Mark Wiesner: So we didn't get a chance to test this before, so it sounds good to me.
Mark Wiesner: I hope it's good to you.
Mark Wiesner: Well, good evening.
Mark Wiesner: My brothers and sisters in Christ, my eternal family.
Mark Wiesner: This is great.
Mark Wiesner: What a privilege this is to be called on to give an overview of 2 Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: We're making our way through the 66 books of the Bible during the Sunday night services called Route 66 through the Bible.
Mark Wiesner: 2 Timothy is the 55th book in the Bible.
Mark Wiesner: It's called 2 Timothy because it's the second letter to Timothy, and I bet you thought you weren't going to learn anything new tonight.
Mark Wiesner: How about that?
Mark Wiesner: This letter written by Paul to Timothy is not for Timothy's sake, only to Timothy, is not for Timothy's sake only, it's for our sake as well, and it's also for the glory of God.
Mark Wiesner: So before I begin, let's pray once again, please.
Mark Wiesner: Oh Father, how wonderful are your ways that you would preserve these words down through the ages to write here tonight to us for our edification, for our comfort, for our sanctification.
Mark Wiesner: Oh God, these are your holy words that we examine tonight.
Mark Wiesner: Let us not consider this study lightly or casually.
Mark Wiesner: Let us not take for granted this special privilege, this desire that you planted in our hearts to study the Word.
Mark Wiesner: What a great gift that is, father.
Mark Wiesner: Thank you so, father, open our ears and our hearts that your word would fall afresh upon us.
Mark Wiesner: May we have a high and exalted view of your Son and our Savior, jesus Christ.
Mark Wiesner: Thank you, father.
Mark Wiesner: We love you.
Mark Wiesner: We worship you, amen.
Mark Wiesner: So to forward us a little deeper understanding of this wonderful letter, this heartfelt letter by Paul, I thought it might help if we dig in a little bit into the circumstances and the context in which this letter was actually written.
Mark Wiesner: So if you would afford me just a little extra time to build the front porch, the introduction to this overview, I think I hope you'll find it helpful.
Mark Wiesner: So I want to look at just three things tonight before we get into the text.
Mark Wiesner: Three things to kind of set the stage.
Mark Wiesner: Number one what was the relationship like between Paul and Timothy?
Mark Wiesner: Number two, what was Timothy encountering and where was he located when he received this letter?
Mark Wiesner: And number three, what was Paul encountering and what was his location when he wrote the letter?
Mark Wiesner: So first of all, the relationship.
Mark Wiesner: We all know about Timothy and Paul, but what a great relationship they had.
Mark Wiesner: You know Paul had other ministry relationships.
Mark Wiesner: He had Barnabas, he had Silas, he had Aquila and Priscilla, he had Titus, luke, many others.
Mark Wiesner: But I believe this relationship with Timothy was different.
Mark Wiesner: It was stronger and for several reasons it was not just a ministry co-worker association.
Mark Wiesner: It was a mentor-protege type of relationship.
Mark Wiesner: It was paternal relationship.
Mark Wiesner: It was like father and son.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy was like the son that Paul never had.
Mark Wiesner: When they met, timothy was just a young man.
Mark Wiesner: They estimate that he was probably between the ages of 16 to 20 years old and Paul was probably in his early to maybe mid-40s and they had known each other by the time.
Mark Wiesner: 2 Timothy is written for over 15 years and Timothy had traveled over 7,000 miles with Paul as he established new churches throughout Asia and Europe.
Mark Wiesner: So a lot of time spent together.
Mark Wiesner: And if you spend that amount of time with someone, I mean, have you ever gone on a long journey with anybody Like you know somebody new that you didn't know?
Mark Wiesner: And about the 250th mile in, I'm sure you said, well, I kind of know that guy now or that person.
Mark Wiesner: Well, timothy, you got to remember he traveled 7,000 miles with Paul, night and day.
Mark Wiesner: What a wonderful experience this must have been and what a shared experience to really bond this relationship, which it did.
Mark Wiesner: So I want you to just turn, if you have your Bibles there's a pew Bible there if you'd like to look at it.
Mark Wiesner: To follow along, if you could just turn to the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians, first Corinthians.
Mark Wiesner: I want to show you just a couple of places where Paul writes to other churches and where he mentions Timothy and the regard he has for Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: So turn to 1 Corinthians, chapter 4, excuse me, chapter 4 and verse 15.
Mark Wiesner: I'm going to read for us.
Mark Wiesner: This is what it says, for you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don't have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Mark Wiesner: Therefore, I urge you to imitate me.
Mark Wiesner: This is why I have sent Timothy to you.
Mark Wiesner: He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord.
