2 Timothy 1a
April 29, 2017
2 Timothy 1
2 Timothy 1
Shawn Bumpers / General
2 Timothy / An Apostle, Service, Eternal life, Prayer, Encouragement, Faith, Church, Paul, Timothy, Prison
Introduction to and first chapter study of 2 Timothy.
Introduction
Nor was the 2nd letter to Timothy written after the first.
Romans – Being built up in knowledge and faith.
1 Corinthians – Wrong attitudes and conduct.
2 Corinthians – The need for discipleship.
Galatians – Standing fast without compromising freedom.
Ephesians – Maturing in Christ.
Philippians – Follow Jesus.
Colossians – The sufficiency of Christ in all things.
1 Thessalonians – Comfort through the sanctification process.
2 Thessalonians – Looking up rather than out.
1 Timothy – Living as examples.
2 Timothy – Endurance in ministry
Titus – Maintaining
Philemon – From bondage to brotherhood
Hebrews – Christ alone without adding anything.
James – The characteristics of true faith.
1 Peter – Dealing with suffering.
2 Peter – Sticking with the truth.
1 John – Keeping in fellowship with God.
2 John – Not straying from the gospel.
3 John – Fellowship with one another.
Jude – Stand firm and contend for the faith.
Revelation – What is to come.
WRITTEN DURING ACTS
Galatians: 50AD (Acts 13:1-15:40)
1 Thessalonians: 51AD (Acts 15:40-18:1)
2 Thessalonians: 52 AD (Acts 18:1-18:4)
1 Corinthians: 57AD (Acts 18:4-19:23)
2 Corinthians: 57AD (Acts 20:1-20:4)
Romans: 58AD (Acts 20:1-20:4)
THEN ACTS ENDS
Colossians: 63AD
Ephesians: 63AD
Philemon: 63AD
Philippians: 63AD
1 Timothy: 65AD
Titus: 65AD
2 Timothy: 67AD
This “out of order-ness” helps us in our study of each individual letter.
Each one was written at a particular point in time and into a certain context.
A great fire devastated Rome
Many of the residents of Rome suspected Nero
Nero had started bringing workers, soldiers, and slaves into the city for his new palace.
The people were upset at Nero.
He appointed Vespasian Flavius to deal with the Jewish revolt.
In 66AD, things in Israel were heating up.
The governor of Judea, Florus, decided to confiscate the Temple treasury for himself.
Christian Jews were fleeing Israel – by 67AD there were no more Christians there.
Paul was again arrested and imprisoned in Rome … either in 66 or 67AD.
He would have to wait another 2 years before he could appeal before caesar.
Almost all of Paul’s associates in the ministry were gone and only Luke was at the apostle’s side to assist him (2 Tim. 4:11).
2 Timothy 4:11 NKJV
Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
But Paul’s great concern was for Timothy and the success of the Gospel ministry.
Paul explains to Timothy that he has sent Tychicus to replace him at Ephesus so that Timothy might join Paul at Rome (2 Tim. 4:9, 12).
He wanted Timothy to come to Rome before the winter of 68AD.
Timothy is overseeing the church at Ephesus.
There, as we saw in Paul’s first letter to him, Timothy is dealing with:
• An influx of Jewish believers fleeing the violence in Israel.
• Congregants who are saying he is too young and inexperienced.
• His own timidness and self doubts.
• False Teachers who are twisting scripture and teaching false doctrines.
• Congregants who are believing and following after the false teachers, and bringing these things into the church.
• A lack of helpful leadership in the church.
• Congregants who had a problem with pastors receiving a living wage.
• People taking advantage of the church’s benevolence.
• People using church to make themselves rich.
It was, of course, written from prison.
These are Paul’s last words.
v1
• The first is that Paul was an Apostle by the will of God.
Galatians 1:1 NKJV
Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
And we will glean this more as we get deeper into the letter.
“According to the promise of life which is in Jesus Christ.”
What is remarkable about this, is it was because of this gospel that Paul is facing death in that Roman prison.
Psalm 88:6–7 NKJV
You have laid me in the lowest pit, In darkness, in the depths. Your wrath lies heavy upon me, And You have afflicted me with all Your waves. Selah
The dungeon pit under the palace of the High Priest.
The promise of life is eternal life, which we have only through Jesus Christ.
Titus 1:1–2 NKJV
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
Christ has defeated death.
2 Timothy 1:10 NKJV
but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
v2
“a beloved son.”
He was not Paul’s son by blood, yet he was … by the blood of Christ.
ἀγαπητός Agapētos: beloved … from Agape.
2 Timothy 1:2 NKJV
To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace
Matthew 5:45 NKJV
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
Ephesians 2:8–9 NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
John 1:16 NIV84
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
Human ability can no more maintain a relationship with God than it can attain such a relationship.
He will keep us by His power.
Ephesians 3:20 NKJV
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Romans 4:21 NKJV
and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
Mercy:
Matthew 5:7 NKJV
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Mercy is active, … it is not passive.
Peace:
If God is peace, then to know God is to bask in His peace.
The closer we draw to Him, the more of His peace we can enjoy.
God’s peace is a treasure.
But to have it we must first be reconciled to God.
Romans 8:7–8 NKJV
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
However, through Christ’s death on the cross to bear the judgement of our sin, we can be reconciled to God.
When that happens, we immediately begin to experience the gift of peace in our hearts.
Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
v3-5
Starts with thanksgiving to God
Paul, in prison and about to die, is praying for Timothy, who is free and serving the church in Ephesus.
He cannot be constrained from prayer.
Prayer is such a powerful gift from God.
Luke 1:37 NKJV
For with God nothing will be impossible.”
God hears prayers and He answers prayers.
Paul knew these were some of his last words, which shows how important he felt it was to tell Timothy that he was praying for him.
Paul encouraged Timothy with prayer.
He also reminded him of all he had to be thankful for despite the problems he was facing.
And keep in mind that this encouragement to be thankful comes from a man held in chains in a dungeon.
• his godly heritage.
Exodus 20:12 NKJV
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
Proverbs 22:6 NKJV
Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Ephesians 6:1–4 NKJV
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Not all believers come from a Christian heritage
• be thankful for his genuine faith.
ἀνυπόκριτος Anypokritos: Genuine Faith
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