evangelist: 2:24; 4:5 III. APPLICATIONS - LESSONS 1. We
should have a spirit of power, love and discipline: 1:7 2. Good
works: 1) To use God's word correctly we must do good works: 2:14 2) To do good works we must quit arguing in vain: 2:14-16, 21-23 3) The scriptures will equip us for every good work: 3:16-17 3. True
Life is revealed by the gospel: 1:10 1) Jesus' life, death and resurrection make known to us what real
life is actually like. 2) Life is not understood without Jesus. 3) Physical existence is not all there is to life. 4. It
is important to train our children in the faith: 1:5; 3:15 1) Our faith as parents will be an example to our children. 2) Teach our children from the word. 3) Make sure that your faith is genuine because children can see a
hypocrite very easily. 5. Do
not become entangled in matters of this life: 2:4 1) You are a soldier of God. 2) You may not receive the crown if you swerve away: 2:5 3) Do not love this present world:
4:10 6. Suffering
will occur to all who live godly in Christ:
3:12 1) This is also a promise of God! 2) A good soldier is willing to suffer hardship with his
captain: 2:3 3) If we endure, we will reign with Christ: 2:12 4) In our suffering, remember Jesus risen from the dead: 2:8-9 5) Our enduring of suffering will prove our genuine faith: 2:19-21 6) In suffering, we are following the example of Jesus and the
example of Paul: 3:10-11 7) This is our command as evangelists: 4:5 8) The Lord will deliver us from all sufferings: 3:11 |