Mark Wiesner: He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus.
Mark Wiesner: And just as I teach everywhere, in every church, so Paul says to the Corinthians I'm sending Timothy first of all because Timothy imitates me.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy is like a carbon copy of me.
Mark Wiesner: Secondly, he's going to remind you about my ways in Christ.
Mark Wiesner: And thirdly, he's going to remind you about my ways in Christ.
Mark Wiesner: And thirdly, he's going to teach it just as I teach it everywhere, in every church.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy knew all that Paul taught and he believed it.
Mark Wiesner: And Paul knew that Timothy was grounded in Christ and trusted him unconditionally.
Mark Wiesner: Let's look at one other place where Paul writes in another letter and references Timothy Turn over to Philippians, philippians, chapter 2.
Mark Wiesner: In Philippians, chapter 2, and I hear those Bible fans going with those, those the Baptist fans right Turn over to Philippians, chapter 2 and verse 19.
Mark Wiesner: Now it says I hope, in the Lord Jesus, to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by news about you, for I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interest.
Mark Wiesner: All seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Mark Wiesner: But you know his proven character because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.
Mark Wiesner: Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
Mark Wiesner: So Paul says I don't have anyone else to send who thinks like I do but Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: That's a huge compliment.
Mark Wiesner: But more than that, I don't have anyone else to send who thinks like I do but Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: That's a huge compliment.
Mark Wiesner: But more than that, I don't have anyone else to send who's as genuine in his caring for the saints of God.
Mark Wiesner: If I send Timothy, you're getting the best I have.
Mark Wiesner: So this relationship of Timothy and Paul, such a special relationship, so close father and son, they were on the same page, bonded through these shared experiences, special, special relationship.
Mark Wiesner: Let's look at the second thing we want to get in setting the context.
Mark Wiesner: Where was Paul?
Mark Wiesner: I mean, I'm sorry, where was Timothy and what was he contending with when he received the letter?
Mark Wiesner: Well, a few years before 2 Timothy is written, paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to pastor the church there.
Mark Wiesner: The church in Ephesus, asia Minor, was in a battle when this letter arrived for Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: Heresy had been taught by some of its leaders, moral compromise had seeped in among some of the congregants and there was disloyalty towards Timothy's authority.
Mark Wiesner: Let me show you how we know this real quickly.
Mark Wiesner: We actually see it indicated to us in 2 Timothy, the study that we're going to do tonight.
Mark Wiesner: So turn to 2 Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: And in chapter 1 and verse 15 of 2 Timothy, paul writes this you know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.
Mark Wiesner: Paul's writing to Timothy and says Timothy, you know this, did you see that at the beginning?
Mark Wiesner: You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me Timothy's aware of this and they're all deserting Paul in Asia.
Mark Wiesner: Maybe a little overstated, but they're deserting Paul in Asia.
Mark Wiesner: And if they're deserting Paul and his teaching in Asia, which is where the church is, that Timothy's pastoring and Timothy's basically a carbon copy of Paul and he's teaching the same thing, we've got to surmise that Timothy's pastoring and Timothy's basically a carbon copy of Paul and he's teaching the same thing.
Mark Wiesner: We've got to surmise that there's got to be some pushing back and some deserting of Timothy as well, because he's so closely associated with the Apostle Paul.
Mark Wiesner: And then we get a little bit more insight into what Timothy is contending with.
Mark Wiesner: Turn to chapter 2, now of 2 Timothy contending with Turn to chapter 2, now of 2 Timothy, chapter 2 and verse 16.
Mark Wiesner: It says Remind them of these things and the them there.
Mark Wiesner: Remind them.
Mark Wiesner: The them are the congregants in Ephesus that Timothy's pastoring.
Mark Wiesner: Remind them of these things and charge them before God not to fight about words.
Mark Wiesner: This is useless and leads to the ruin of those who listen.
Mark Wiesner: Avoid irreverent and empty speech, since those who engage in it will produce even more ungodliness and their teaching will spread like gangrene.
Mark Wiesner: Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them.
Mark Wiesner: They have departed from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place and are ruining the faith of some.
Mark Wiesner: People were fighting about words, probably doctrine and teaching the phrase empty speech.
Mark Wiesner: This refers to arguments, bickering that doesn't lead to any good, and there were some congregants spreading heresy that was ruining the faith of some Hymenaeus and Philetus.
Mark Wiesner: So what's Timothy?
Mark Wiesner: Contending with Widespread desertion, active false teachers twisting doctrine, rising hypocrisy, arguing causing dissension and division.
Mark Wiesner: This is tough for the young pastor trying to make his way, you know, but it's not nearly as difficult as where we find his mentor, paul.
