II Timothy 3, The Last Days

Paul has described the consistency of the pastor rooted in Scripture and truth.  Now he turns towards a longterm view of his work and the age to come.

2 Timothy 3: 1-9, The people of the last days

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. 

Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth--men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Paul sees the last days as stretching from the ascension of Jesus on to the return of the Messiah.  Paul warns of people who pretend to be godly but have no real spiritual depth.  Shallow but attractive, Paul warns Timothy away from people like them.  He lists two examples from the days of Moses and has listed others from his own life elsewhere in this letter.  It would be tempting to try and list similar people today, but that is an easy game and misses the point.

2 Timothy 3: 10-13, Persecution and growth

You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,  persecutions, sufferings--what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Spiritual depth includes persecution of some type. Paul has many many examples from his own life and alerts Timothy.

2 Timothy 3: 14-17, But you will continue and grow
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,  and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Scriptures of which Paul speaks here is the Old Testament.  He has committed himself to studying those scriptures and is convinced that they are "God-breathed" -- a valuable message from God sent to guide and train Jesus-follower.

II Timothy 2, Gentle Teaching, Careful Instruction

Paul advises Timothy on continuing his ministry as a "soldier" of the Messiah.

2 Timothy 2: 1-2, Qualified teachers

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And 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.

These two verses include some basic principles: build a community of consistent, reliable teachers who then teach others.  Teach teachers who teach teachers....

2 Timothy 2: 3-7, Focus on the crown!

Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.

Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

This paragraph seems to be a series of short proverbs. Don't get involved in trivial matters -- stay focused on the goal!  The last proverb seems to be a simple principle about fair treatment of ministers, similar (possibly ?) to the one about not muzzling the ox threshing grain.

2 Timothy 2: 8-10, Messiah Jesus, raised from the dead!

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,  for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Ultimately the "victor's crown" involves relying on the risen Messiah, future king, descendant of past king David.  This assures us that any suffering is temporary.

2 Timothy 2: 11-13, Remain faithful

Here is a trustworthy saying: 
  If we died with him, we will also live with him;
  if we endure, we will also reign with him. 
  If we disown him, he will also disown us;
  if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Humans are fickle.  God is not.

2 Timothy 2: 14-15, Approved workman, not quarreling words

Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.   

Do 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.

Timothy is to focus on Truth and correct understanding of God's work.  As previously, Paul warns against petty squabbles and gossip.  Verse 15 represents a clear goal for training people in the ministry.  In this country, such training motivated the founding of universities and seminaries, such as Harvard in the seventeenth century.

2 Timothy 2:16-18, Godless chatter and speculation

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

There are some who read the National Enquirer (or similar publications), speculating on bizarre and unproven things. There are some who enjoy gossip. Paul names two who have suggested that the resurrection has already come!

2 Timothy 2: 19-22, God's solid foundation

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness."

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.  Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Paul gives two quotes about relying on God. The first quote is from Num. 16:5 (Septuagint).  The source of the second quotation is unclear.  It may simply be a summary of Old Testament concepts (such as the Ten Commandments.)  Paul uses a wealthy house as a metaphor for those in God's kingdom and encourages Timothy to be one of the "useful instruments", a glove used by God for great things.

2 Timothy 2: 23-26, Gently instruct; don't quarrel

Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.

Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Again, Timothy is to gently teach and avoid quarreling.

II Timothy 1, Suffering and Not Ashamed

We have preserved two of Paul's letter addressed directly to Timothy, a young convert and eventual minister of the gospel.  The second later was probably written quite a bit later than the first, as in the second letter, Paul seems aware of pending death.

2 Timothy 1: 1-2, Greeting in Jesus

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

A fairly typical greeting from Paul, emphasizing the role of Jesus.

2 Timothy 1: 3-5, Affection, Eunice, Lois

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.  I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Paul expresses his affection for Timothy and recalls the legacy provided Timothy by mother and grandmother, presumably Jewish women, who knew the same Jewish "forefathers".

