Introduction to II Timothy

• 1^st – WHO is the author of II Timothy
  • II Timothy 1:1 – “PAUL, an apostle of Jesus Christ…”
    • Paul wrote three NT books to pastors – I Timothy / II Timothy / Titus…
    • Two were written to Timothy – who was the Pastor of the church in Ephesus…
    • One to Titus – the Pastor of the church on the Island of Crete – Mediterranean Sea…
  • Paul wrote the books to encourage and instruct pastors / leaders in ministry!
    • Our desire as we work out way through what is called the pastoral epistles…
    • Is to encourage and help equip us to be Biblical leaders…
    • That is not to say we are all called to be PASTORS – be we are all called to LEAD!
  • We think of CHURCH as a building we meet in on Sundays…
    • But church is not a place – it is the PEOPLE of God…
    • Our families are a small church that meets EVERY day of the week…
    • And we are called to LEAD in our families – Dads / moms!
    • Ephesians 6:4 – “Bring [your children] up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
  • All of us are called to be ministers of the Gospel…
    • We are called to lead people to Christ in our communities…
    • God has called us to go out and share the Good News!
    • Romans 10:14- – “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear [unless someone tells them] …”
  • The reality is we need to learn and be prepared for that work…
    • And the reality is there is a LOT we need to learn to be prepared for that work…
    • The way we are prepared is by listening to Jesus – studying His Word!
    • II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
• 2^nd – WHERE and when did Paul write II Timothy
  • In Philippi on his 4^th missionary journey…
    • There are only 3 missionary journeys in Acts – ending with Paul in prison in Rome…
    • The emperor during this time was a man called Caesar Nero…
    • Many believe that when Paul was first imprisoned – he shared the Gospel with Nero…
    • Just as he had done before Felix / Festus / and King Agrippa – Acts 24-26
    • But when the Caesar rejected Jesus – he went mad / perhaps possessed!
  • Paul was ultimately released from house arrest – returned to Macedonia – I Timothy 1:3
    • This is a 4^th journey not recorded in the book of Acts
    • At this time – he wrote both I Timothy and the book of Titus
    • 4-6 years later Paul was arrested a 2^nd time…
    • This time he was held in the in the Mamertine prison!
    • Nero began a widespread persecution against Christians…
    • He would clothe Christians in animal skins – then fed them alive to the lions…
    • He rode his chariot down the road lined with burning Christians for light!
  • Paul would ultimately be beheaded during this 2^nd imprisonment in Rome…
    • It was there on death row – that Paul wrote the book of – II Timothy
    • Paul knew his time was limited – so he wanted to prepare these pastors!
    • II Timothy 4:6 – “I am already being poured out… the time of my departure is at hand.”
    • We do not know how much time we have – with our kids – with those we love…
    • The question is what we are going to do with the time God has given us…
    • We can live for the things of this world – money / possessions – an empty life…
    • Or we can take the time we have been given and use it serve Jesus!
    • Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
• 3^rd – The PURPOSE for II Timothy
  • Paul wrote the letter because he was lonely…
    • II Timothy 1:15 – “All the Christians who came here from Asia have deserted me…”
    • Paul was locked up and alone inside the deep / dank dungeons of Rome…
    • And he missed his dear friend Timothy – longing to see him again – II Timothy 1:4
    • God does not promise we will have an easy life if we choose to follow Him…
    • In fact just the opposite – God promises us we WILL HAVE trials – John 16:33
    • Often – we will face those trials alone – there will be no one who can help us…
    • God will allow us – bring us into trials – so that we learn the most important lesson…
    • We must learn not to trust in ourselves – or OTHER people – instead learn to trust in God!
  • Paul was concerned for the church…
    • II Timothy 3:13 – “Evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse…”
    • And he wanted to make sure Timothy was able to protect the believers!
    • The very first question mark in the Bible comes in Genesis 3:1
    • Up until that point in the Bible every sentence has ended with a period…
    • Until satan tempted Eve and asked – DID GOD SAY – question mark!