Mark Wiesner: So that brings us to the third thing when was Paul and what was Paul contending with when he wrote this letter?
Mark Wiesner: Well, paul was in Rome when he wrote 2 Timothy and we've already learned that Paul says to Timothy while he's in Rome when he wrote 2 Timothy, and we've already learned that Paul says to Timothy while he's in Rome that everybody in Asia has deserted him, but that's not everyone who's deserted him.
Mark Wiesner: Stay in 2 Timothy and go to chapter 4 of 2 Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: Look at verse 16.
Mark Wiesner: Paul writes At my first defense.
Mark Wiesner: No one supported me, but all deserted me.
Mark Wiesner: May it not be counted against them.
Mark Wiesner: That had to be tough and painful.
Mark Wiesner: But there was more significant crisis in Rome which was greatly impacting Paul at this time.
Mark Wiesner: When Paul returned to Rome in 66 AD, the persecution of Christians had broken out and it was rampant under Emperor Nero at this time.
Mark Wiesner: There's a historian, his name is Tacitus.
Mark Wiesner: He lived at this time, so this is ex-biblical, but this is somebody who was there and he wrote about the persecutions that were happening to the Christians, so I thought it would be helpful for us to hear this.
Mark Wiesner: This is what he writes, and I quote Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite torture on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace.
Mark Wiesner: Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths.
Mark Wiesner: Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs, others were burned to serve as a nightly illumination when the daylight had expired.
Mark Wiesner: End quote Christians, among other tortures, were used as human tortures at Nero's garden parties.
Mark Wiesner: This was the atmosphere in Rome towards Christians when Paul returned.
Mark Wiesner: And when Paul returned, he was quickly arrested.
Mark Wiesner: He was thrown into the most horrific and terrible prison in antiquity, the Mamertine prison, also referred to as a Tullianum.
Mark Wiesner: In the first century in Rome, prisons were not correctional facilities.
Mark Wiesner: You didn't go to prison for punishment.
Mark Wiesner: You were incarcerated for one of two reasons Either you were awaiting trial or you were awaiting execution, and the worst place to be held for this was the Tullianum.
Mark Wiesner: And the worst place to be held for this was the Telanium.
Mark Wiesner: It was an underground cistern water cistern and now it was a dungeon.
Mark Wiesner: It was a round room made out of stone with a hole in the top In the ceiling where they used to lower the bucket to get the water.
Mark Wiesner: Now they would lower down the prisoner into this stoned, walled cistern no windows.
Mark Wiesner: We have another Roman historian who lived in the first century BC, called Solus, who saw this prison.
Mark Wiesner: In fact, you can see this prison too If you ever go to Rome.
Mark Wiesner: It's still there, the Mamertine prison but Solus wrote about it in the first century BC when he saw it, and I quote there is a part of the prison which is called the Tullianum, where you ascend a short way on the left.
Mark Wiesner: The Tullianum is sunk into the earth about twelve feet and is constructed of stone walls on all sides.
Mark Wiesner: Above this is a room with a ceiling of vaulted stone, foul from neglect, darkness and stench.
Mark Wiesner: It is an altogether terrifying sight, end quote.
Mark Wiesner: And this is where our Apostle Paul is.
Mark Wiesner: Why is this happening to the Apostle Paul?
Mark Wiesner: Well, that's the backdrop for this second Timothy letter.
Mark Wiesner: There's a great bond between Paul and Timothy, great relationship.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy's battling in Ephesus and Paul's thrown into a dungeon.
Mark Wiesner: Listen, we've all kind of been there at some time in our life where we cry out to God and say why you know why is this happening?
Mark Wiesner: And Paul's got to write a letter.
Mark Wiesner: He's got to write to Timothy because Timothy's supposed to carry on the torch for Christ.
Mark Wiesner: He's got to pass the baton, if you will, to Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: So what do you say in a time like this?
Mark Wiesner: I mean, what would you write to your daughter or your son?
Mark Wiesner: How would you encourage them?
Mark Wiesner: Well, he's not going to be able to say well, this is some sweet life.
Mark Wiesner: We signed up for Great traveling perks, stellar accommodation, everybody loves us and supports us.
Mark Wiesner: Certainly can't write that.
Mark Wiesner: Let's find out how.
Mark Wiesner: How is he able to write what he writes?
Mark Wiesner: That's what we want to focus on Now.
Mark Wiesner: Remember, second, timothy is a little different from the other letters.
Mark Wiesner: That he's right.
Mark Wiesner: It can feel a little disjointed, it jumps around a bit.
Mark Wiesner: It's a bumpy ride, understandably.
Mark Wiesner: Yet between all of that there's a reflective, heartfelt, beautiful, emotional letter.
