This is the last section of Paul’s charge to Timothy, encouraging him to follow Paul’s example in being a faithful teacher. So far, we’ve found that faithful teachers:
Today, the focus is on faithful teaching even when the times are hard and it’s received with hostility and opposition.
Yesterday, we looked at how to be a faithful teacher, from the example Paul passed down to Timothy. We saw that faithful teachers teach by example; and that faithful teachers teach confidence in the truth.
Today, we see that faithful teachers teach to impact behaviour. To change the way people live. Just like our teaching is worthless if we ourselves don’t live it – it’s also worthless if our hearers don’t live it. We teach behaviour, not mere content. Let’s start by looking at verses 15-17:
The next major section of 2 Timothy deals with faithful teaching. (After all, we’ve just spent the first half of the chapter talking about unfaithful teachers.) Here, Paul reMinds Timothy of his Model in teaching, so that Timothy can iMitate it. (See the introductory post if you’re wondering why the weird capital Ms.)
Today we reach a new chapter in 2 Timothy, chapter three. And the first half is a difficult text to find direct relevance for us. Because Paul is continuing his use of the false teachers as a negative example to avoid, launching into a scathing attack. Have a read of it:
Last week, we looked at what Paul had to say about being loyal to God:
Big concepts aren’t they? Almost too big. Too hard to do. And it begs the question: what happens if we fail. What happens when we fail.
This week, we’ve seen that the second chapter of 2 Timothy is all about loyalty. And we asked the question, what does it mean for us to be loyal to God? Yesterday, Paul told us to work hard (but in a focused way) and be prepared to sufffer. Today, he gives us two more ways to be loyal.
Being loyal to God will mean avoiding rival loyalties. We’ve already seen Paul’s positive example we’re to follow. But a little later on in chapter two (we’ve skipped a few verses – we’ll come back to them on Monday), he brings up a negative example: false teachers in Ephesus who were seducing people away from the true gospel. Encouraging people to be dis-loyal to God.
Yesterday, we began the second chapter of 2 Timothy, which is all about loyalty. And we asked the question, what does it mean for us to be loyal to God? Today, we’ll look at a couple of ways Paul gives us, and tomorrow, we’ll look at another two.
Firstly, says Paul, work hard in God’s service, just like I do. Follow my example: keep going, even if it’s difficult. And he uses three analogies that were very common in the first century when you were encouraging hard work and discipline: that of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. This starts in verse 3:
This next chapter of 2 Timothy continues the theme of “loyalty” to Paul, to the gospel, and to Jesus. And loyalty is something we often talk about in our own culture, too.
A couple of years ago, I read a true story about a lifelong, diehard fan of the Cleveland Browns. Now I’m a big fan of American football – and I’ll be seeing my first live NFL game this Sunday in Nashville, which is conveniently the day after the annual conference of the Academy of Homiletics. (This job has the occasional perq.) But I’m guessing many of you aren’t all that up to speed, so a bit of background is in order. The Cleveland Browns is the team that never wins. They’ve never played in a Superbowl. Most years they end up coming last in their division. Life’s tough if you’re a Browns fan.
But you get used to it, apparently. To the point where this lifelong supporter pre-wrote his own obituary column. It was then published after his death in July 2013. In it he requested that the six pallbearers at his funeral be players from the Cleveland Browns – so his team could let him down one last time.
The story so far: Paul has reminded Timothy to follow his example and fan into flame his gift. He’s been given God’s power to carry out the mission. And he’s been given motivation for the mission: the grace of God who has defeated death on our behalf, and given us access to immortality. And it’s of this message of grace that Paul (along with Timothy and us) has been called to be a herald, apostle, and teacher.
But this high calling has a downside:
So far in 2 Timothy, Paul has reminded Timothy to follow his example and get on with his calling – fanning into flame his gift. He’s been given God’s power to carry out the mission, so he shouldn’t be ashamed of anything – whether it be the gospel itself, or Paul’s imprisonment for the sake of it.
Today, Paul reminds Timothy that just as he’s been equipped by God to do the work, he’s also been given a great motivation for the work: God’s grace.
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