2 Timothy 1: 6-10, Continue in the gospel; join me in suffering for God

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.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.  So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. 

But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Timothy has received certain gifts from God, and although relatively young, he is to go forward with confidence in his ministry.  Paul emphasizes the undeserved gift of grace from God and gets excited, rambling a bit on the attributes of God.

2 Timothy 1: 11-12, Yet He uses me!

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Paul circles back to his own confidence and excitement about his own role in the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 1: 13-14, Stay sound!

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

So Paul reminds Timothy to continue to be consistent, stable, sound.  Timothy is to practice good sensible doctrine, guided by the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 1: 15-18, Two deserters, one committed brother

You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 

May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May 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.

Two personal stories end this section, a sad one and an encouraging one.  Paul will say more at the end about some of the travelers who left him or opposed him.  Here he spends some time praising Onesiphorus for his commitment and faithfulness.

I Timothy 6, Godliness and Contentment

Paul completes his advice on relationships and has some final admonitions for Timothy.

1 Timothy 6: 1-2, Master-slave relationship

All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God's name and our teaching may not be slandered.

Those who have believing masters are not to show less respect for them because they are brothers. Instead, they are to serve them even better, because those who benefit from their service are believers, and dear to them. These are the things you are to teach and urge on them.

Slavery was embedded in the culture of the first century and Paul does not, here, attempt to confront that.  He does say, elsewhere, that if there is an opportunity to be free, a slave should seek freedom. In his short letter to the Colossian elder Philemon, Paul asks Philemon to free his slave Onesimus.

1 Timothy 6: 3-10, Godliness and contentment 

If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions  and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

There is a lot of value and happiness to be had if one avoids the desire for money. It is good to have one's basic needs met; after that godliness with contentment is satsifying!

1 Timothy 6: 11-16,  Pursue righteousness -- freely available in Jesus!

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time--God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

Paul's instructions to "fight the good fight" segue into a praise chorus on the power and holiness of God.  God reigns in "unapproachable light".

1 Timothy 6: 17-19, Riches in Christ

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Riches should be primarily spiritual.  Even if one has wealth (which is acceptable here), they should be generous with it.

1 Timothy 6: 20-21, Be on guard

Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have wandered from the faith. 

Grace be with you.

As for Timothy's ministry, Paul is concerned about gossip and empty claims of "knowledge". These concerns prevail today.

The letter ends suddenly, with a final admonition to Timothy followed by "Grace be with you."

I Timothy 5, Caring for Those in Your Church

In the previous chapter, Paul has emphasized correct teaching and careful treatment of Scriptural concepts. In this chapter his emphasis is on ministry to particular groups of individuals.  This includes concerns about physical needs and poverty.

1 Timothy 5: 1-2, Treat others with gentleness

Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.

Timothy is to treat the congregants in his care with compassion and respect.

Paul's advice to Timothy about the treatment of women is sound; they are sisters and mothers.  Not potential conquests.  (I write this while a presidential candidate has been revealed to have made some "lewd comments" about his view of women. There is no room for lewd talk -- or even lewd thoughts -- among men active in the kingdom of God.)

1 Timothy 5: 3-10, Treatment of older widows

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.

Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds.

Widows were often the the most obvious case of poverty and need.  In a culture that tied women to husbands and family, the loss of a husband and the accompanying poverty was devastating.  The church should be the cutting edge in taking over the provisions for these women.  But in a world of considerable basis poverty, Paul is careful that the needs of widows not overwhelm the church.  So he seems to focus on the most extreme cases.

The translation of verse 9 is unclear; the NIV footnotes say "has been faithful to her husband" could be translated "had but one husband".  

1 Timothy 5: 11-16, Treatment of young widows 

As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to.

So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

Paul has concerns about younger widows being put on the support rolls when they may change their minds later and decide to marry and have children.  I don't really understand Paul's concerns, some of which are surely cultural and not reflected in our society.

