2 Timothy 4:1-8
1: I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:
2: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.
3: For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
4: and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
5: But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
6: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8: in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Paul again charged Timothy to preach the Word, always being ready to do so, wherever and whenever it may be. Preaching the Word—the true Word of God—sometimes means giving a rebuke. Be ready with great patience and instruction. Paul knew he was soon to leave earth, so he warned Timothy that he must be ready and able to fulfill his ministry, even if it meant enduring hardship. He must remain sober—alert to deceptive influences.
Paul said the time would come when believers would not want to hear the truth if it was inconvenient or interfered with their own desires. They would not endure “sound doctrine,” but wanting their “ears tickled,” they would gather their own teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear. Truth would no longer be important to them. As Paul had said before, this is a dangerous place to be. Truth is the only solid rock to stand on.
Paul told Timothy the time of his departure had come. It had already begun. He said he had fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. He had done what the Lord called him to do. He had completed his call on earth. What a satisfying feeling to know you’ve finished what God has asked you to do. To have taken your place and completed your part in His kingdom plan, is a fulfilling goal to reach. Yet Paul’s concern for what would happen to the church after his departure was evident.
Paul said there was a crown of righteousness waiting for him, which the Lord would award to him on that day. The day when they are given—not only to him, but to all who have loved His appearing. To all who hope in the coming of the Lord and what His coming will accomplish—His reign and the abolishing of all His enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-29).
Paul’s appeal to Timothy at the end of his life seems to be a similar appeal to the believers living at the end of this age. The time is short—much shorter than when Paul wrote this—and we must answer this appeal to preach the Word, stay true to it, seek the truth, and avoid the temptation to listen only to those who tell us what is easy and comfortable to hear. Buy the truth, and don’t sell it (Proverbs 23:23). It’s worth whatever price we have to pay.
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Paul again charged Timothy to preach the Word, always being ready to do so, wherever and whenever it may be. Preaching the Word—the true Word of God—sometimes means giving a rebuke. Be ready with great patience and instruction. Paul knew he was soon to leave earth, so he warned Timothy that he must be ready and able to fulfill his ministry, even if it meant enduring hardship. He must remain sober—alert to deceptive influences.
Paul said the time would come when believers would not want to hear the truth if it was inconvenient or interfered with their own desires. They would not endure “sound doctrine,” but wanting their “ears tickled,” they would gather their own teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear. Truth would no longer be important to them. As Paul had said before, this is a dangerous place to be. Truth is the only solid rock to stand on.
Paul told Timothy the time of his departure had come. It had already begun. He said he had fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. He had done what the Lord called him to do. He had completed his call on earth. What a satisfying feeling to know you’ve finished what God has asked you to do. To have taken your place and completed your part in His kingdom plan, is a fulfilling goal to reach. Yet Paul’s concern for what would happen to the church after his departure was evident.
Paul said there was a crown of righteousness waiting for him, which the Lord would award to him on that day. The day when they are given—not only to him, but to all who have loved His appearing. To all who hope in the coming of the Lord and what His coming will accomplish—His reign and the abolishing of all His enemies (1 Corinthians 15:24-29).
Paul’s appeal to Timothy at the end of his life seems to be a similar appeal to the believers living at the end of this age. The time is short—much shorter than when Paul wrote this—and we must answer this appeal to preach the Word, stay true to it, seek the truth, and avoid the temptation to listen only to those who tell us what is easy and comfortable to hear. Buy the truth, and don’t sell it (Proverbs 23:23). It’s worth whatever price we have to pay.
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