Apostle Paul's "Last Will and Testament"

Preparation for my report in GCUM- NT Survey and Background
RE: 2 TIMOTHY
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Chapter 1

3I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I have been reminded of your sincere faith… 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

- Consequently, Paul wishes to write to Timothy before he dies. No one else could minister to his needs as well as could Timothy (Phil 2:20); since he is about to die, he must encourage Timothy to continue in the work of the ministry. Paul longs to see timothy. He misses his ‘son’ in faith. He is reminiscing the ‘good and bad times’ they spent together in the ministry. In the introduction, Paul wanted to tell Timothy that he has to be brave and he has to continue the faith.. as for how many times in this 2nd epistle to Timothy, Paul reiterated that.

“15You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.16May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus”
- Paul is at the height of his emotions and was telling Timothy that everyone seemed to have forsaken him, except Luke, who was with him, and Onesiphorus, who has looked for him. Some disciples however have left for their assignments like Titus to Dalmatia and Crescens to Galatia. (4:10)

Chapter 2
“1You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. 3Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

- This is the main theme of 2 Timothy- ENDURANCE. Paul encourages Timothy to set forth and continue with the proclaiming the gloriousness of Christ. Giving Timothy this encouragement, Paul was experiencing the desertion of the members of church and even leaders, who if not afraid, are ashamed of fighting for Paul’s freedom then.

“14Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

- It was apparent that Timothy was entrusted with the church in Ephesus (them), which was in the midst of troubles with false teachers who were once taking over the church. For how many times, Paul warned Timothy to keep away from profane and foolish discussions. He pointed out some of their former companions who have wandered away form the truth, Hymenaeus and Philetus. Paul’s powerful motivation given to Timothy about this matter (which we also hold on to) was:

"The Lord knows those who are His,"[a] and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."
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Chapter 3

“1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them”

- Paul talked about the last days. It seemed like Paul really wants Timothy to remember these signs as he said “Mark this..” it’s like a teacher who says “take note” when he wants to emphasize something to his students. Now, we are also taking these notes relative to what we are experiencing now.

Chapter 4

“1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

- This is Paul’s charge to Timothy. It is like the ‘key of responsibility’ is being passed on to his ‘son in faith’- “but as for you, continue in what you have learned….” Paul has been with Timothy since his 2nd missionary journey in Lystra, and after his release from his 1st imprisonment (in v.10-it shows that they were together in Antioch, Iconium and other parts of missionary journeys as well). It looks like Paul and Timothy had a very deep relationship in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, and that, Timothy was well equipped for leading the church.

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7…”

-If we recall his letter to the Philippians, he was comparing himself and us, Christians, to athletes, who are running the race, and reaching for the prize. Now in 2Timothy, he was like saying that he is approaching the finish line, and he ‘smells’ the sweetness of victory where the righteous Judge will reward him.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

- I pray that like Paul, all of us will also say these words. May we also have a good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith until the end.
God bless!

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Prepared by: Lanilane Ocbina