1 Timothy 5: 17-19, 

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages."

Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.

There are two quotations here, one from the Old Testament (Deuteronomy 25:4) and one from the New Testament (Luke 10:7.)  This is a rare case in the New Testament in which another New Testament passage is apparently quoted.

1 Timothy 5: 20-23, Steady maturity

Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

Here Paul gives a sequence of brief instructions.  Rebuke those (within the church) who refuse to turn away from sin.  Don't act on favoritism.  Don't be hasty.  ("Laying on of hands" is an act of appointment and endorsement; a pastor should be careful about endorsing a junior minister if he/she has not had time to mature.)

The final sentence is personal advice about health. Apparently Timothy was regularly ill and Paul suggests a little wine as medication.  This bit of advice makes it clear that Paul's instructions vary from general principles to specific situations.  As the church, over the centuries, has institutionalized his instructions, it is not clear which of his many instructions (in over a dozen letters) are universal and which instructions are cultural or even personal.  "Culture" versus "universal principle" is an active area of debate in the modern church.

1 Timothy 5: 24-25, Eventually we see good and bad deeds

The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

Paul echoes the thoughts of Jesus (Luke 8:17) as he insists that what is done in darkness, whether good or evil, eventually comes out.  Sometimes quickly, sometimes much later.  But good deeds cannot be hidden.

Paul wraps up his advice in the next chapter.

I Timothy 4, Correct Teaching

Paul is giving Timothy advice on leading the church in Ephesus.

1 Timothy 4: 1-5, Fall teaching and abstention

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth.
  
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Paul predicts that people will follow a variety of hypocritical teachers who focus on outward actions and asceticism.  Over 2000 years, despite this passage, a variety of sects have emphasized their asceticism as evidence of some type of spirituality.  Paul's last statement is a direct confrontation with the ascetic's claim to some spiritual discipline.

1 Timothy 4: 6-11, Godly training, not gossip

If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

Command and teach these things.

Paul's focus in on correct understanding and knowledge, not rumors, myths, old stories.  Every community has its own versions of "old wives' tales", popular stories that have little in touch with reality.

1 Timothy 4: 12-16, Devoted to Scripture, preaching and teaching

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

In this passage we learn that Timothy is young (still young) and so this letter is fairly early.  Paul reminds Timothy to be an example and to keep his focus.  Like the church leaders in Acts, he is to focus on teaching from the Scriptures (the Old Testament, at that time) and be a model of the follower of Jesus.

In the next chapter Paul gives advice on pastoral care.

The Pastoral Epistles

Paul's letter to Timothy is the first of three pastoral letters preserved in the New Testament. The term "pastoral" (first used in the eighteenth century for I & II Timothy and Titus) identifies these letters as written to young men active in Christian ministry.  The letters are intimate and personal, written from an experienced senior to young men with whom he has spent months and years.  Although personal letters, the writings also give ministry advice, laying out some of Paul's principles of ministry.

Wikipedia has this page on the pastoral epistles.

Paul's first letter to Timothy is primarily advice to a young man committed to representing Christ in Ephesus.  Timothy apparently leads a church (or "assembly" of Christians) there.  Paul's letter describes two types of church leaders, "episkpoi" (bishops, elders) and "diakonoi" (servants, deacons.)  It also has a segment concerned about errors and deception, particularly errors to come in the future.

Paul's second letter to Timothy seems to be much later and has an air of finality as Paul appears to prepare for death.  Paul asks for some aid from Timothy and is aware he is giving some final advice.

Paul's letter to Titus (in Crete) also deals with church structure and the spiritual life of a minister.

OverviewBible has some nice summaries of the three epistles here: 

1. I Timothy
2. II Timothy
3. Titus

These three letters consist of a total of 13 chapters in our modern New Testament so we will cover them in just over two weeks.  The chapters are relatively short, less than 20 verses per chapter on average.