2 Timothy 4:1-8

SECTION 4. Paul’s Final Charge (2 Timothy 4:1-8 ).

In some ways this could be seen as a final charge which sealed all that Paul had taught in his letters. For Paul now places on Timothy’s shoulders the responsibility to take over where he was leaving off, and teach what he has taught, the word of the truth of the Gospel. He knows that his time has come, and Timothy must therefore now recognise, along with others, that under God the future rests with him. He therefore charges him in the most solemn way to fulfil his responsibility in the preaching and teaching of the word, and the laying of a sound doctrinal foundation based on it, because he himself is now being called on to go to his reward, with his own task successfully accomplished. All now depends on the new generation of which Timothy was to see himself as an important member.

There lies in this a reminder that every great man of God will in the end be superseded. Moses had to go. Joshua had to go. Samuel had to go. David had to go. None, not even a Paul, is indispensable. Each must go on to his reward and hand over to others, and so it would be from generation to generation. There was only One of Whom that was not true. And the whole of the Gospel was founded on Him. What was passed on to others, however, as we see here, was not a status, or an office, but the responsibility to proclaim and maintain the truth of the word. Once men began to veer from that truth they ceased to be in the succession, whatever their position was.

Analysis.

a I charge you in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly rule (2 Timothy 4:1).

b Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2).

c For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:3 a).

d But, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts (2 Timothy 4:3 b).

c And will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables (2 Timothy 4:4).

b But you, be sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry, for I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come (2 Timothy 4:5-6).

a I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith, henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me at that day, and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Note that in ‘a’ the fact of Jesus as the Judge and ‘His appearing’ are described, and in the parallel the consequence of that judgment for Paul and a further reference to ‘His appearing’. In ‘b’ Timothy is exhorted to fulfil his ministry, and in the parallel he is exhorted to the same. In ‘c’ men will not endure sound doctrine, and in the parallel they will turn away their ears away from the truth. Centrally in ‘d’ men will heap to themselves teachers who accord with their own desires. This is the way of men. There is in the passage a total contrast between the ministries of Timothy and Paul, and the ministry of these men.