Mark Wiesner: That there's a reflective, heartfelt, beautiful, emotional letter.
Mark Wiesner: And, by the way, don't forget this, this letter is for us too.
Mark Wiesner: This letter is for us too.
Mark Wiesner: So enough of the front porch, let's get into the house already.
Mark Wiesner: So you look at 2 Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: There's a lot of points and a lot of thoughts you can extract from 2 Timothy, but I settled in on three that kept jumping out at me, so I'd like to zero in on just these three points.
Mark Wiesner: The first point is you'll see that Paul reminds Timothy repeatedly about his faith.
Mark Wiesner: He keeps reminding Timothy of this faith that is in him, I think, because that's what's going to get Timothy through all the trials, timothy through all the trials.
Mark Wiesner: And I also think that Paul is maybe steadying himself when he's reminding Timothy of his faith and what it is for himself to get through everything.
Mark Wiesner: So that's the first point Timothy's faith and our faith reminding us about that.
Mark Wiesner: The second point I want to make is Paul keeps telling and keeps letting Timothy know that troubles are ahead in the Christian life.
Mark Wiesner: It's inevitable there are going to be troubles.
Mark Wiesner: Things are not going to be smooth and he lets Timothy know this.
Mark Wiesner: That's the second point.
Mark Wiesner: The third point is how do we shore up one's faith?
Mark Wiesner: Yeah, there's faith in Timothy, but how do we stir it up?
Mark Wiesner: How do we fan it into flame?
Mark Wiesner: What is the means for us that we can do that, that we can shore up our faith, that can get us through these trials in life?
Mark Wiesner: So Paul tells us the means or the source to keep those flames of faith burning.
Mark Wiesner: So those are the three points.
Mark Wiesner: So 2 Timothy, chapter 1.
Mark Wiesner: So almost immediately in 2 Timothy, he reminds Timothy of his faith.
Mark Wiesner: That's our point number one and he does it in such a heartfelt way.
Mark Wiesner: Look at chapter 1, and we're going to look at verses 5 and 6.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy says I mean, paul says this.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy says I mean Paul says this I recall your sincere faith that first lived in your grandmother, lois, and in your mother, eunice, and now, I'm convinced, is in you also.
Mark Wiesner: Therefore, I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Mark Wiesner: I, like the NIV translation says fan into flame the gift of God, or the King James version stir up that gift of God.
Mark Wiesner: So the first thing Paul wants Timothy to do is to think about his faith.
Mark Wiesner: He doesn't want Timothy to get discouraged.
Mark Wiesner: He doesn't want the difficulties that Timmy's facing in Ephesus to extinguish his faith.
Mark Wiesner: Paul wants him to remember his faith and fan it into a flame again, and also make note of this.
Mark Wiesner: This is a great place for us to start.
Mark Wiesner: If we're ministering to somebody that's going through a difficult time, remind them of that strong faith that's in them.
Mark Wiesner: Fan it into flame for them.
Mark Wiesner: So Paul says I recall your sincere faith, timothy, and the gift that you received from God.
Mark Wiesner: I was there, timothy, I laid my hands on you when you received the gift.
Mark Wiesner: I'm convinced it's in you.
Mark Wiesner: So how is Timothy to kindle a fresh fan into flame, this faith that Paul is talking about?
Mark Wiesner: I mean, things are difficult in Ephesus.
Mark Wiesner: It's become hard to hold the line for Christ.
Mark Wiesner: People are pushing back, deserting his teaching, quarrels bickering, causing dissension in the church.
Mark Wiesner: Paul says, timothy, don't focus on that right now.
Mark Wiesner: Paul says focus on whom you believe in and what he has done.
Mark Wiesner: Focus on the power that's in you.
Mark Wiesner: Look at verse 7 of chapter 1.
Mark Wiesner: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgment, for God has not given us a spirit of timidity.
Mark Wiesner: Another translation says Timothy, did you forget that when you first believed in Christ, the Spirit of God took up residence in you?
Mark Wiesner: And what kind of spirit did God send to you?
Mark Wiesner: He didn't send a spirit of timidity to make you feel frightened or to take away your courage or your confidence.
Mark Wiesner: No, no, timothy, god's given us a spirit of power, a spirit of love, a spirit of sound judgment.
Mark Wiesner: This sounds very much like Romans 8.15, which says For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.
Mark Wiesner: So the negative of what the Holy Spirit is not is it's not a spirit that causes you to be fearful.
Mark Wiesner: Okay, so what kind of spirit is given us by Christ?
Mark Wiesner: Well, we'll stay in Romans.
Mark Wiesner: For that, we'll go to Romans 15.
Mark Wiesner: Romans, chapter 15 and 13.
