By: Elder Mark Wattenbarger
This week, let us look at a common theme in both the 1st and 2nd letters which Paul wrote to Timothy. When we look into these letters, we can see a seasoned minister of the gospel teaching a younger minister to stick to the gospel for the good of the sheep of God’s fold. Paul teaches Timothy that truth triumphs over treachery every time.
A bit of history is useful to set the context for these letters. Both letters were possibly written between A.D. 62 and A.D. 67. Paul wrote the first from Macedonia (1 Tim 1:3) and the second a few years later possibly from Rome during Paul’s second imprisonment. From this historical setting we can see with what love, generosity of spirit and even urgency Paul would have written down encouragement and his hard won wisdom in the service of his Master.
One common theme in both letters is the false teachers and loose morals which were already arising among the believers at Ephesus, Colossae and other places (cf 1 Cor 5:1, 2). I say already, for a mere 30 or so years have passed since the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Already some men undertook the teaching of “the law” (which appears to be the fixed and established moral code established by God, based on the context) for the sake of honor among men and not with attention to its life changing effects in the lives of God’s children (1 Tim 5,6). How eye opening to see how quickly men will turn God’s word away from its intended purpose to serve their own ends!
Paul felt obliged to warn Timothy to avoid such vanity and keep studying the word of God. For Paul, by experience, knows that the doctrine of God and the truth of Christ are uplifting and had a form of salvation. Paul was trying to help Timothy and those who would hear him. The wisdom of God was under attack from vain men with their worldly wisdom and Paul teaches Timothy to field just one weapon against this attack: God’s truth (1 Tim 4:16).
And thus the pinnacle feature of these two letters is the mighty encouragement which Paul leaves for Timothy and for us today: keep the faith (2 Tim 4:7). Paul encourages in Timothy a love for and a trust in God’s holy word. Listen to the wonderful encouragement of the seasoned disciple.
Paul knows his end is near (2 Tim 4:6). This faithful minister, scourged, whipped, shipwrecked and often in fear of his life (2 Cor 11:23-28) tells his beloved son in the ministry that his life will also be one of hardship (2 Tim 2:3), but the God of mercy who has preserved Paul will do no less for Timothy. Paul encourages Timothy to teach and to trust in the truth of God and Jesus Christ.
Paul makes it a point to instruct Timothy to teach. This encouragement takes on two forms. One is to teach faithful men who will teach others what Paul taught Timothy (2 Tim 2:1, 2). From prison in Rome, Paul reminds Timothy to keep teaching so that the truth brings light to those in darkness (2 Tim 1:10b). What fortitude in the midst of persecution! May we all value the word of God so much that our concern will be for the perpetual teaching of God’s holy word.
In addition, Paul addresses another aspect of teaching and instructs Timothy to gently teach those who are opposed to truth (2 Tim 2:24). Paul is training Timothy that teaching the truth with meekness and patience is a soft word which can turn away wrath. With God’s sovereign blessing, repentance and deliverance is the result of preaching the truth. (2 Tim 2:24-26).
Finally, Paul links the power of God to the power of God’s word together so completely that we are made to understand that God and His inspired word are worthy of all our trust, all our faith, all our hope (2 Tim 1:7-10). “[B]e thou a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God….” Be ready, says Paul, to preach the word at any time, being assured that it is useful and profitable for enlightening the minds of God’s children to withstand all the assaults of false teachers, of the devil and of worldly scheming (2 Tim 3:16, 4:2). More than anything else God’s word is a perfect antiseptic to prevent error from getting into our thoughts, a sterilizer to thoroughly clean our minds and cast down misunderstanding and worldly systems of thought and schemes which would remove God from His place of proper preeminence (2 Cor 10:5).
Through both letters to Timothy, Paul encourages and warns Timothy to stick to the word, trusting in God and the scripture to be his guard and constant defense in all seasons. God and his word will endure when all else in the world turns to dust (Luke 21:33). May Paul’s encouragement to Timothy be instructive to us so that we too may learn to trust in God and in God’s word as a foundation upon which to build our lives (Matt 7:24-25).
Published: 2010-11-07 by MW