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I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: 10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. 12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. 13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: 15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. 21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren. 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
2 Timothy 4
Topic: Exhortations to Christians
Outline -
Key Verse: v.8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
What does this chapter teach about the LORD Jesus Christ?:
v.1: Christ is to judge the living & the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.
In there any sin to forsake and confess in this chapter?
v.2: neglecting to preach/share the Word
Is there any command to obey in this chapter?
v.2: preach/share the Word
Is there a promise for Christians to claim in this chapter?
v.8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Spiritual Picture: There are many but I will use Demas in verse 10 as one example. I believe Demas to be a spiritual picture of an antichrist. Note in the epistle to Philemon, Demas is also mentioned:
Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. - Philemon 24.
Presuming this is the same Demas mentioned both in Philemon 24 and 2 Timothy 4, and I believe there is no reason to believe it is not, we must ask what happened? In Philemon, which was written about 60 AD, Demas is decribed as a "fellowlabourer", but about 67 AD when 2 Timothy 4 was penned we read:
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; - 2 Timothy 4:10.
It is apparent Demas had gone back to the world, he never truly was saved.
"Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us." (1 John 2:18,19).
It is very interesting also to note that Demas departed to Thessalonica. What do we know about those in Thessalonica? They were notorious for not being daily students of God's Word. They believed fables and though that Christ had already come! They were obessing over the date of the second coming of Christ. This is why the Bereans were so much nobler:
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Acts 17:11).
FOLLOW UPS:
1.) Note any practical or theological problems you may have encountered in this chapter. Then, using a concordance, look up the key words in these verses and find what other portions of the Bible will have to say about your question or problem. Compare scripture with scripture to find the true meaning.
2.) There are different types of Bible studies, such as devotional, by paragraph, by subject, by book, by verse, etc. the Bible is one cohesve unit and when studying by chapter, we keep in mind what the entire Bible says; and very often to understand an important chapter, one must study it together with the preceding and/or following chapters to establish the immediate context. With this in view, we see that 2 Timothy 4 is the last chapter of the second epistle to Timothy so there is no following chapter. However, when we look at the preceding chapter, 2 Timothy 3 we should note that 2 Timothy 3 speaks of difficult times to come and has alot to do with the subject of false doctrine which we also find in 2 Timothy 4:2,3; so in light of this fact it would be good to look back at 2 Timothy 3 as well when studying chapter 4 as a study primarily by chapter, comparing scripture with scripture.
"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:10-17).
Thought/study Questions
1. Is Paul delivering a charge or giving a testimony? (verse 1).
2. What is the purpose, of vv. 1-5?
3. When and where will Christ judge the living and the dead? (verse 1).
4.What does the word "kingdom" mean in verse 1?
5. What is meant by the term "word" in verse 2a? Could the word "Christ" have the same meaning?
6. Explain the terms "in season" and "out of season" in verse 2.
7. Define each: reprove, rebuke & exhort. (verse 2).
8. Who has "itching ears"? (verse 3).
9. How can one "heap to themselves" a teacher? Explain this phrase in verse 3.
10. Why do some turn from truth? What type of "fables" would be of interest to such a person? Be specific.
11. Name at least 3 things that would be included in the commission of an evangelist.
12. Explain verse 5.
13. Who do we fight in the "good fight"? (verse 7)
14. Why didn't Paul say he kept "his faith" instead of "the faith" in verse 7?
15. Do the words "His appearing" at the end of verse 8 refer to the second coming of Christ? Why or why not? Explain.
16. Are we given heaven because we are faithful? Discuss. (verse 8).
17. Where was Paul when Demas forsook him? Demas loved "this present world," What was the basic fault? (v.10).
18. Is there any significance in the place where Demas went upon forsaking Paul? If so, what? (v.10).
19. Why did Demas go to Thessalonica?
20. Does Paul suggest there was any wrongdoing in Crescens going to Galatia, or Titus to Dalmatia? (v.10b).
21. Why mention Tychicus? (vs. 12)
22. Why send Tychicus to Ephesus? (v.12).
23. Do we how anything of the Alexander mentioned in verse 14? What is meant by saying, “The Lord will render to him
according to his works”? Is this vindictive? Explain.
24. Alexander the coppersmith showed Paul much evil. When and where? Does Acts 19:33 help?
25. Why would Alexander the coppersmith be a problem to Timothy? Is there a spiritual lesson for us today here? If so, how?
26. If certain persons forsook Paul in his hour of need, it would be laid to their account. Why then the expression in vs. 16b?
27. Who is the "lion" in vs. 17b? Is this literal or figurative?
28. What is the “heavenly kingdom” of vs. 18b?
29. From what evil work did Paul expect to be delivered? (verse 15).
30. What is significant about the doxology in verse 15?
31. Why the urgency of reaching Paul before winter? (verse 21).
32. The word, ‘you,” in vs. 22b is in the plural form. What significance is this?
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