Mark Wiesner: This is what Paul writes Now in 2 Timothy 1.7.
Mark Wiesner: The Spirit God gave you is not a timid spirit, but a spirit that gives you hope and overflows.
Mark Wiesner: Even in tough times you have so much hope that it just overflows out of you.
Mark Wiesner: Think about that, timothy.
Mark Wiesner: And to drive that point home, paul reiterates it again in the next verse, verse 8.
Mark Wiesner: So don't be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me as prisoner.
Mark Wiesner: Instead, share in the suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.
Mark Wiesner: Paul says come on, timothy, don't be afraid.
Mark Wiesner: You don't have a spirit of timidity.
Mark Wiesner: Don't be ashamed of my circumstances, but lean in here with me.
Mark Wiesner: Share in my suffering, paul.
Mark Wiesner: How am I supposed to do that?
Mark Wiesner: Well, keep reading in verse 8.
Mark Wiesner: It's at the end Relying on the power of God.
Mark Wiesner: Don't rely on your power, timothy, but God's.
Mark Wiesner: And then this little section here is wrapped up by Paul in this glorious confession of faith we just sang about it.
Mark Wiesner: Paul says in verse 12, and that's why I suffer these things of, and that's why I suffer these things, but I'm not ashamed because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he's able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.
Mark Wiesner: Why, paul?
Mark Wiesner: Why do you suffer these things?
Mark Wiesner: Everyone in Asia is deserted, yet People's deserted you that you depended on here in Rome.
Mark Wiesner: Paul, how do you do it?
Mark Wiesner: How do I maintain my faith and hope?
Mark Wiesner: Well, it's because I know who I believe in and I am persuaded Some translations say I am convinced.
Mark Wiesner: Another way to say it is I'm completely certain that he is able to guard what I've entrusted to him.
Mark Wiesner: I think paul is saying I know who I believe in and I'm certain he's able to guard, to protect, to defend, to take care of what I've entrusted to him.
Mark Wiesner: I don't have to worry about my outcome because I'm certain, without a doubt, that he'll guard my life, my faith, until that day.
Mark Wiesner: I don't have to make sure of it, I don't have to guard it because I've entrusted my faith.
Mark Wiesner: Until that day, I don't have to make sure of it.
Mark Wiesner: I don't have to guard it because I've entrusted my faith and my life to him and I'm convinced that he's more than capable of guarding it until that day.
Mark Wiesner: That day refers to the returning of Christ.
Mark Wiesner: That day, isn't this really Philippians 1.6?
Mark Wiesner: Look at Philippians 1.6.
Mark Wiesner: He says I am sure of there it is again.
Mark Wiesner: I'm persuaded, I'm convinced right, I am sure of this that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Mark Wiesner: Also, look at 1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 23 and 24.
Mark Wiesner: Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mark Wiesner: He who calls you is faithful, he will do it.
Mark Wiesner: Wow, now those are words to hold to when you're going through trials.
Mark Wiesner: Look at that, he himself.
Mark Wiesner: I love that, and may your whole spirit, soul and body be kept sound and blameless when Now Not necessarily at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ who calls you, he is faithful, he will do it.
Mark Wiesner: He who calls you will not abandon you.
Mark Wiesner: Why would he call you to believe, call you out of darkness and then abandon you?
Mark Wiesner: I don't think he will do do it.
Mark Wiesner: I will be presented blameless in the day of Christ.
Mark Wiesner: I was dead, but he called me to life.
Mark Wiesner: He called me like he called Lazarus.
Mark Wiesner: He will do it.
Mark Wiesner: That's what Paul is convinced of and that is why he maintains through suffering.
Mark Wiesner: Look at, you don't have to turn there, but if, if, you want to, it's Jude 24.
Mark Wiesner: I'm going to read it Now to him.
Mark Wiesner: Who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory without blemish and with great joy.
Mark Wiesner: Wow, he's going to make a stand in the presence of God's glory and we won't have any blemish.
Mark Wiesner: We'll have his righteousness, and with great joy.
Mark Wiesner: I'm not sure if it's the great joy of his showing us or if he's joy to present us to God.
Mark Wiesner: So, paul, how do I do that?
Mark Wiesner: How do I become convinced that he's going to guard me?
Mark Wiesner: How do I become, you know, persuaded?
Mark Wiesner: Keep reading Timothy, verse 13 and 14.
Mark Wiesner: Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me.
Mark Wiesner: In the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus, guard the good deposit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy, retain, hold on to recollect what I've been teaching you.
Mark Wiesner: That's how you shore up the faith.
Mark Wiesner: You've got to keep your head in the Word.
Mark Wiesner: That's our point number three.
