June 6, 2022
Living in Light of Eternity
2 Timothy 4
Trip Hoover
Central Truth
We can boldly live for Christ amid any circumstance because of His finished work on the cross.
Key Verse | 2 Timothy 4:8
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.
2 Timothy 4
Preach the Word
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 1 4:3 Or healthy 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.
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.
Personal Instructions
9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, 2 4:10 Some manuscripts Gaul Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 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. 18 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.
Final Greetings
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers. 3 4:21 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. 4 4:22 The Greek for you is plural
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | 2 Timothy 4
This concluding chapter of 2 Timothy represents the last words of the Apostle Paul in Scripture. A man who was once a fervent oppressor of the Church (Acts 8:3), Paul's life was radically changed after he encountered Jesus. While Paul went on to live a life dedicated to boldly proclaiming Jesus as Lord (Acts 28:30-31), his efforts to share the good news of Jesus faced regular adversity (2 Corinthians 11:25-27). In this chapter in particular, he relays to Timothy the persecution Paul faced at the hands of those opposed to the gospel (2 Timothy 4:14-15) and his knowledge that his death was near (2 Timothy 4:6).
In Paul's final words, we can see how he maintained faithfulness amid such challenging circumstances. As Paul sat in prison awaiting his death, he reminds Timothy: "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." (2 Timothy 4:8). Paul was able to boldly live for Christ because his eyes remained fixed on Jesus! Rather than being bogged down by his hardship, he trusted that he was living for something of eternal value that was beyond anything the world could throw at him.
The challenges faced by Christ followers certainly did not end in Paul's lifetime. Like Paul, we today are sojourners and exiles (1 Peter 2:11) and are called to "always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." (2 Timothy 4:5) We are also called to be ready to preach the word regardless of circumstance in a culture that does not endure sound teaching (2 Timothy 4:2-3). However, also like Paul, we have an eternal hope that extends beyond whatever circumstances we may face. Because of Christ's finished work, we can rest in the security we have in Him while we boldly proclaim His message of reconciliation to friends, neighbors, family members, and a world at large that desperately needs to hear the gospel!
Discussion Questions
1. Second Timothy 4:2 calls us to "be ready" to preach the word in season and out of season. What are practical ways that we can prepare in order to "be ready"?
2. When have you been faithful in proclaiming Christ amid challenging circumstances?
3. How can we encourage others to keep their eyes fixed on Christ?