II Timothy: The Gift of a Godly Legacy

Overview of II Timothy: The two letters to Timothy and the one to Titus are called the “pastoral epistles” because they contain principles for the pastoral care of churches and qualifications for ministers.

I Timothy and Titus were written shortly after Paul’s first arrest and release.

Paul now again imprisoned in Rome as the result of persecution under Nero, realized when he wrote this letter, that his death was near.

Alone and cold in his dungeon, the veteran missionary wrote to his young son in the faith this intensely personal letter.

This was Paul’s last inspired epistle. Soon afterward, according to tradition, he was beheaded on the Ostian Way, west of Rome.

Key Verse

The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also,
II Timothy 2:2 (NASB)

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Content Outline

The Message of II Timothy

“It seems that Paul may have had reason to fear that Timothy was in danger of weakening spiritually. This would have been a grave concern for Paul since Timothy needed to carry on Paul’s work (cf. 2:2).

Summing up the potential problem of Timothy, who might be weakening under the pressure of the church and the persecution of the world, Paul calls him to (1) generally ‘be strong’ (2:1), the key exhortation of the first part of the letter, and to (2) continue to ‘preach the word’ (4:2), the main admonition of the last part.”
Dr. John MacArthur

“Well, there was no drivel from Paul’s pen as he recorded his last words in 2 Timothy.

Confined to Rome’s Mamertine Prison, Paul told Timothy: ‘The time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith… Be diligent to come quickly… to come before winter’ (2 Timothy 4:7,9, 21).

Second Timothy emphasizes faithfulness. Paul spoke of his own faithfulness and exhorted Timothy to be faithful to his calling and gifts, particularly to preaching the Word.

He tells us to persevere like a soldier in the army, an athlete in the games, or a farmer in the fields.”
Dr. David Jeremiah

“Unlike Paul’s first letter, which indirectly reveals Timothy’s temperament and circumstances, this second letter allows us to see the apostle himself at his most vulnerable.

Even as he wrote, Paul felt the approach of death, and he knew the time to pass the torch had come. Scripture doesn’t tell us what happened after this.

I like to think that Timothy collected Paul’s cloak and books in Troas, picked up Mark in some other city, and made it to Rome before his mentor was beheaded. We can’t say for certain.

Regardless, by virtue of this letter, the flame of divine truth passed like the torch of the Olympiad from the hand of Paul to the hand of Timothy… and on to Titus, and then Tychicus, and Luke, and John Mark… and Chuck (Swindoll)… and to your hand as well.”
Dr. Charles R. Swindoll

“We are to imagine the apostle, ‘Paul the aged’, languishing in some dark, dank dungeon in Rome, from which there is to be no escape but death. His own apostolic labours are over.

But now he must make provision for the faith after he has gone, and especially for its transmission (uncontaminated, unalloyed) to future generations.

So he sends Timothy this most solemn charge. He is to preserve what he has received, at whatever cost, and to hand it on to faithful men who in their turn will be able to teach others also (2:2).”
Dr. John R. W. Stott

“Paul’s final and most personal letter, 2 Timothy encourages church planter Timothy to accept his calling and deal with corrupt teachers.

The letter also reminds Timothy to maintain faith and hope in Jesus’ resurrection and to raise faithful leaders who will teach the good news about Jesus.

They must focus on the Scriptures’ unified story line that leads to salvation in Jesus and helps believers achieve their purpose of spreading the good news.”
The Bible Project

Timeline of II Timothy

Who was Timothy?

About the Author

References

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