Mark Wiesner: When things are going difficult, go to the Word.
Mark Wiesner: Hold fast to true Christian teaching.
Mark Wiesner: Guard that good deposit in you, but not in your own strength.
Mark Wiesner: Look what it says at the end of that verse.
Mark Wiesner: Guard it through the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
Mark Wiesner: Now, most of chapter two is a litany of instructions for Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: So, verse 14, remind them of these things.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 15, be diligent.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 16, avoid worldly and empty chatter.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 22, refuse foolish and ignorant speculations.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 15, be diligent.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 16, avoid worldly and empty chatter.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 22, refuse foolish and ignorant speculations.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 24, do not be quarrelsome, be kind to all.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 25, with gentleness, correct those who are in opposition.
Mark Wiesner: Then, starting in chapter 3.
Mark Wiesner: And then for nine straight verses, paul gives it to Timothy straight.
Mark Wiesner: He doesn't sugarcoat it.
Mark Wiesner: He lets him know that hard times are coming.
Mark Wiesner: That's our point number two.
Mark Wiesner: Tough times are inevitable.
Mark Wiesner: So look at verse one, but know this hard times will come in the last days.
Mark Wiesner: Oh, great Hard times are coming.
Mark Wiesner: I feel like I'm in hard times.
Mark Wiesner: So then there's a list, a long list, starting in verse 2, a list of vices, 19 negative character traits and behavior in four verses.
Mark Wiesner: The list ends in verse 5 with this three-word sentence avoid these people.
Mark Wiesner: And then verse 8 says they are men who are corrupt in mind and worthless in regard to the faith.
Mark Wiesner: Drop down to verse 10.
Mark Wiesner: Paul makes a contrast between those degenerate men in those verses, one to nine, and Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: He turns to Timothy and says you're not like those men.
Mark Wiesner: You are not worthless in regard to the faith like them.
Mark Wiesner: In verse 11, he comes back to the point number two about suffering.
Mark Wiesner: He reminds Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: He says, timothy, you were with me through all those trials.
Mark Wiesner: He reminds Timothy, at the end of verse 11, what persecutions I endured and yet the Lord rescued me from them all.
Mark Wiesner: Okay, a little encouragement, but then right back to the persecution.
Mark Wiesner: Paul keeps the pedal to the metal.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 12, a very famous verse about what to expect in the Christian life.
Mark Wiesner: It says, in fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Mark Wiesner: Again, that's our point number two.
Mark Wiesner: This goes hand in hand with the Christian life persecution.
Mark Wiesner: He doesn't say some of the Christians may be persecuted.
Mark Wiesner: Paul says all and will be.
Mark Wiesner: And just in case, timothy, you thought that maybe down the road things will turn around and get a little better, paul says in verse 13, evil people and imposters will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.
Mark Wiesner: The NASB says but evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy, don't expect things to get better.
Mark Wiesner: They're going to get worse, paul, what's Timothy to do?
Mark Wiesner: Just grit his teeth and bear it.
Mark Wiesner: No, come back to point number three again how to shore up that faith, how to fan it into a flame.
Mark Wiesner: Stay in the word, timothy, verse 14.
Mark Wiesner: But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed.
Mark Wiesner: You know those who taught you and verse 15, and you know that from infancy you have known the sacred scriptures, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Mark Wiesner: How great is that?
Mark Wiesner: That's the ballast in our ship that holds us through the storms of life, to give you stability so you don't get tossed here and there.
Mark Wiesner: Continue in what you've learned, keep reminding yourself of what you have learned and whom you have learned from beloved.
Mark Wiesner: This is why it is so important to stay under sound preaching that holds a high regard for Bible teaching.
Mark Wiesner: Do you know how blessed we are to be able to come to this church where they have a high regard for biblical teaching?
Mark Wiesner: That's not common, that's rare.
Mark Wiesner: We are truly blessed.
Mark Wiesner: And our worship we referred to it before.
Mark Wiesner: They're hymns we sing.
Mark Wiesner: We're basically singing the Bible.
Mark Wiesner: Forgive me, I digress.
Mark Wiesner: Paul doesn't digress, though.
Mark Wiesner: He stays on point.
Mark Wiesner: He continues to drive the importance of the word.
Mark Wiesner: Our point number three.
Mark Wiesner: Look at it.
Mark Wiesner: Verses one and two of chapter four.
Mark Wiesner: I solemnly charge you before God in Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing in his kingdom, preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and teaching.
Mark Wiesner: I solemnly charge you Solemnly.
Mark Wiesner: We don't use that in our vernacular today.
Mark Wiesner: What's Paul saying?
Mark Wiesner: Timothy, I'm placing you under a serious obligation before God and Jesus, who ultimately judge everyone.
