|
|
This Second Epistle from Paul to Timothy is one of three known as Pastoral Epistles. The other two are I Timothy and Titus. These books are called Pastoral Epistles because they deal primarily with the pastor’s care, concerns, and obligations to the Church. Not only that, moreover how believers ought to behave themselves in the Sanctuary during the service. Pastors have the awesome duty of watching over the personal experience and life of the members. God has entrusted in him the care of souls.
Therefore he has to exhort some, while admonishing others. He also must reprove some as well as rebuking others. Even if he wanted to, he cannot please everybody all the time. Somewhere in the course of his pastorate, somebody is going to get mad at him because he did what God told him and not what someone else wanted him to do.
The pastor has to direct and supervise the religious instruction from the pulpit and in all other departments of his Church work. He must administer the ordinances of the Church and preside over all regular meetings whether for devotion or business. Why? Because God is going to hold him accountable for his stewardship.
Timothy, Paul’s son in the ministry, had been converted during one of Paul’s Pilgrimages. He went on to become a co-laborer with Paul. His father, a Greek, was a non-believer. His mother’s name was Eunice and his grandmother’s Lois. Both of whom were pious Jewish women. At the time that Paul wrote this second letter, Timothy was the pastor of the Church at Ephesus He was trustworthy, but was sometimes weak in courage, and weak in physical strength. Paul wanted to encourage him to take care of himself physically as well as spiritually so that he could more adequately minister to the Church.
He charged Timothy to hold fast to the Lord Jesus Christ. And that good thing which committed to him, keep by the Holy Ghost who dwells in you. He charged him to be strong in the Lord and the power of His might. To study to show himself approved unto God, a workman who needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.
Teaching is most needed among believers. But more than teaching believers need to study. A failure to study encourages ignorance to prevail and enlightenment to fail. A case in point, how many of you can explain what the soul is? The Bible tells us what it is. You do read and study your Bibles, don’t you? If you do, then you ought to know the answer. We know that some souls are saved and some lost. We know that after death the soul leaves the body. II Corinthians 5:8 reminds the believers, that we are confident and willing rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Could it be that the soul something that we know we have but don’t know exactly what it is? Well! let me help you out. The soul is more precious that silver and gold. Jesus says in Mark 8:36 & 37 for whosoever loses his life (soul) for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and loose his soul. The soul cannot be seen with the naked eye. But with the naked eye anyone can tell if one’s soul is or is not present.
The New Testament Greek word for soul is Psuche. Psuche when translated means life or life in the physical body. The OT prophet Elijah brought a child back to life by stretching himself out upon the child three times and praying that God would let the child’s soul come back to him. (I Kings 17:19-23). Genesis 2:7 says, and the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And what this means is that a living soul is more than just physical life It distinguishes the creation of man, as being different from all the other animals, especially the monkey. (Charles Darwin with his evolution theory didn’t get that) Job asks the profound question in the 14 chapter, and the 14th verse , "if a man die, shall he live again?
The answer to Job’s question is yes, with the condition, that his soul, is saved before he dies. He has to confess with his mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in his heart that God has raised him from the dead, then the Bible says he shall be saved. After salvation it’s possible to believe that the God we worship is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost all in One. Only then is it possible to believe that the God that we serve created the heaven, the earth, and the fullness thereof. It’s possible to believe, when we send up praises our God will rain down showers of blessings. Only the saved believe that the God we worship, praise, and serve is able to guard our soul's treasures.
The soul’s treasure is eternal life. It is our new and redeemed existence in Jesus Christ , which is granted by God as a gift to all who will believe in Him. Eternal life refers to the quality or character of our new existence in Christ as well as the unending character of this life. It is new life; life in all of its fullness; life without end; life without any imperfections; which allows us to live with our God. There are material treasures but there are also spiritual treasures. Treasure is valuable. Salvation is more valuable.
Treasures are kept in secure places to prevent thieves from plucking them out of the owner’s hands. Salvation is kept in the secure hands of Jesus and the believer shall never perish, neither shall any man be able to pluck them out of His hand. Jesus says in Matthew 6:20 to lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through and steal.. This Second Epistle from Paul to Timothy is one of three known as the Pastoral Epistles. The other two are I Timothy and the book of Titus. These books are called Pastoral Epistles because they deal primarily with the pastor’s care, concerns, and obligations to the Church.
Timothy was Paul’s son in the ministry. He had been converted during one of Paul’s Pilgrimages and had become a co-laborer with him. At the time that Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy, he was the pastor of the Church at Ephesus. Like Moses, who gave the charge to Joshua to carry on the work that had begun knowing that his time here was not long, Paul knew that his departure was at hand so he charges Timothy to carry on the good work he had begun.
There were some changes taking place in the Church’s that Paul needed to make Timothy aware of. The first thing was that the size and numbers of Churches were growing at a rapid pace. The second thing was that the Apostles were getting up in age. They had more years behind them than they did in front of them. It was just about impossible for them to care for the Churches as they had done in the past. Paul knew that his time down here was almost up and someone had to carry on after the Apostles had all passed off the scene.
When Paul wrote this second Epistle to Timothy, he was in prison in Rome. Some of those he had brought to Christ through his preaching and teaching were openly opposing him, and others were forsaking the faith. He was about to be sentenced to death and he knew it. He would never be able to write again. So this letter would serve as his last will and testament the last words that he would ever write. The thing that weighed heavily upon his heart is that he desired to have Timothy by his side during his final hours. By now everyone had deserted him except Luke, and if Timothy would only come, Paul wanted to share some final matters with him.
Timothy was a trustworthy son, but he was sometimes weak in courage, and he was weak in physical strength. Paul wanted to encourage him to take care of himself physically as well as spiritually so that he could more adequately minister to the Church. It would be a tremendous responsibility placed upon his shoulder, continuing the work that Paul had began So Timothy needed to be equipped and prepared as well as possible for perilous times which were coming.. By writing this letter Paul had hopes, that Timothy would come to him before his execution. He asks Timothy to bring his cloke that he had left in Troas, also not to forget to bring the books, but especially the parchments or his manuscripts. He wanted Timothy to do his best to get there before winter. But, Paul says, if you don’t get here, I’m writing you this letter to charge you as a pastor to stir up the gift of God which is in you.
That God has not given you the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.. He charged Timothy to hold fast to the Lord Jesus Christ. And to guard well the God given ability he had received as a gift from the Holy Ghost who lives inside of him. He charged him to be strong in the Lord and the power of His Might. He charged him to study to show himself approved unto God, a workman needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.
He charged him to preach the Word: Be instant in season out of season reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when men will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. They will turn away their ears from the truth and shall turn unto fables. But you Timothy, watch in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an Evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. For I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which {the Lord} the righteous Judge shall give me at that day. He will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom Because He is Able to guard my souls treasure