“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:1–2 (ESV)
The third and last Pastoral Epistle by the Apostle Paul is 2 Timothy. The epistle is the second of two inspired letters Paul wrote to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy (1:2; 2:1). Paul wrote 2 Timothy, the climax of his inspired letters, shortly before his martyrdom (c. A.D. 67).
What is the historical context to 2 Timothy? To begin with, Paul was released from his first Roman imprisonment for a short period of time (Acts 28). It was at this time he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus.
However, when Paul wrote 2 Timothy he was once again in a Roman prison (2 Tim. 1:16; 2:9). His arrest was part of the Roman Emperor Nero’s persecution of Christians. Unlike Paul’s confident hope of release during his first imprisonment (Phil. 1:19, 25–26; 2:24; Philem. 22), this time he had no such hope (2 Tim. 4:6–8).
During Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome (c. A.D. 60–62), before Nero had begun the persecution of Christians (A.D. 64), he was only under house arrest and had opportunity for much interaction with people and ministry (Acts 28:16–31). At the time he wrote 2 Timothy, five or six years later (c. A.D. 66–67), he was in a cold cell (2 Tim. 4:13), in chains (2:9), and with no expectation of release (4:6).
Paul had been abandoned by virtually all of those close to him for fear of persecution (cf. 1:15; 4:9–12, 16). He was also facing imminent execution. He wrote to Timothy a second time urging him to hasten to Rome for one last visit with the apostle (2 Tim. 4:9, 21). We do not know whether Timothy made it to Rome before Paul’s execution. According to tradition, Paul was not released from this second Roman imprisonment, but suffered martyrdom (2 Timothy 4:6).
Dr. John MacArthur writes, “In this letter, Paul, aware the end was near, passed the non-apostolic mantle of ministry to Timothy (cf. 2:2) and exhorted him to continue to be faithful in his duties (1:6), to hold on to sound doctrine (1:13–14), to avoid error (2:15–18), to accept persecution for the gospel (2:3–4; 3:10–12), to put his confidence in the Scriptures, and to preach it relentlessly (3:15–4:5).”
“No brief outline can do full justice to the rich, varied, and overlapping contents of a letter which is as personal as is 2 Timothy. The dominant note, however, is clear: “Timothy, do not be ashamed, but by God’s grace exert yourself to the utmost, being willing to endure your share of hardship in preserving and promoting sound doctrine.”[1]
“There are no sharp divisions. Rather, the emphasis gradually shifts from one point to another. When a new point is made, the old one is not entirely relinquished. The thoughts overlap like shingles on a roof. For example, a key-passage in chapter 1 is, “Do not be ashamed” (verses 8, 12, 16). The idea recurs, however, in chapter 2 (verse 15). Similarly, a key-passage in chapter 2 is, “Suffer hardship along with us” (verse 3; cf. verse 9). But this has been anticipated in chapter 1 (verse 8).”[2]
The emphasis on “sound doctrine” is as clear in this epistle as it was in I Timothy and Titus. Regarding sound doctrine, Paul urged his young protégé to:
CHAPTER 1: GUARD IT.
“Stir into full flame that gift of God” (verse 6).
“Do not be ashamed” (verse 8; cf. verses 12, 16).
“Hold on to … the sound words” (verse 13).
“That precious deposit guard” (verse 14).
CHAPTER 2: TEACH IT.
“The things which you have heard … entrust to faithful men … able to teach others also” (verse 2).
“Suffer hardship along with (us)” (verse 3; cf. verse 9).
“The Lord will give you understanding in all things” (verse 14).
“A servant of the Lord must be … qualified to teach” (verse 24).
CHAPTER 3: CONTINUE IN IT.
“Grievous seasons will come” (verse 1).
“But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose” (verse 10).
“Continue in the things which you have learned” (verse 14).
CHAPTER 4: PREACH IT.
“I charge you” (verse 1).
“Preach (or “Herald”) the word” (verse 2).
“Do the work of an evangelist; your duties as a minister discharge to the full” (verse 5).
I urge you to begin reading 2 Timothy. May the Lord’s truth and grace be found here. Have a blessed day.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 218.
[2] Ibid., 218.
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