Mark Wiesner: Preach the word.
Mark Wiesner: I don't think you can get a stronger command from Paul than that.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy, your congregation's pushing back.
Mark Wiesner: They're questioning your authority.
Mark Wiesner: They're questioning your teaching.
Mark Wiesner: They're bickering.
Mark Wiesner: They're talking amongst themselves about this and questioning your teaching.
Mark Wiesner: They're bickering, they're talking amongst themselves about this and that, and some are teaching hypocrisy.
Mark Wiesner: But you, timothy, you preach the Word.
Mark Wiesner: I solemnly charge you.
Mark Wiesner: You preach it, whether the people like it or not.
Mark Wiesner: You correct them, you rebuke them.
Mark Wiesner: Also, encourage them with patience and not being just critical, but teach them.
Mark Wiesner: Verse 3 and 4, though, basically say they're not going to want to hear it, and verse 5 says it really doesn't matter what they want to do.
Mark Wiesner: Timothy, exercise self-control.
Mark Wiesner: Look at verse 5.
Mark Wiesner: But as for you, exercise self-control in everything.
Mark Wiesner: Endure hardship.
Mark Wiesner: Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Mark Wiesner: Don't get crazy, timothy.
Mark Wiesner: Don't lose your temper.
Mark Wiesner: Don't get sideways, thrown off track.
Mark Wiesner: Exercise self-control.
Mark Wiesner: And then I love the last words from Paul.
Mark Wiesner: They're so direct Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
Mark Wiesner: That's it.
Mark Wiesner: Do the work, timothy.
Mark Wiesner: Do your job, finish the work.
Mark Wiesner: I think this subject maybe triggered something within Paul to think about his own ministry, as he's telling Timothy to do the work to fulfill his evangelistic obligations and to fulfill his ministry.
Mark Wiesner: I think it's tricked something in Paul, because the next 13 verses, from 6 to 8 to the end of the letter, except for a couple of greetings and closing, is filled with a lot of pathos, sadness.
Mark Wiesner: Listen to verses 6, 7, and 8, as he's just reminded Timothy about his ministry and fulfilling it.
Mark Wiesner: Paul says for I'm already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is close.
Mark Wiesner: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Mark Wiesner: There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but to all those who have loved his appearing.
Mark Wiesner: Now, as I said in the beginning, this letter is a little disjointed.
Mark Wiesner: It jumps around a bit, understandably so, in verses 9, and then it skips to verse 11, and then it skips to verse 11,.
Mark Wiesner: Paul has some last requests the request of a dying man who is alone in a dark dungeon 12 feet underground with criminals and it doesn't smell really well.
Mark Wiesner: He's on death row and he knows it.
Mark Wiesner: So what are the four things that you would ask for in this situation, four critical things that you would want.
Mark Wiesner: What does Paul want?
Mark Wiesner: What are the four things that are foremost in his mind and his heart?
Mark Wiesner: Well, look at verse 9.
Mark Wiesner: The first thing Make every effort to come to me soon.
Mark Wiesner: He doesn't say hey, timothy, you think you might get a couple of days off.
Mark Wiesner: You can come down and see me.
Mark Wiesner: Make every effort to come to me soon.
Mark Wiesner: That makes sense.
Mark Wiesner: Makes sense.
Mark Wiesner: He'd want to see his dearly loved son to come to him.
Mark Wiesner: One more time.
Mark Wiesner: He reiterates it in verse 21.
Mark Wiesner: It just kind of throws it in there, kind of at the end, where the greetings are hey, make every effort to come before winter.
Mark Wiesner: Not only does he want to see Timothy, but he wants Timothy to bring somebody.
Mark Wiesner: But he wants Timothy to bring somebody.
Mark Wiesner: In verse 11, he says Only Luke is with me.
Mark Wiesner: Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry.
Mark Wiesner: So first, timothy, you come.
Mark Wiesner: Second, bring Mark.
Mark Wiesner: What else, paul, what else do you need?
Mark Wiesner: Verse 13, when you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus.
Mark Wiesner: The third thing Paul wants is his cloak.
Mark Wiesner: In the Greek that means a warm, thick traveler's cloak, possibly hooded.
Mark Wiesner: Had to throw that in there because I'm in the fashion business.
Mark Wiesner: Winter is close coming.
Mark Wiesner: Nothing worse than shivering in a damp, cold dungeon unable to get warm.
Mark Wiesner: He's asking Timothy to go several days out of his way because Troas is not on the way to Rome.
Mark Wiesner: Okay, paul, I'll make every effort to come to you.
Mark Wiesner: I'm going to bring Mark.
