2 Timothy 4:6-8 (ESV)
6 For I am already being poured out as a
drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. 8 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.
Paul is coming to
the end of his life and ministry, and is writing to a man he taught and
mentored. He’s passing the baton to the next generation of evangelist and
pastor. His words here can be read as final encouragements, the last and most
important words of a great preacher to the preachers to come.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 (ESV)
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: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove,
rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
PREACH THE WORD.
Paul makes no bones
about it. This is probably the most commonly repeated refrain in the pastoral
letters. This is our primary job as pastors. We are to know, study, live, and
teach the word. The power to live as God intends is found in faith in Jesus and
the empowering Holy Spirit. There are many things we can teach, none of them
have any value outside of the grace and truth of Jesus. Without it, all else in
the end is bondage.
That the gospel is
so radical and potentially offensive is yet more reason to preach it clearly
and frequently. Many people will prefer to hear that we can work for our own
salvation. Never before in history have people had as many voices, so many choices
as to what and to whom they will listen. Six days a week people can Youtube
preachers, teachers, and documentaries that say what they want to hear. Many of
us have only one day a week, maybe only an hour of that day, when we can boldly
point to Jesus, the king and hope of our salvation. Don't worry about competing
with all the superpreachers on TV. Preach the truth.
For those of us in
the pulpit, we must not be as verses three and four describe, turning our ears
to whatever teaching suits us. In a world of Television church and podcast
preaching, we have so much choice in our teaching that we can pick our
favourites like from a smorgasbord. We must be cautious. We need the whole
counsel of scripture. We must be submitted to teaching, not pick our own
teachings according to our whims. We are bombarded with a continuous stream of
information, and it is easy to become passive listeners. Do not be lulled to
sleep by slick and pretty packaging. We should instead use the opportunities
have in this generation to get a full and thorough knowledge of truth. We
should be media literate, able to discern and reason between truth and
deception.
2 Timothy 4:5 (ESV)
As for you, always be sober-minded, endure
suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.
+
The book of 2
Timothy ends as many New Testament letters do, with greetings and messages for individuals
dear to the writer. This sign off includes one of my favourite
"post-script" style messages.
2 Timothy 4:13 (ESV)
When you come, bring the cloak that I left
with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
Hey, I left my cloak
there. Could you grab that?
I think this is
funny in the context of a letter that includes 2 Timothy 3:16. I'd love to hear
a pastor preach a sermon about Paul forgetting his coat in Ephesus.
Read 2 Timothy 4
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