6. 2 Timothy – I have finished the Race

Paul in Prison – Free in Christ

Problems in the Lycus Valley

I am ready...

Famous last words

Go away. I'm all right.

H. G. Wells, novelist, d. 1946

Either that wallpaper goes, or I do.

Oscar Wilde, writer, d. November 30, 1900

I've had eighteen straight whiskies, I think that's the

record...

Dylan Thomas, poet, d. 1953

I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.

Thomas Hobbes, writer, d. 1679

They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist. ...

Killed in battle during US Civil War.

General John Sedgwick, Union Commander, d. 1864

I am ready...

AD 32 to 68 = 36 years of active service

7 years in prison = nearly 20%

Ostian Way, Rome

I am ready...

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according

to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my

beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father

and Christ Jesus our Lord (2 Tim 1:1-2).

I am ready...

Timothy’s Qualities

Quality Reference

Somewhat reserved 1 Timothy 4:9-5:1

Not always well 1 Timothy 5:23

Devoted 1 Timothy 6:11

Big challenge for a young man 2 Timothy 1:6-9

Tender 1 Corinthians 4:7

Tactful 1 Corinthians 16:10

Affectionate & Conscientious Philippians 2:19-23

I am ready...

I am ready...

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to

send Timothy to you shortly, that I

also may be encouraged when I

know your state. For I have no

one like-minded, who will

sincerely care for your state. For

all seek their own, not the things

which are of Christ Jesus. But you

know his proven character, that as

a son with his father he served

with me in the gospel (Philippians

2:19-22).

Paul’s testimonial

I am ready...

… without ceasing I remember you

in my prayers night and day,

greatly desiring to see you, being

mindful of your tears, that I may be

filled with joy, when I call to

remembrance the genuine faith

that is in you, which dwelt first in

your grandmother Lois and your

mother Eunice, and I am

persuaded is in you also.

(2 Timothy 1:3-5)

Paul’s affection

I am ready...

… without ceasing I remember you

in my prayers night and day,

greatly desiring to see you, being

mindful of your tears, that I may be

filled with joy, when I call to

remembrance the genuine faith

that is in you, which dwelt first in

your grandmother Lois and your

mother Eunice, and I am

persuaded is in you also.

(2 Timothy 1:3-5)

I am ready...

… do not be ashamed of the

testimony of our Lord, nor of me his

prisoner, but share with me in the

sufferings for the gospel according

to the power of God (2 Tim 1:8).

I am ready...

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have

heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the

Holy Spirit who dwells in us… (2 Tim 1:13-14).

I am ready...

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound

teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the

good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the

help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. (2 Tim 1:13-14, NIV)

hugiaino (ὑγιαίνω, 5198),

“to be healthy, sound in

health” (Eng., “hygiene,”

etc.), translated “safe and

sound” in Luke 15:27, is

used metaphorically of

doctrine, 1 Tim. 1:10; 2

Tim. 4:3; Titus 1:9; 2:1; of

words, 1 Tim. 6:3, RV (KJV

“wholesome,” RV marg.,

“healthful”); 2 Tim. 1:13; “in

the faith,” Titus 1:13 (RV

marg., “healthy”); “in faith,”

Titus 2:2 (RV marg., ditto).

Vine’s NT Expository

Dictionary

phulasso

(φυλάσσω, 5442),

“to guard, watch,

keep”, is rendered

by the verb “to

guard” in the RV

(KJV, “to keep”) of

Luke 11:21; John

17:12; Acts 12:4;

28:16; 2 Thess.

3:3; 1 Tim. 6:20; 2

Tim. 1:12, 14; 1

John 5:21; Jude

24. In Luke 8:29,

“was kept under

guard, RV (KJV,

kept).

paratheke (παραθήκη, 3866),

“a putting with, a deposit”

(para, “with,” tithemi, “to put”),

and its longer form,

parakatatheke, are found, the

former in 2 Tim. 1:12, “that

which He hath committed unto

me,” RV, marg., lit., “my

deposit” (perhaps, “my deposit

with Him”), the latter in 1 Tim.

