2 Timothy 4

Read Psalm 146

Verses 1-2
“I 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: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
1. Why does Paul mention Christ as judge when he charges Timothy to preach the Word?
2. In verse 1, what does Paul mean by mentioning Christ’s appearing and Christ’s kingdom?
3. What is Christ’s kingdom?
a. The kingdom of God is the authority and reign of Christ working through the Word and the Spirit to bring about redemption and transformation.
4. When is Christ’s kingdom?
a. “Now and not yet.”
b. Luke 17:20-21
i. “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.””
c. John 3:1-3
i. “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””
5. Why does Paul mention Christ’s appearing and kingdom?
6. Why must the word be preached?
7. What does in season and out of season mean?
a. At all times.
8. Why must we be prepared to preach in season and out of season?
9. For what reasons would we want to teach others both patiently and carefully?

Verses 3-4
“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
1. “For”
a. “What for?”
i. “We must be prepared to do these things because…”
2. “Human depravity shows just how careful pastors must be. For the Gospel would be quickly erased from people’s memories if godly people did not strive earnestly to preserve it…When Paul says that men will not put up with sound doctrine, he means not only that they will not like it and will despise it, but also that they will actually hate it.” (Calvin, 2 Timothy Commentary)
3. What does it mean for people to have itching ears?
4. Should we be surprised that people in the church will go after false teachers who tell them what they want to hear?
5. If people will not listen to or put up with sound teaching, what must the people of God be diligent to do?
a. “When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith.” – Abraham Kuyper
b. “Peace is possible, truth at all costs.”- Martin Luther

Verse 5
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”
1. Why is Timothy to “keep his head” or “be sober-minded”?
2. What types of things is Timothy to do?
3. How does a person fulfill their ministry?

Verses 6-8
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth 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.”
1. “For”
a. “What for?”
i. Keep doing these things because…”
2. What is Paul preparing to do?
3. What does Paul call his death in verse 6?
a. If someone is departing from somewhere, what does that imply?
4. What might be Paul’s motivation for doing what he has done as a Christian?
a. Acts 20:24
i. “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
b. Christians do the things they do to make God known for two reasons:
i. They are compelled to share the joy they have received from being given grace and being forgiven.
ii. They are looking forward to their reward. A Christian’s reward is not a larger house in heaven or anything like earthly rewards. The reward that God gives to Christians is Himself. God gives them Himself because they desire nothing else, and because nothing else will satisfy them in the deepest way as being in His presence can.

Verses 9-17
“Do your best to come to me soon. For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.”
1. Although Paul knows his time to be short, what is his mindset about the time he has left?
2. What does Paul plan to continue doing with the time he has left on earth?
3. What should be our attitude when things get tough or we know that our time is near?

Verses 18-22
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.”
1. Paul died for his faith. Church tradition tells us that Paul was beheaded and died a gruesome death. When Paul says that the Lord will rescue him from every evil attack or deed and bring him into His heavenly kingdom, what does he mean?
2. How does Paul end this letter?

Chapter Overview
1. How would Chapter 4 best be summarized?
2. How could these verses be applied to our lives?

Overview of 2 Timothy
1. What is the overall message of 2 Timothy?
2. What are some things we can take from book as a whole?