Unashamed Workers (2 Timothy)
With all the changes in our society in recent decades, you may be wondering how long it will be before the government comes after us and makes our teachings illegal. The truth is that they haven’t needed to apply any legal restraints on our freedom of speech. We already feel the pressure to keep our opinions to ourselves. There is no real threat for most of us, but the perceived threat to our life of leisure is enough to prohibit us from speaking. Most Christians act as though they are ashamed to share their faith in Christ. They don’t want to be labeled a Jesus Freak or damage relationships. But we are called to share the truth about his call for men and women everywhere to repent.
Did you know that this was just as much a problem in the New Testament time? In Paul’s life, spreading the gospel was often met with hostility from the Jewish people, but it wasn’t until the end of his life that Rome and the Gentiles everywhere also started to hate Christians. The government punished Christians for their beliefs and made life very difficult. When the government says something is unlawful, the people tend to fall in line. This means that now Jews and Gentiles would resist hearing the gospel and seek to hurt those who preach it.
2 Timothy
Tonight, we will be studying one of Paul’s last letters before dying as a result of this hostility. He wrote the first letter to Timothy explaining his defeating false doctrine. In the second letter, he encourages Timothy to share in suffering for the gospel to spread. In some ways, this second letter summarizes all that Paul has taught Timothy about his work. But it is also more than that. Paul challenges Timothy to do what he has always done in this letter, even when it’s not safe or acceptable to do that anymore.
This book can be broken up into seven encouragements from Paul.
1. Be On Fire (1:1-7)
The first section is full of encouragement.
2 Timothy 1:4--7 (ESV) --- 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
He encourages Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God which is in him.” One thing I used to do when I would have a big bonfire in my backyard was get a leaf blower and blow it down in the coals to get the fire going big and hot. Paul wants Timothy to get going. He wants him to use his gifts to their fullest extent. He wants them to catch fire and spread God’s glory.
Then, he reveals why Timothy might be hesitant to do that. He says that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. Timothy is afraid of what might happen if he gave it everything he has. What if he fails to catch? What if he suffers imprisonment like Paul? What if people want to put out his fire with their opinions or discouragements?
Instead of a spirit of fear, he wants Timothy to have a spirit of power, love, and self-control. But also notice that he says, “God gave us” that kind of spirit. The spirit of fear is not from God. The spirit of power, love, and self-control is from God. This is the spirit that God will give him if he fans into flame the gift that God has given him. He will have power instead of timidity, love instead of resentment or bitterness, and self-control instead of living an undisciplined and ungodly life.
2. Don’t Be Ashamed (1:8-18)
Next, he tells him not to be ashamed.
2 Timothy 1:8 (ESV) --- 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
He encourages Timothy to speak up without fear and shame. The truth is nothing to be ashamed of sharing. If people don’t like it and refuse to believe it, that is shameful. They ought to be ashamed for being so close-minded. But he also tells Timothy not to be ashamed of Paul as he sits in prison. Being in prison does not mean that Paul is a failure. If Paul is fulfilling his ministry and he has no shame in that.
2 Timothy 1:11--12 (ESV) --- 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
Paul sees suffering as a part of preaching and teaching the truth. He is not ashamed of it, and he doesn’t want Timothy to be ashamed either. This is a bold statement of conviction. To suffer is often viewed as shameful in society. It’s as though the gods have frowned upon you for doing something wrong. Your suffering makes you an outcast, a failure, and an oddball to people who are living for this world, but that is not true for followers of Christ. It can’t be because our Lord suffered to succeed.
The end of Chapter 1 tells us that some Christians are ashamed of Paul. Timothy doesn’t need to join them. He needs to join Paul in suffering for the spread of the gospel.
3. Be Strengthened By Grace (2:1-13)
In the next section, he starts with an encouragement to find strength in God’s grace.
2 Timothy 2:1--2 (ESV) --- 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
He won’t find strength in himself or his ability. He won’t find strength in his effort. He won’t find strength in the world around him. He is weak and stumbles like everyone around him. But there is strength in the grace of Christ. Then, he needs to share that message with others. There is strength in the community of grace. In verses 3-7, he gives him images to take with him of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer finding a reward because they stick to what makes them strong. They do not deviate.
4. Be Reverent and Honorable (2:14-26)
Starting in verse 14, Paul tells Timothy how to address some problems he might face.
2 Timothy 2:14--17 (ESV) --- 14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
This section seems to be about what to teach other people, but it explains what self-control looks like. Timothy needs to be careful about arguing and fighting shamefully. He doesn’t have to be ashamed of the testimony of Christ, but he might end up ashamed of his character if he becomes irreverent or juvenile. So Paul encourages him.
2 Timothy 2:21--22 (ESV) --- 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. 22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
5. Be Aware of Deception (3:1-9)
Chapter 3 starts the fifth encouragement, which is to be aware of the deception. The last section seemed to warn Timothy against being overly argumentative, but this section is warning Timothy against compromising the truth.
2 Timothy 3:1--5 (ESV) --- 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
This is a strong warning and a vivid picture of men and women who are destroying the faith of others. Paul tells Timothy that they are always learning but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. The deceitfulness of sin corrupts their minds and hearts. Timothy is encouraged to avoid these people. They don’t make good mentors.
6. Be Diligent in Study (3:10-17)
Verse 10 encourages Timothy to stick to what he has learned from Paul. He wants him to be patient and press on in the study of scriptures. In the end, he gives him some motivation. He tells him that his diligent study of scriptures will make him thoroughly equipped for every good work.
7. Be Actively Preaching The Word (4:1-8)
The last encouragement is found in Chapter 4. Paul charges Timothy to preach the word and use what he has learned to correct and train those who will listen.
2 Timothy 4:1--5 (ESV) --- 1 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. 3 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, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
This is the work of an evangelist. He preaches the word of God, even when people don’t want to hear it. He doesn’t let the opinions of people affect him. He doesn’t let potential suffering persuade him. This is the ministry gift that God has given to Timothy and that he needs to fan into flame.
What Do We Learn?
So Paul wants Timothy to suffer through the challenging season ahead of him. But he doesn’t just want him to suffer through it trying to avoid land mines. He wants him to be on fire and powerful as he preaches what God’s word says unapologetically.
A few statements in this book that I think get across the essence of Paul’s mission for Timothy.
2 Timothy 2:10 (ESV) --- 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
2 Timothy 2:19 (ESV) --- 19 But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
2 Timothy 2:24--26 (ESV) --- 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
This is excellent information for Bible teachers. We need to step up and share the gospel with as many people as possible without fear or shame. There is hope that the people listening will be ashamed of their sins and repent.
What Do You Need To Do?
But what about you? What if your role is more about visiting the sick, serving people food, inviting people to services, teaching a Bible class, watching people’s kids while they learn, or maintaining the building. Can any of this apply to you? How does this help someone who is not an evangelist?
Timothy’s mission resembles our own in some way.
What gift has God given you? Are you using it in season and out of season, or are you afraid and ashamed? We all need to fan into flame the gift that God has given us. We all need to throw shame aside, find strength in God’s grace, and do whatever God called us to do. The suffering might not look the same for your work, but, as Paul says, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (3:12).
We also see the encouragement that Paul gives Timothy to study the word and grow in it applies to everyone. The man or woman of God will be made complete through the study of the word of God. As we grow in our understanding of the word, we become trained to live righteous lives for God’s glory and become equipped for every good work.
So, whatever you are called to do for the Lord and his kingdom, God’s word can equip you to do your best. Be active in your studies and be active in your ministry. Can you imagine what the church would look like if every part did its share and was on fire for the Lord?