Preach the Word

2 Timothy 4:1-22

Key Verse 4:1,2

These are Paul's final words, which give us a good idea of how we should operate as a minister and a shepherd of the flock of God.

1. 1. Compare the following exhortations with what Paul says in verse 1. 

1) Preach the Word (2a); 

2) Be prepared in season and out of season (2b); 

3) Correct, rebuke and encourage (2c);

4) Keep your head in all situations (3-5a); 

5) Endure hardship (5b); 

6) Do the work of an evangelist (5c); and 

7) Discharge all the duties of your ministry (5d).

What is the purpose of a ministry? (1) What does each of the exhortations mean? How are they related to one another? 

 

** The purpose is to prepare people: 1) against the judgment, and 2) for the kingdom of God to be revealed upon Jesus' coming again. It is literally a "rescue" mission, rescuing souls from drowning in the fiery lake of burning sulfur into the blessed kingdom. 

* 

1) Preach the Word (2a) - preaching has the meaning of a systematic approach for a clear purpose, that is, to help people renounce every practice which is inconsistent with what Jesus came to represent, and adopt everything that Jesus came to teach and actually lived and died for.

2) Be prepared in season and out of season (2b) - in season or out of season is the same as "all the time" (like in favorable times or unfavorable times). "Be prepared" means "be prepared" to take necessary actions so that each time the need arises a minister should be able to discharge all of his duties effectively.

3) Correct, rebuke and encourage (2c) - two things can be said, that is, means and order. Means (of correction, rebuke...) should be the Word (i.e., Jesus' example); order is, first correct (where one is clearly wrong/incorrect in theory and practice), then rebuke (when despite corrections coupled with sure understanding, compliance is not shown); and then encourage (in cases where booster shots are necessary)

4) Keep your head in all situations (3-5a) - this means to not be distracted from one's relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the head of the church. People such as Judaizers might try to distract Timothy away from his relationship with Christ and confuse his message on Jesus Christ. Paul exhorts Timothy to keep his doctrine straight, that is, salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. John 3:16.

5) Endure hardship (5b) - this is based on the understanding that hard moments are the moments for God's good result to gestate into fruition, and therefore must be endured with many thanks.

6) Do the work of an evangelist (5c) - evangelism means winning of souls.

7) Discharge all the duties of your ministry (5d) - all other duties such as keeping bathroom or kitchen clean, managing financial affairs wisely, getting household matters straight, getting school work done, exercising properly, etc. and so forth.

** Although there are areas of overlap, interplay, or cross over, it seems that the priority is in the way they are listed. Preaching must be done as a matter of first importance. Then, one must secure time for personal Bible studies. Then, one must contact sheep/flock, to minister over them, still maintaining and keeping one's relationship with Jesus straight in terms of one's doctrines or lifestyle, still enduring as more difficulties might arise, still not neglecting the need to go out for fishing, to secure more souls to be saved, yet not neglecting all other duties such as brushing one's teeth regularly, paying credit card debts, changing engine oil of one's car every 3,000 miles, etc.

2. In verse 6, Paul uses the word "departure". What does "departure" suggest about the way Paul understands death? (2Co 5:1-8; John 14:2; Hebrews 11:10)

** It is for one's soul to depart from this time domain into eternity, from a physical body to be at home with Jesus waiting to receive a resurrected body to be given (after the moments of rest, if Jesus comes again after one's physical death). 

The word departure also indicates no "element" of attachment to this life, for just as a bus arrives at a bus stop, so also as the moment of one's physical death arrives, one's soul simply departs from his earthly residence. It is simply like a man taking off a work suit and putting on pajamas before getting into bed at night.

Where a soul gets fully refined, having been made fully spiritual, so that as one has reached the point where spirit fully dominates over one's flesh, departing from one's physical body comes with   zero ounce of regret. 

3. In verse 7, Paul sums up his life. For what did Paul "fight"? What can we learn from Paul who says, "I have finished the race"? 

** Faith in Jesus Christ, the faith that believes, lives, and even dies, for the profession of faith that Jesus is the Lord and Savior, the King of the universe. 

** The word "race" indicates that Paul aimed for winning the first prize. He did not live as a mediocre Christian. 

4. Compare what Paul says in verses 6-7 with what he says in verse 8. What is the significance of "the crown of righteousness"? 

** It is significant because:

1) it means the "qualification" for life in the Kingdom  of God (Romans 14:7; Isa 9:7; Psa 89:14);

2) it means that one is capable of having fellowship with the people whose souls and spirits were made perfect in eternity (Psa 1:1-6); and

3) it means that you secured a vessel in which God can put all other blessings for your eternal enjoyment with the possibility for infinite prosperity (Matthew 6:33).

5. Look at verses 9-22. How many names are listed? What does "my ministry" (11), "our message" (15), or "the message" (17) indicate about why the way Paul speaks of each individual is not the same? 

** 16 not including Timothy. 

** The reason is not because someone is good or bad, but because they   all differ in degrees as being either for or against Paul's purpose, that is, to proclaim the message of the gospel to all peoples on earth.

We should not fight with others humanly, nor do we need to hold personal grudges against or favoritism toward this person or that person. All we need to do is to work together for a common purpose, that is, to please Jesus. After all, Paul was not promoting his own personal interest. He was doing what he was doing all for Jesus' name's sake. Romans 1:5. People recognized this noble purpose of Paul, so they all worked together, going wherever Paul asked them to go, coming to Paul whenever Paul asked them to come.

6. What do the following statements tell us about Paul's relationship with Timothy?

1) Do your best to come to me quickly (9); and

2) Do your best to get here before winter (21).

What can we learn from Timothy? 

 

** The wisdom of Mary versus the wisdom of Martha. Mary served the Lord better by devoting herself to the Lord than by making herself busy with her own things. 

7. Paul says, "The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength" (17) or "The Lord will rescue me..." (18). What can we learn from Paul in serving the Lord? 

** Of course we can rely on human coworkers. But ultimately we must rely on the Lord, for it is only Jesus Christ who can ultimately be relied upon because when everyone finally departs from or deserts us, the Lord is still there to put us together. 

The end