BUT AS FOR YOU T h e Me ss a g e o f II Tiim oth y L ESSON SIX: C ONTINUE IN THE G OSPEL T EXT You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra- which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (3: 10-17) What is it about our fallen nature that is the same as Timothy s which made it necessary for this passage to be included in the bible? E XPLANATION II Timothy, L6, p. 1
Standing Firm in the Faith: Paul s Example (3:10-11) You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra- which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me You, however is the second of the 4 key but as for you transition in II Timothy. Here Paul is transitioning from the previous verses where he describes the sharp decline in morals and the spread of empty, false, misleading religion. But as for you Timothy, despite all of the false teaching and rise of opposition to the message of the gospel, you Timothy have been following have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra- which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Paul seems to be generating yet another laundry list here that may seem at first glance a bit unseemly since it seems to exalt himself. It is natural that he would mention Timothy s faithfulness to Paul s own teaching (have followed; historical aorist Timothy s entire journey of faith is summed up as in as a single past tense action. The concept here means to follow not just intellectually but with one s entire lifestyle) but the rest seem a bit much. Stott makes and important observation (p. 95) that what Paul is really doing is providing two objective evidences of the genuineness of his teaching, namely thatl: 1) Paul lived a life in accordance with what he taught (he didn t just talk the talk, but he walked the walk) i.e., my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, (notice the repeated theme of faith, hope and love!) 2) Paul believed in the truth of the message of the gospel so much that he was willing to suffer for it i.e., my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra- which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. The standard here move beyond merely intellectual correctness or historical fidelity. Getting the gospel right means that we need to be able to tell others to look at how I live my life that is the proof that the gospel is true. At the same time we need to remember that the gospel does not say look at my life because I m perfect. It says, look at my life because I m a poor, wretched sinner who through no merit or goodness of my own was graciously given a new life as the daughter/son of the King. And even in spite of this, I m still prone to act like an orphan and so I need to continually repent so that my conduct, my aim in life etc. stay focused on what they should stay focused on. Where do you sense that the gospel needs to more deeply penetrate and inform your teaching, your conduct, your aim in life, your faith, your patience, your love, your steadfastness, your persecutions and sufferings? Standing Firm in the Faith: Persecution Expected (3:11-13) Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. II Timothy, L6, p. 2
Paul reminds Timothy (and us) that his experience of suffering is not unique. All who desire to follow Christ wholeheartedly will be persecuted. Period. No ifs, ands, or buts. Paul is merely echoing Christ s exhortations in John 15:18-20 if people hated the Master, they will also hate his servants. Meanwhile, these false teachers that we have heard so much about will continue to make progress in going from bad to worse. Even if they didn t entirely believe their own message at the beginning, over time their deceptions of others lead to their own self-deceptions. (Haven t you ever told an altered version of the truth so many times that you start to believe it yourself.) Where are you suffering for the gospel? Where do you think you are being called to suffer for the gospel more? Timothy s Future Conduct and Scripture (3:14-17) But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed This is the 3 rd of 4 times that Paul uses his contrasting transitional phrase. In contrast to these false teacher so are making progress in the wrong direction Timothy is to continue on his present course. Continue or remain is a present active imperative indicating that Paul is giving a command (not merely sage advice) which is to characterized Timothy s ongoing, daily lifestyle. He is to continue to follow, teach and obey the message of the gospel. Paul next offers two reasons for this command. First, knowing from whom you learned it. Paul was: Timothy s spiritual father (led Timothy to Christ and discipled him as they traveled together for years and years) Laid his hands on Timothy at Timothy s ordination And apostle chosen by Christ, to bring the message of the gospel Entrusted by Christ to guard this good deposit Like Moses facing opposition by false teachers over God s word One whose entire life had been radically shaped by the gospel. The second reason for the command was how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings. This message of the gospel that Paul was bringing was in fundamental harmony with the clear teachings of God in the Old Testament. Paul s message was not invented by Paul, it is the fulfillment of what had always been promised to God s people. Stott makes a helpful distinction here that these verses tell us about the origin of scripture (where it came from) and the purpose of scripture (what it is intended for). On the origin of scripture, Paul says All Scripture is breathed out by God. This clearly includes the sacred writings of the previous verse (i.e. the Old Testament). And while it doesn t explicitly include specific NT writings (gospels, letters etc.), elsewhere in Paul s writings we do see that Paul clearly understood that his letters where to be considered scripture. Peter is a little more explicit in II Peter 3:16 comparing Paul s writings with the other scripture (i.e. the OT). So while not II Timothy, L6, p. 3