    • His tactics have not changed – he still tries to get us to doubt the Word…
    • He tries to keep us from listening to the Bible – from believing the Word!
    • How do we defend against the LIES of our enemy – by KNOWING the Word!
    • I Peter 3:15 – “Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you.”
• 4^th – Why is this letter so important…
  • These are the final words of the Apostle Paul…
    • When people come to the end of their life – they do not want to waste words…
    • If your time is short you do not worry about being polite / formalities!
    • You are not waste your final breaths talking about the weather…
    • You make your words count – only talking about what is MOST important!
  • Meaning these final words of the Apostle are special…
    • Timothy no doubt hung on every letter – treasuring the great Apostles final words!
    • We also like Timothy should be looking to hold onto every Word!
• 5^th – WHO was the book written to…
  • Timothy is mentioned in 11 of the 13 letters of Paul – more than any other person!
    • Timothy was saved when Paul visited Asia minor on his 1^st missionary journey…
    • Timothy then joined Paul at the beginning of his 2^nd missionary journey – Acts 16:1
    • He was a young man – at least in the beginning of his ministry – I Timothy 4:12
    • And he stayed with Paul all the way through the 3^rd missionary journey…
    • Timothy was a man who traveled with and was trained up by Paul!
  • Timothy was used by Paul to MINISTER at a variety of churches…
    • He HELPED in the ministry in the church in Corinth – I Corinthians 16:10
    • And in the ministry in the church in Philippi – Philippians 2:19
    • As well as the ministry in the church in Thessalonica – I Thessalonians 3:2
    • He had been with Paul – traveled with Paul – and learned to be a SERVANT!
    • I Corinthians 4:2 – “It is required of SERVANTS [under rower] to be proven faithful.”
      
    • A slave who worked a Roman ship – under the deck – hard working – driving an oar…
    • No one would ever see and UNDER ROWER – it was a humbling position – no prestige!
    • The church has lost sight of this – MINISTER / PASTOR has become a title…
    • Rather than working hard for God – it describes one who tells others what to do!
  • Timothy was the pastor of the church in Ephesus…
    • Ephesus was the largest and most powerful city in Asia-minor…
    • The city was a very wealthy city – with a population of over 300,000 people…
    • They city sat at the crossroads of two main trade routes in the Roman Empire…
    • It was a major hub of commerce flowing from the east to west in the Roman Empire
    • The city streets were lined with marble – the ruins are still there to this day…
    • They had hot and cold running water inside of the houses!
    • Towards the end of the road – there is the theatre – that holds 25,000 people!
    • It had one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world – temple of Dianna / Artimus…
    • Dianna was the goddess of fertility – making Ephesus a very immoral place!
  • The point being it was a VERY wealthy / VERY powerful / VERY influential city…
    • Young Timothy was pastoring a church in this huge / immoral city…
    • I am sure Timothy was hoping someone else might get the job…
    • But Ephesus was his opportunity to step out and be used by the Lord!
    • If we are honest – we do not want responsibility – let someone else do it…
    • It takes no faith to let someone else serve the Lord – be used by the Spirit…
    • What takes a step of faith is to believe that God can use me!
• 6^th – What is the Theme of II Timothy
  • The key theme is we are living in the LAST DAYS – I Timothy 3:1
    • The term LAST DAYS is often misunderstood – we tend to think of Revelation…
    • The LAST DAYS began when the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost – Acts 2
    • And will continue right up to the rapture of the church – I Thessalonians 4:16
    • In-between these two events – anyone can call Jesus and be saved!
    • But there is limited window of opportunity – we do not know when the end will come…
    • Most people live their lives as though tomorrow is a guarantee…
    • But we do not know what tomorrow holds – the RAPTURE could happen today!
  • Immediately after the RAPTURE comes the TRIBULATION – the DAY of the LORD!
    • Which ends with Jesus riding out of heaven – Revelation 19:11
    • When any and all who have chosen to reject Jesus Christ – will be JUDGED…
    • In light of the coming of the DAY of the LORD – we need to preach the Word!
