Paul's Epistles – II Timothy – Part 1: Introduction to II Timothy

Paul's Epistles – II Timothy – Part 1:

Introduction to II Timothy

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

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SERMON INTRODUCTION

This second letter from Paul to Timothy will be the next “epistle” we examine.

After writing his first Epistle to Timothy, Paul left Corinth, and set sail with Titus for Crete, where he left him to set the Church in order (Titus 1:5).

The key-word in II Timothy is “Ashamed.”

“I must not be ashamed of my Lord, His Gospel, or His suffering saints (II Timothy 1); How can I become a workman that “needs not be ashamed” (II Timothy 2 & 3.), and then the Lord will not be ashamed to own and stand by me (II Timothy 4).

  

TODAY’S SERMON

Introduction to II Timothy

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

II Timothy 6 (66 AD, approximately one year after the first Epistle to Timothy)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

² To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

  

The overall message of this epistle to the church is;

Loyalty to the Lord and Truth in the view of persecution and apostasy

  

I. PAUL’S SECOND IMPRISONMENT

a. After writing his first epistle to Timothy

                                                                 i. Paul left Corinth and set sail with Titus for Crete

                                                              ii. Paul left Titus in Crete to get the church there in order (Titus 1:5)

                                                           iii. When Paul returned to the mainland, he wrote Titus

                                                            iv. On his way to Troas, Paul was arrested

b. Paul’s arrest was sudden

                                                                 i. He was rushed to Rome

                                                              ii. He had no time to gather up his books, parchments, or even wrap his cloak around himself (II Timothy 4:13)

c. This second imprisonment was very different from the former one

                                                                 i. At the first, he had his own hired house as a cell

1. now he was kept in a close confinement

                                                              ii. before he was accessible to all

1. now though, even Onesiphorus could only find him with difficulty and at great risk (II Timothy 1:16,17)

                                                           iii. before he was the center of a large circle of friends

1. now, he is nearly alone (II Timothy 4:10-14)

                                                            iv. in his first imprisonment, he was hopeful for a speedy liberation

1. now, however, he was expecting to die (II Timothy 4:6)

II.      PAUL’S OBJECTIVE IN II TIMOTHY

a. Paul had appeared before Nero once before

                                                                 i. But II Timothy 4:16, 17 tells us that his case had been adjourned

                                                              ii. He expected to appear before Nero once more, during the coming winter, and urged Timothy (who had already been liberated from his imprisonment Hebrews 13:23)to come at once with Mark and the things that were left behind by him when we was arrested. (II Timothy 4:9, 11, 13, 21)

b. Uncertain whether Timothy would arrive in time

                                                                 i. Which Timothy did not.

1. The trial and death took place long before winter, sometime in June

                                                              ii. Paul desired to give a last warning as to heresies, and encouragement to zeal, courage and patience

c. Characteristics of II Timothy

                                                                 i. This was chronologically the last Epistle written by Paul

1. We skipped Titus so we could examine I Timothy and II Timothy in order

                                                              ii. This was a very personal letter, referencing over 20 different people by name, including Claudia who is believed to have been a British Princess.

                                                           iii. The style is abrupt, without plan or method, strongly emotional, vividly recalling the past, anxious thoughts of the future, the words of a man who was sure he was going to die here.

                                                            iv. Though bearing the burden of his loneliness, and the consciousness of his approaching death, forgot himself and thought of others.

Paul shows us loyalty to the Lord, His Truth, and Servants in spite of suffering, he remained loyal in devoted service, in spite of apostasy and feeling deserted and utterly alone, the Lord stood by him.

  

III.   EPISTLE OUTLINE FOR II TIMOTHY

a. Loyalty to the Lord and His Truth and Servants in spite of SUFFERING

                                                                 i. Paul’s;

1. Preaching

2. Prayers

3. Service

4. Desires

5. Thoughts

                                                              ii. Timothy’s;

1. Early days

2. Beloved by Paul

3. Remembered by Paul

4. Much loved by Paul

                                                           iii. Paul tells Timothy, “Even the most timid should not be ashamed of the Gospel (II Timothy 1:6-14)

b. Loyalty to the Lord is DEVOTED SERVICE

                                                                 i. 5 miniature parables on Christian Service

1. Restored Invalid

2. Faithful Steward

3. Handy Soldier

4. An Athlete

5. A Farmer

                                                              ii. The Christian Workers Chief

1. Remembrance

2. Encouragement

3. Support

4. Study

                                                           iii. The unmoved foundations (II Timothy 2:16-19)

                                                            iv. The great house and its vessels (II Timothy 2:20-23)

                                                               v. The power of gentleness (II Timothy 2:23-26)

c. Loyalty to the Lord and His Truth in spite of APOSTASY

                                                                 i. A sad catalogue of the 20^th century (II Timothy 3:1-9)

                                                              ii. The Holy scriptures

                                                           iii. 2 things Timothy knew

1. Paul’s character and life

2. The inspired book of God

                                                            iv. What a Christian preacher must do in perilous times

                                                               v. Paul’s 3-“readies”

1. Ready for service - Romans 1:15

2. Ready for suffering - Acts 21:13

3. Ready for sacrifice - II Timothy 4:6

d. The Lord standing by His loyal servants in DESERTION

                                                                 i. The Christian life under three metaphors

1. As a soldier, likening life to a fight

2. As an athlete, likening life to a race

3. As an trustee, likening life to a sacred trust

                                                              ii. Paul the man seen in his

1. sigh of loneliness

2. desire for bodily comfort

3. suffering through an enemy

4. his lament over lack of legal aid

                                                           iii. Paul the saint seen in his

1. exulting testimony concerning the Lord

2. bold witness for the Lord

3. confidence in the Lord

CONCLUSION – PAUL’S MESSAGE TO TIMOTHY in this second epistle

Paul speaks of five objects of love in his letters to Timothy;

1.      The Love of Money   I Timothy 6:10 - being the root of many types of evil

2.      The Love of Self   II Timothy 3:2

3.      The Love of Pleasure   II Timothy 3:4

4.      The Love of this World   II Timothy 4:10

and the 5^th Love which is the CURE for all these is found in II Timothy 4:8

His (Christ’s) appearing - “Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.”

 Next week we will begin looking at Paul’s appeal to Timothy for loyalty to him and the Gospel

  

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