Week 7 (10/27/19)
2 Timothy 4:1-8
Theme: Transformed Disciples Fulfill their Callings
Outline
1. The Charge: God and Jesus (4:1)
2. First Calling: Proclaim the Word (4:2-4)
4. Second Calling: Do the Work of an Evangelist (4:5)
5. Third Calling: Finish the Race (4:6-8)
2 Timothy Summary: Because we’ve been transformed by the gospel, Christians…
Create Spiritual Friendships (1:1-7)
Suffer for the Gospel (1:8-18)
Focus on God’s Kingdom (2:1-7)
Persevere in their Faith (2:8-13)
Live in the World (2:14-26)
Stand Firm Against the World (3:1-9)
Live Out the Truth (3:10-17)
Background: Before diving into the text itself, we need to set the scene properly. Paul has been suffering in chains in a cold and wet Roman prison. While some of Paul’s friends have been sent by him to shepherd churches throughout the Mediterranean world, many of his friends have deserted him.
For the past thirty years, the Apostle Paul has served in many roles: he’s been a missionary, church-planter, disciple-maker, shepherd, and theologian. He has experienced persecutions and material blessings, intimate community and loneliness, tears of pain and joy, answered prayers of deliverance and prayers without deliverance, and people living in sin and others walking in the Spirit’s power.
Paul’s final days are fast approaching (4:6-8). In this, his final letter, Paul has written warm, personal, and yet very challenging words to his spiritual son Timothy, who is a pastor in Ephesus. Now, place yourself in Paul’s position. What final words would you write to Timothy? More theology? Would you encourage him? Or perhaps you might challenge him?
Chapter four begins Paul’s final words to Timothy. And Paul begins by transporting us into a courtroom. A courtroom? Paul used courtroom language to communicate the seriousness and solemn nature of his last words.
4:1: The verb “I charge” was also used in a court of law; it could refer to a person testifying under oath. In other words, Paul is saying something like this: “As a witness (in this court of law) to the resurrected Christ, the gospel, and God’s kingdom, I solemnly testify...
Paul is testifying in the very presence of God and Jesus! Leaving aside the content of Paul’s testimony for now, these two members of the court—God and Jesus make the highest court of our (US) country look powerless and small.
Jesus will return to judge the world (John 5:22, 27, Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10) when he “appears” (returns: 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13). Jesus’ kingdom is God’s kingdom. While there are present elements of the kingdom now (forgiveness, deliverance from sin, and life in the Spirit), Paul is referring to its ultimate fulfilment upon Christ’s return (perfect justice, righteousness, peace).
4:2: For our discussion, I’ll use the word “calling” as a loose synonym for “solemn charge” (keeping in mind that the context of Paul’s calling is a solemn charge in a courtroom). Also, it’s important to note that the word translated “preaching” in this verse is not referring to the same kind of preaching (what we call sermons) that occurs in our worship service.
In this passage (4:1-8), Paul makes three points about transformed disciples fulfilling their callings (proclaim the Word, do the work of an evangelist, finish the race).
Key Point #1: Our first calling is to proclaim the Word. In many Bible translations the word “preach” is used in 4:1. The word “preach” can also be translated “proclaim” and conveys the idea of “a herald in a marketplace” (Stott, 106). Wiersbe explains: “In Paul’s day, a ruler had a special herald who made announcements to the people. He was commissioned by the ruler to make his announcements in a loud, clear voice so everyone could hear” (253).
In 4:2, Paul provides three additional insights for proclaiming of God’s Word. First, we proclaim the Word anytime, anywhere, and to anyone (“be ready in season and out of season”). Also known as the three A’s, Christians must be ready to proclaim the Scriptures 24/7 and 365 (days a year).
We’ve already discussed how to handle God’s Word accurately from 2:15 (ITA: interpret correctly, teach clearly, apply universally), but what about the “how” to proclaim the Word “in season and out of season?” We should proclaim the Word (1) boldly and (2) humbly and with (3) grace and (4) conviction.