6:20, where “guard that which

is committed unto thee” is, lit.,

“guard the deposit,” and 2 Tim.

1:14, “that good thing which

was committed unto thee,” i.e.,

the good deposit; RV, marg.,

“the good deposit.”

I am ready...

Hold fast the pattern of sound words

which you have heard from me, in faith

and love which are in Christ Jesus.

(2 Timothy 1:13)

That good thing which was

committed to you, keep by the

Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

(2 Timothy 1:14)

“Timothy, guard

what has been

entrusted to your

care” (1 Tim 6:2 NIV)

“And the things you have heard me say in the

presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men

who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim 2:2)

“I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have

believed, and am convinced that he is able to

guard what I have entrusted to him for that day” (2

Tim 1:12) I am ready...

Trouble ahead

SOME have

turned away …

(1:6)

...have made

shipwreck (1:19)

...are turned after

Satan (5:15)

...have been led

astray (6:10)

...have missed the

mark (6:21)

ALL that are in

Asia have turned

away from me

(1:15)

At my first

defence, no one

took my part, but

ALL forsook me

(4:16)

1 Timothy 2 Timothy

I am ready...

I am ready...

What was Timothy to do?

Action 2 Timothy 2:

1. Commit the truth to other faithful

people

1-2

2. Endure hardness like a soldier 3-4

3. Be disciplined – like an athlete! 5

4. Tend the seed until the harvest 6

5. Consider this and remember! 7-8

First Century Faith: Faithful sayings

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I

am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15)

This is a true saying, “If a man desire the office of a bishop,

he desireth a good work” (1 Tim 3:1)

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. “For

therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we

trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men,

specially of those that believe” (1 Tim 4:9,10)

This is a faithful saying: for if we died with him, we shall also

live with him. If we endure, we shall also reign with him. If we

deny him, he also will deny us. If we are faithless, he remains

faithful; he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:11–13).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but

according to his mercy he saved us …” This is a faithful

saying (Titus 3:5-8)

I am ready...

The hardworking farmer

must be first to partake

of the crops …

Be diligent to present

yourself approved to

God, a worker who does

not need to be ashamed,

rightly dividing the word

of truth.

(2 Timothy 2:6,15)

“… holding a straight course in the

word of truth” (2:15 RV mg)

I am ready...

… and some to

honour, and

some to

dishonour”

“In a great house there

are not only vessels of

gold and of silver, but

also of wood and of

earth …

“If a man therefore

purge himself from

these …

he shall be a vessel unto

honour, sanctified, and meet

for the master's use” (2 Tim

2:20-21)

Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness,

faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out

of a pure heart.(2 Timothy 2:22)

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be

gentle to all, able to teach, patient in humility correcting

those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will

grant them repentance, so that they may know the

truth. (2 Timothy 2:24-25) I am ready...

I am ready...

Trouble ahead for all believers

But know this, that in the last days

perilous times will come: For men will

be lovers of themselves, lovers of

money, boasters, proud, blasphemers,

disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control,

brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty,

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a

form of godliness but denying its power. And from such

people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into

households and make captives of gullible women loaded

down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning

and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.(2

Timothy 3:1–7)

I am ready...

Now as Jannes and

Jambres resisted

Moses, so do these

also resist the truth:

men of corrupt

minds, disapproved

concerning the faith;

but they will

progress no further,

for their folly will be

manifest to all, as

theirs also was.(2

Timothy 3:8–9)

I am ready...

But you have carefully

followed my doctrine,

manner of life, purpose, faith,

longsuffering, love,

perseverance, persecutions,

afflictions, which happened to

me at Antioch, at Iconium, at

Lystra — what persecutions I

endured. And out of them all

the Lord delivered me. Yes,

and all who desire to live

godly in Christ Jesus will

suffer persecution.

(2 Timothy 3:10–12)

I am ready...