    • II Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season.”
    • It is one thing to sit / watch / listen to the Word in church…
    • But when we understand the TIMES we are living in – Jesus is coming…
    • When we realize the cost of NOT Jesus – the DAY of the Lord…
    • It stirs our heart to want to be BOLD about telling others about Jesus!
    • We might think we need to first KNOW ALL the answers to ALL the questions…
    • It is God who speaks through us the words that are needed – Luke 12:12
    • All we need to do is be willing to open our mouths – share Jesus!
• 7^th – What is the outline of II Timothy…
  • Chapter 1-2 – The characteristics of the faithful servant
  • Chapter 3 – Warnings to the faithful servant
  • Chapter 4 – The instructions for the faithful servant
    

• 3^rd – Opening greeting… vs. 1-2  
  • 1^st – Introduction by Paul… vs. 1
    • The word APOSTLE simply means someone who is SENT OUT to preach the Gospel…
      • The picture is that of an ambassador – a representative of God to the world…
      • Sent out to share the Good News – the hope of salvation through Jesus!
      • We call them pastors – those who are SENT OUT to tell others about Jesus!
      • Because people do not know Jesus – they are lost in darkness and sin…
      • We are called to be APOSTLES – SENT OUT to tell them about Jesus – Ephesians 4:11
    • Paul was not made an APOSTLE by men – but by Jesus…
      • Paul was given authority from the priest to arrest anyone who confessed Jesus – Acts 9:2
      • But as Saul was nearing Damascus – a brilliant light beamed down on him…
      • A voice from Heaven called out saying – Saul why are you persecuting me…
      • When he came to the city – a man named Ananias came to pray for him…
      • The Lord had told Ananias – Saul is my chosen vessel – Acts 9:15
      • Chosen to be the apostle the Gentles – Romans 11:13 / I Timothy 2:7 / Galatians 2:7
    • Was Paul just AN APOSTLE – or was he one of the 12 APOSTLES…
      • Judas was rejected because he betrayed Jesus – and Mattias chosen – Acts 1:26
      • But some say Mattias was the choice of men – Paul was the choice of Jesus!
      • The answer to the question who is the 12^th APOSTLE – the New Jerusalem!
      • Revelation 21:14 – “Now the wall of the [New Jerusalem] had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the TWELVE apostles of the Lamb.”
    • Paul had the promise of life…
      • Keep in mind Paul was on DEATH ROW – he was waiting to die…
      • But he had the promise of life – because of faith in Jesus Christ!
      • Life is NOT about the TIME we are given here – it is about WHERE we spend eternity!
  • 2^nd – Greeting to Timothy… vs. 2
    • Timothy was the beloved son of Paul…
      • The phrase beloved son – is ONLY used in the NT – to describe the Love of God for the Son!
      • With one exception – Paul here also uses it to describe his love for Timothy!
    • Paul wanted Timothy to walk in GRACE…
      • Timothy was chosen by God – not because of whom he was – it was by GRACE…
      • Maybe we think – I am pretty sure God did not choose me…
      • Because we are looking at how messed up we are – and how few talents we have…
      • But we need to remember God do not choose us because of who we are…
      • He chooses by GRACE – looking at who He is going to make us to be!
    • Paul adds MERCY to his common greeting in the Pastoral Epistles…
      • Because Paul wanted God to hold back – MERCY – what these pastors deserved!
      • My pastor once told me – Dave do not know why God made me a pastor…
      • He knew if it was not my job – I might never read the Bible!
      • We get the idea that LEADERS are somehow – holier / more righteous than the rest…
      • Chances are God choose us because He knows us all too well…
      • And he knows that if He does not keep us extra close – we would get in a LOT of trouble!
    • Paul wanted Timothy to have PEACE…
      • Knowing we are chosen by God by His GRACE – not because of our gifts…
      • Knowing that we have MERCY – God will not give us what we deserve…
      • We can have PEASE – because God will stand with us as we LEAD others to Him!
      • There is no greater calling or purpose in life – than to share Jesus with the world!