Mark Wiesner: I'm going to stop off in Troas, I'm going to stop at Carpus' house.
Mark Wiesner: I'm going to pick up your cloak.
Mark Wiesner: Is there anything else you need from Carpus or anything else you left behind in Troas?
Mark Wiesner: Have you ever been asked this scenario If you were on a deserted island and only had one album you could bring, what would you bring?
Mark Wiesner: Or if you were on a deserted island and you only could bring one book, what would that book be?
Mark Wiesner: Well, I believe the next thing Paul asked for, the fourth thing he requests Timothy to bring, is the most important.
Mark Wiesner: That's obvious.
Mark Wiesner: This will be obvious.
Mark Wiesner: It's what he treasures the most.
Mark Wiesner: It's what we all should treasure the most, and I know we do.
Mark Wiesner: I believe this because it's been evident in what we've been looking at in this letter, verse 13, timothy, when you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments.
Mark Wiesner: What is this?
Mark Wiesner: Some translations say books, especially the parchments.
Mark Wiesner: Books, especially the parchment.
Mark Wiesner: Scholars agree that the books or scrolls are either notes or maybe letters he started or parts of scripture, but the parchments and this was written on more expensive paper, long, lasting paper the most likely is sacred scripture.
Mark Wiesner: So Paul left some important stuff at Corpus's house his traveler's cloak for winter and the books in the parchment with God's word written on them.
Mark Wiesner: Cloak for winter and the books in the parchment with God's word written on them.
Mark Wiesner: Look.
Mark Wiesner: Paul's saying Timothy, look, I'm no different, I'm like you.
Mark Wiesner: My faith, in these conditions can start to be like embers in a dying fire.
Mark Wiesner: I need my cloak wrapped around me for warmth and I need God's word to envelop me and warm my soul so I can fan into flame my faith.
Mark Wiesner: I need the word Timothy, into flame my faith.
Mark Wiesner: I need the word Timothy.
Mark Wiesner: Bring the word, bring the book, especially the parchments.
Mark Wiesner: In the few last verses Paul comments on his trial when no one stood by him and all deserted him, but the Lord stood with him.
Mark Wiesner: He also lets Timothy know that the Lord will rescue him from every evil work and bring him safely to heaven.
Mark Wiesner: And then there's a few greetings and this letter comes to an end.
Mark Wiesner: Chronologically, this is the last letter we have from Paul.
Mark Wiesner: According to early Christian tradition not the New Testament Paul was executed in Rome during the reign of Nero, around AD 64 to 67.
Mark Wiesner: Somewhere.
Mark Wiesner: Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded rather than crucified.
Mark Wiesner: As a Roman citizen, paul had the legal right to a quicker and less degrading execution, but biblically this is all we have.
Mark Wiesner: His story ends here.
Mark Wiesner: We don't know if Timothy ever made it to Paul before his death.
Mark Wiesner: So what are we to make of this?
Mark Wiesner: This last scene we have Paul's life.
Mark Wiesner: Paul's life is this he's alone.
Mark Wiesner: People that he spent time pouring into time and effort hoping that they'd support him in time of need deserted him when he needed them the most.
Mark Wiesner: He was abandoned.
Mark Wiesner: He most likely is on death row.
Mark Wiesner: I mean he wrote I'm already being poured out as a drink offering.
Mark Wiesner: The time of my departure is close.
Mark Wiesner: He's in the most terrifying prison condition 12 feet underground stone walls everywhere, no windows, a less than efficient sanitation system, damp, dark and cold dungeon with criminals.
Mark Wiesner: This is where the great apostle of God ends up Seemingly like a tube of toothpaste with everything squeezed out of it.
Mark Wiesner: Yet he's in good company.
Mark Wiesner: We know of someone else who was abandoned and deserted by his friends in his most needful hour alone, abandoned with criminals.
Mark Wiesner: And because of that man and what he did on the cross, paul's able to have hope that overflows out of him even in his distress.
Mark Wiesner: What seems like to the world a most pitiful ending is the most glorious shout to those who are in Christ.
Mark Wiesner: In Paul's highest pinnacle of fleshly distress and despair, his faith appears at its highest.
Mark Wiesner: He is confidently affirms that God is his Redeemer, all the way to the end, because I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to him until that day.
Mark Wiesner: All the glory is to God.
Mark Wiesner: Oh God, thank you for the Apostle Paul and the work that you did.
Mark Wiesner: In the chief of all sinners, you show how great your love is and that it's all you, god, you who called us, will do it.
Mark Wiesner: Oh Lord, may we have the faith and trust, as we go through our trials, to overflow with hope, no matter what, so that we would bring you glory.
Mark Wiesner: I pray this in Jesus' name Amen.