explicit, it is certainly implicit that Paul is including his own work in his statement about origin as well as the entire OT. breathed out (the most famous of Greek words θεοπνευστος) literally means God-exhaled. Expiration is probably a better name for the doctrine rather than inspiration. This is an essential reminder the message of the bible is not Paul s, or Luke s, or Peter s, or Moses it is God s. We are not simply free to pick and choose. As to the purpose of scripture, Paul is more lengthy. These God expired texts, are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. The first point that Paul makes that scripture is essentially a book of salvation it is intended to reveal to us what we could not know on our about God, our relationship with him, and his provision for forgiveness, reconciliation and salvation. The second point is that scripture contains the non-negotiable, and sole, basis for our creeds, our beliefs. It is good for teaching, reproof, and correction. It sets the standard faithfully. Finally, scripture is designed for moral training and instruction. It tells us about God and our relationship with him, it defines the content of that relationship and then instructs us and equips us to be able to live out the new relationship of salvation that we enter into. What do you think are the implications for the 20 s-30 s regarding Paul s description of the origin and purpose of scripture? How might you be being called to help encourage these things? T IMOTHY S CHALLENGE ( AND O URS!) Paul holds out a compelling vision for how we are to be living our lives. How well do you think that we are doing this as: A community within NPC? A congregation? II Timothy, L6, p. 4
T HINGS TO REMEMBER Paul, languishing in a Roman dungeon awaiting his final trial which will lead to his execution, is writing to his beloved spiritual son Timothy. Timothy had traveled with Paul for about 15 years and had been sent as the pastor/bishop to Ephesus, a strong church that had fallen on hard times. Paul s charge to Timothy is Paul s last letter in the NT. Chapter 1 Reminding us of our need for strong, spiritually centered relationships, Paul opens his letter greeting Timothy as his beloved child and reminds Timothy of his spiritual heritage through his mother and grandmother. Paul exhorts Timothy to use the gift of the Holy Spirit constantly and to great effect in carrying out his duties. Doing this will entail or result in: o Not being ashamed of the gospel o Suffering for the gospel E x t e n d e d e x p l a n a t i o n o f t h e g o s p e l o Following the sound teaching of the gospel o Guarding the purity of the gospel Paul concludes the chapter by citing the example of Phygelus and Hermogenes who have turned away from the gospel demonstrating that it can happen. He also cites Onesiphorus as an example of one who has held on to the gospel as seen in his aid and comfort to Paul. Chapter 2 Paul further instructs Timothy that in contrast to those who have fallen away he must be strengthened by God so that he can pass on the gospel that he is to guard (follow, and suffer for) to future elders, who will also teach others. Doing this will require that Timothy be single -minded even in the face of danger (soldier), that he discipline himself according the principles of the gospel (athlete) and that he be patient and diligent knowing that growth takes time (farmer). Paul then cites examples for how to pass on the gospel from Christ s life (his person and his work) where there is power, his own life as Paul continues to serve and preach the gospel, and the common experience of believers as we experience God s care and steadfastness toward us. Paul concludes chapter 2 by instructing Timothy that his teaching (which is to be passed on) needs to get it right (like the approved workman who rightly divides), should impact our moral conduct and not just our intellectual curiosity (causing people to become clean vessels) and should model Christ s in his response to others and point to the main thing (the way a servant should model his master s conduct). Chapter 3 Paul begins Chapter 3 by reminding Timothy although there will be seasons of more and less intensive trials, there exists a permanent condition of opposition between those who follow Christ and those who do not. Stemming from a love of self, money and pleasure rather than God, this tension will even work its way into the church. We are to be aware of this. II Timothy, L6, p. 5