Second, we proclaim Scripture to “reprove, rebuke, and exhort” our Christian brothers and sisters. Some commentators see these as three elements of our spiritual formation: intellect, moral, and emotional. Stott observes: “For some people are tormented by doubts and need to be convinced by arguments. Others have fallen into sin, and need to be rebuked. Others again are haunted by fears, and need to be encouraged” (108).
Third, we proclaim God’s Word with “complete patience and teaching.” As someone who has the privilege of preaching and teaching the Scriptures, I know that it’s easy for me to want people to “hear” and “see” the truths of Scripture ASAP!
But even Jesus’ disciples didn’t receive and understand everything he taught. So, Paul encourages us to exercise “complete patience.” For what are we to be patient? We should be patient for the Spirit to convict (John 16:7-11), teach (John 14:16; 16:13), and transform God’s people (Galatians 5:22-23) through the Word.
We also proclaim the Scriptures with “teaching.” This may seem obvious. How else would we proclaim God’s Word? I think Paul wanted to emphasize the importance of proclaiming biblical doctrine from the pulpit, in our small groups, learning communities (Sunday school, equipping courses), families, and one-on-one relationships.
In addition, Paul was concerned about two things that were diminishing the Word’s impact in our lives (4:3-4). First, we’re becoming indifferent or lazy toward the truths of Scripture. Second, we’re prioritizing our personal forms of truth (celebrity, social media, worldly truth) over God’s truth.
4:3-4: How do we know if God’s Word is becoming less impactful in our lives? Paul provided two warnings signs to alert us. Warning Sign #1: We’re becoming indifferent or lazy toward the truths of Scripture.
Paul states that “people will not endure sound teaching” (4:3) and “will turn away from listing to the truth” (4:4). To what extent do these phrases describe you? Are you still hungry for God’s Word and biblical teaching? Does Scripture bore you? How many times a week do you feed yourself with the Word?
Warning Sign #2: We’re prioritizing our personal forms of truth (celebrity, social media, worldly truth) over God’s truth. Paul describes these people with “itching ears” (we want to hear messages that make us feel good about ourselves) and desires for “teachers to suit their own passions” and “myths” (false teaching). Because it’s easy to fall into these truths, it’s important to identify some popular forms of truth.
4:5: Key Point #2: Our second calling is to “do the work of an evangelist”. In contrast to those with “itching ears,” Paul challenged Timothy: “be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (4:5). Before I focus on the work of an evangelist, I want to share about these other three traits (sober-minded, endure suffering, fulfill your ministry) in relation to ministry.
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First, we need to be “sober-minded” in ministry. Knight observes that this word “is used in the NT only figuratively in the sense of being free from every form of mental and spiritual ‘drunkenness,’ and thus it comes to mean ‘be well-balanced, self-controlled’” (BAGD) (456).
In other words, we need to think clearly in all circumstances. Ministry may be spontaneous sometimes, but it’s not carried out in disorderly and rambunctious manner. We need sober-minded servants.
Second, we need to “endure suffering” in ministry (the suffering here is not referring to being persecuted for our faith) because we will experience many challenges and heartaches along the way. Third, we need to “fulfill [our] ministry,” that is, to complete the assignment that God has given us (further elaborated in 4:6-8).
Returning to the work of an evangelist, evangelism should not be reduced to sharing our faith/gospel. It’s not only a process, but working like an evangelist encompasses many different elements. Using the acrostic PRISM, I have identified five elements for doing the work of an evangelist:
Prayer: Pray for the salvation, stronger relationship, open doors, spiritual movement in their life
Relationships: Deepen your friendship; build trust, listen, vulnerability, accountability
Invitations: Ask them to do activities (cooking, cars, exercise, movies, shopping, eating, church)
Spiritual conversations: Learn what they think about God, Jesus, Scripture, salvation; share your testimony in different ways
Movement: Thank God for moving in their lives; reevaluate how God is moving in their lives by reflecting each element of PRISM
4:6: Key Point #3: Our third calling is to finish the race. As Paul was living in his final days (according to tradition, he was beheaded under Nero’s authority ca. 67 AD), he saw his impending death as a “drink offering” on an altar (4:6; cf. Philippians 2:17). Paul exhorted Christians to live as living and holy sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2); he now viewed his life as being (spiritually) poured out on the altar.
