2 Timothy 4:1-5
In the final chapter of 2 Timothy, we see a personal side of Paul and a personal side to this letter. The last half of this chapter illustrates to us that this is a real letter, written by a real person, to real people, all of whom have real triumphs and tragedies in their lives. The last half of this chapter illustrates the “human” side of the Bible.
On the other hand, the divine side of the letter is seen in the fact that nearly half of the imperatives in the letter (33) are found in this chapter! Five are concentrated in verse 2; four are concentrated in verse 5 and four have to do with Timothy coming to see Paul while in prison in Rome. Consider these nine commandments for preachers…
The first command in this chapter is in verse 2. Yet, Paul emphasizes the solemnity of the command by charging Timothy in the sight or before the eyes of four entities:
1.) God; 2.) Christ Jesus who is the judge of the living and the dead; 3.) by the appearing of Jesus Christ; and 4.) by His kingdom. So, we are to preach the word under the eyes of God & Christ, the Judge, in light of the second coming of Christ and the ensuing eternal kingdom He will inaugurate.
Then, in verse 2, we have five commands:
1. Preach – What? The word! Preaching is an act of worship. It is an act of worship as much as singing or prayer is and we cannot substitute any other act for that of preaching. This is the same thing as Paul’s earlier command to “guard the deposit” (1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:14).
2. Be ready – Be ready to preach the word. Be ready to share a “thus says the Lord.” Be ready to give book, chapter, verse to answer the questions people will ask or share in people’s needs (cf. 3:16-17). Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”
3. Reprove – “to state that someone has done wrong” – Lea and Griffin (243) suggests these latter three affect the intellect, the conscience, and the will.
4. Rebuke – “to express strong disapproval of someone”
5. Exhort – parakaleo – “to invite, comfort, and exhort”
The attitudes with which we are to do these actions are: complete patience (long suffering & forbearance) and teaching. We need to avoid being harsh when we are teaching or correcting.
In a study of 22 people with varicose veins, 22 percent of side effects viagra people given horse chestnut had decreased vein leakage, compared to an increase in vein leakage in the people who were given a placebo. Online pharmacy stores help people purchase these drugs from the comfort of their homes and at affordable viagra 50 mg rates.If you think that treatment of male impotence is a typical health problem that last either for a short or for a long time. If you want to save on money, make sure you this pharmacy shop on sale now viagra prescription only consume one sachet in a 24-hour period. Genuine drug store destinations likewise give a private, functional and at times shabbier approach to acquire physician recommended meds. amerikabulteni.com lowest price for levitra from an unlawful drug store might cause genuine health dangers.
The reason Timothy is to preach (vs 3) is because the time is coming when people will not endure healthy teaching. They have itchy years and they want people to endorse their own experiences with smooth talk and flattery.
Why? Is it boredom with the truth? Apathy toward the truth? Annoyance relative to the truth? These people are not interested in learning more about God’s will. Their orientation is toward pleasing self. So, they “accumulate” or heap up or stockpile teachers. The more people who teach a certain doctrine, the more obvious that doctrine is true — right?
One good test for a false teacher is this – Is he appealing to the Bible through a modern cultural lens? In other words, is he wanting to interpret the Bible through current issues rather than looking at current issues through the lens of the Bible?
Consequently, they will turn aside from listening or hearing the truth and, when you turn away from the Truth, the only thing left is to wander off into myths. “Myths” refers to doctrines whose highest authority is man’s beliefs and they are utterly deceptive and completely implausible. Here we have pictured spiritual lemmings who have wandered off after myths and not realized they have left truth behind.
Following on the heels of that exhortation, Paul gives Timothy four more imperatives (vs 5):
6. Be sober-minded – Always think clearly, reasonably, logically. Stay spiritually alert. When you destroy the laws of thought, the discipline of logical thinking, you destroy all foundation for communication and mutual understanding.
7. Endure suffering – This is all one word and Paul has used it before – 1:8, 12; 2:3, 9; 3:10-12.
8. Do the work of an evangelist – An evangelist is one who shares the evangel or the Gospel.
9. Fulfill your ministry – Bring your work to a proper close.
Those are Paul’s Nine Commandments for Preachers.
–Paul Holland