But you must continue in

the things which you have

learned and been assured

of, knowing from whom

you have learned them,

and that from childhood you

have known the Holy

Scriptures, which are able

to make you wise for

salvation through faith

which is in Christ Jesus.(2

Timothy 3:14–15)

… from childhood you

have known the Holy

Scriptures, which are able

to make you wise for

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…

(2 Timothy 3:15–16).

I am ready...

… I charge you therefore

before God and the Lord

Jesus Christ, who will

judge the living and the

dead at his appearing and

his kingdom: Preach the

word! Be ready in season

and out of season.

Convince, rebuke, exhort,

with all longsuffering and

teaching.

(2 Timothy 4:1–2)

… Preach the word! I am ready...

I am ready...

For the time will come when they will not endure

sound doctrine, but according to their own desires,

because they have itching ears, they will heap up

for themselves teachers; and they will turn their

ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to

fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure

afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your

ministry… (2 Timothy 4:3–5)

I am ready...

I am ready...

I am ready...

For I am already being

poured out as a drink

offering, and the time of my

departure is at hand. I have

fought the good fight, I have

finished the race, I have kept

the faith. Finally, there is laid

up for me the crown of

righteousness, which the

Lord, the righteous Judge,

will give to me on that Day,

and not to me only but also

to all who have loved his

appearing.

(2 Timothy 4:6–8)

Paul’s parting words

I am ready...

For I am already being

poured out as a drink

offering, and the time of my

departure is at hand. I have

fought the good fight, I have

finished the race, I have kept

the faith. Finally, there is laid

up for me the crown of

righteousness, which the

Lord, the righteous Judge,

will give to me on that Day,

and not to me only but also

to all who have loved his

appearing.

(2 Timothy 4:6–8)

Paul’s parting words

I am ready...

Be diligent to come to me quickly; for

Demas has forsaken me, having

loved this present world … Only Luke

is with me. Get Mark and bring him

with you, for he is useful to me for

ministry … Bring the cloak that I left

with Carpus at Troas when you come

— and the books, especially the

parchments … At my first defence no

one stood with me, but all forsook

me. May it not be charged against

them. But the Lord stood with me and

strengthened me, so that the

message might be preached fully

through me, and that all the

Gentiles might hear …

(2 Tim 4:9-17)

I am ready...

… Also I was delivered out of the

mouth of the lion. And the Lord will

deliver me from every evil work and

preserve me for his heavenly

kingdom. To him be glory forever and

ever. Amen! Greet Prisca and Aquila,

and the household of Onesiphorus.

Erastus stayed in Corinth, but

Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick.

Do your utmost to come before

winter. Eubulus greets you, as well

as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all

the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ

be with your spirit. Grace be with

you. Amen.

(2 Timothy 4:17–22)

Saul Converted AD 33

Saul Died AD 68

IF:

THEN:

(a) Apostle for 35 years

(b) Remarkable staying power

(c) Met an awful lot of people

(d) Was faithful to the end

(e) Lived and died with Christ

PAULINE CHRONOLOGY

I am ready...

A.D. Event Paul’s Age

33 Conversion 25

47/48 1st Mission Trip 39

49 Jerusalem Council (Acts

15)

41

49/50 2nd

Mission Trip 41

55/57 3rd

Mission Trip 47

57/59 Prison at Caesarea 49

60 Rome 52

62/67 Writing Pastoral Epistles 54/59

68 Martyrdom 60

What was their age difference?

A.D. Event Paul Timothy

48 Paul visits Lystra – MJ1 39 ?18

50 Timothy joins Paul – MJ2 42 21

55-57 Timothy with Paul – MJ3 47 26

60 Timothy left at Ephesus 53 32

62-67 Pastoral Epistles written 54-59 33/38

68 Paul’s martyrdom 60 39

I am ready...

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus

Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at his

appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word!

Be ready in season and out of season. Convince,

rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For

the time will come … (2 Timothy 4:1–3).