Commentators have given three possible interpretations for the word “departure” (4:6). Stott explains: “It means ‘loosing’ and could be used of either of striking a tent…or of ‘release from shackles’….or of untying a boat from its moorings” (113).
All three provide a vivid picture of Paul’s (and our) departure from life. (1) We are taking down our tent in order to receive a new, perfect, and permanent one (glorified body). (2) We are being released from our chains and now set free. (3) We have lifted the anchor and the boat is ready to set sail for another destination (heaven).
4:7: With three metaphors (fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith), Paul summarized his entire life and service to the Lord. Wiersbe notes: “Like a determined wrestler or boxer, he had fought a good fight; and, like a runner, he had finished his lifelong race victoriously…[and like] a steward who had faithfully guarded his boss’ deposit” (255).
In short, these metaphors point to Paul’s persevering faithfulness. He suffered but endured. He asked for deliverance from a “thorn in the flesh,” but God did not deliver him from this thorn (Jesus’ grace was sufficient).
He experienced life in the flesh, but the Spirit’s presence and power gave him victory. He was mocked, beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, and stoned, but Paul persevered and remained faithful to Jesus, who called, reconciled, adopted, justified, and redeemed him by his grace and gospel.
4:8: We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; our good works cannot save us but they provide evidence for the genuineness of our salvation, faith in Christ, and fruit of the Spirit (Ephesians 2:8-10; Galatians 5:22-23). Besides providing evidence for our salvation, what kind of role does our faithfulness play in the Christian life if they aren’t the basis for our salvation?
According to Paul, Jesus awards us with “the crown of righteousness” for living a life of faithfulness and righteousness. But it’s not only Paul who will receive this crown because Jesus (the righteous judge) will award this crown of righteousness to “all who have loved his appearing”.
Wiersbe explains: “The crown of righteousness is God’s reward for a faithful and righteous life; and our incentive for faithfulness and holiness is the promise of the Lord’s appearing” (255). In addition to the crown of righteousness, the Bible also identifies four additional crowns: an imperishable crown (1 Corinthians 9:24-25), the crown of rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 2:19), the crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), and the crown of life (Revelation 2:10) for our persevering faithfulness.
Here’s a summary of 2 Timothy 4:1-8: Transformed disciples…
1. Fulfill Calling #1: Proclaim the Word
Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone (with boldness, humility, grace, conviction)
Three Elements: Intellectual, Moral, Emotional
Complete Patience and Teaching
2. Fulfill Calling #2: Do the Work of an Evangelist (PRISM)
Pray
Relationships
Invitations
Spiritual Conversations
Movement
3. Fulfill Calling #3: Finish the Race
Drink Offering: Life Poured Out on the Altar
Departure at Hand: Tent, Chains, or Boat
Wrestler/Boxer, Runner, Steward: Persevering Faithfulness
Crown of Righteousness: Faithfulness, Holiness
Reflection
1. Place yourself in Paul’s position (toward the end of your life or departing from your community due to a change in life). What kind of letter would you write to your Christian community? What would you emphasize? Explain.
2. Paul exhorted Timothy: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus.” (4:1) What does it mean to be exhorted in God and Jesus’ presence? How does this encourage (and challenge) you to be faithful to God’s “charge” to you?
3. Transformed disciples are “ready in season and out of season” to proclaim the Word. What kind of steps do you need to take to be ready? How will you share the Word with others? (see study guide for my four suggestions). Share.
4. Transformed disciples “do the work of an evangelist” (4:5). Share about your latest experiences of sharing the gospel with a family member or friend.
5. Read 4:6-8. Transformed disciples finish the race. How do these verses encourage you? What kind of mindset do we need in order to finish the race? Share.
6. Action: Make a commitment this week to focus on one of three callings (proclaim the Word, do the work of an evangelist, training to finish the race). How will you go about this process? Identify someone to keep you accountable for this commitment.