Who Wrote the Book of 2 Timothy?
As with 1 Timothy, Paul names himself as the writer in the very first base verse. In the by 200 years or then, Paul ’ s authorship of 2 Timothy has been questioned. Critics have claimed that these writings differ in style from that of Paul ’ mho earlier letters, but the attest for these claims is not substantial. Style and vocabulary can change much in part to a person ’ s personal growth and creativity, and the early church service would have rejected and removed anyone from office who wrote under false pretenses. consequently, there is good reason to believe the aboveboard statement in bible that claims that 2 Timothy was written by the apostle Paul to Timothy .
Context and Background of 2 Timothy
Although it does not appear concluding in the arrangement of the New Testament, 2 Timothy was actually the last letter that Paul wrote. Scholars believe he penned it on his fourth missionary travel between AD 64-68. Scholars have testify to believe that 2 Timothy was written while Paul was serving his second Roman prison term in prison. He is writing to Timothy as he is “ chained like a condemnable ” ( 2:9 ) and has been accused of a crime that is penal by death. Paul is nearing death and is writing to Timothy, who is still in Ephesus where Paul originally left him. Paul besides instructs Timothy to share the letter with the church of Ephesus ( 2:2, 2:14 ) .
Main Theme and Purpose of 2 Timothy
The chief composition of 2 Timothy is a boldface call to stand firm in the grimace of enemy and suffer for the sake of the gospel. As Paul is nearing death ( 4:6-8 ), he writes to his “ beloved son ” ( 1:2 ) in order to spur him on in the faith, despite the trials and devastations that may come his direction. In this letter, Paul mentions that several friends have abandoned him, and others are away on their own journeys. consequently, one of the main purposes for this letter was to ask Timothy to visit Paul in prison and to instruct him in who and what to bring with him before his end ( 4:9, 4:21, 4:11-13 ). The second purpose that we see in this letter comes from a wide oscilloscope. In Paul ’ s final letter, we see him tell of God ’ s fidelity in the life of Timothy and reflect on their kinship. many scholars believe this to be a farewell hold forth of Pauls. With this in beware, we see that Paul ’ s second function for writing this is to leave Timothy with a final letter of personal boost, direction, and wisdom for his ministry ( 1:5-14, 2:1-16, 2:22-26, 3:10-4:5 ).
What Can We Learn from 2 Timothy Today?
As Christians today, we can gain big boost and exhortation from Paul ’ s final letter to Timothy. First and first, we can learn to expect suffering in the life of a christian and to boldly persevere through it for the sake of the gospel. Paul starts his letter off by encouraging Timothy to lay apart all fear and timidity through the might of God ’ s spirit ( 1:7 ). He calls timothy to “ join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the exponent of God ” ( 1:8 ). He then transitions in chapter 2 by stating that he “ endures everything for the sake of the chosen, that they besides may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus ” ( 2:10 ). Suffering should not be a storm to the Christian ( 3:12 ), but quite, we should be armed and ready to persevere “ like a good soldier of Christ Jesus ” ( 2:3 ). Paul besides brings about multiple references to the day by day need, doctrine, and aim of bible in the biography of a believer. We as believers must continue to learn, grow in, and believe the scriptures that are “ able to make you wise through faith in Christ Jesus ” ( 3:15 ). Paul states hera that “ all bible is God-breathed and is utilitarian for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and train in righteousness ” ( 3:16 ). If we believe this verse to be dependable, then we must learn to come to scripture cook to lay down our own ideas, opinions, perceptions, and filters. We must allow God ’ s discussion to teach, rebuke, correct, and train us “ for every good bring ” ( 3:17 ). We must not seek people who will preach alone what our “ itching ears want to hear ” ( 4:3 ), but quite we must seek to read and understand the Word on our own, and learn to be under the preach and authority of sound doctrine that will “ correct, rebuke, and encourage us – with great patience and teaching ” ( 4:2 ) .
Our Favorite Verses from 1 Timothy
2 timothy 4:2-5 — “ Preach the word ; be prepared in temper and out of season ; adjust, call on the carpet and encourage—with capital solitaire and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. rather, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a bang-up total of teachers to say what their itch ears want to hear. They will turn their ears aside from the accuracy and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, last asperity, do the oeuvre of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. ” 2 timothy 3:14-17 — “ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convert of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for redemption through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is utilitarian for teaching, rebuking, correcting and train in righteousness, so that the handmaid of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ”
2 timothy 2:8-10 — “ Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the target of being chained like a criminal. But God ’ second bible is not chained. Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they excessively may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with endless glory. ” 2 timothy 2:14-16 — “ Keep prompt God ’ south people of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words ; it is of no prize, and only ruins those who listen. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the discussion of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more iniquitous. ” 2 timothy 2:22-26 — “ Flee the evil desires of youth and quest for righteousness, faith, beloved and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don ’ t have anything to do with foolish and unintelligent arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord ’ sulfur handmaid must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a cognition of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and elude from the trap of the devil, who has taken them prisoner to do his will. ”
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2 timothy 1:7-12 — “ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us faint, but gives us office, love and self-denial. sol do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the might of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy place life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own function and deck. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the begin of time, but it has now been revealed through the appear of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life sentence and immortality to alight through the gospel. And of this religious doctrine I was appointed a hail and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. ”
Sources
- Moo, D. J. (2015). The Letters and Revelation. In D. A. Carson (Ed.), NIV Zondervan Study Bible: Built on the Truth of Scripture and Centered on the Gospel Message (p. 2470). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.
- Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2167). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.
- Kassian, M. A. (2017). The Bible and Women. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1931). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.
- Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2335). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
- Hughes, R. K. (2013). 2 Timothy. In B. Chapell & D. Ortlund (Eds.), Gospel Transformation Bible: English Standard Version (p. 1637). Wheaton, IL: Crossway.
Photo recognition : © Sparrowstock Stephanie Englehart is a Seattle native, church planter ’ second wife, mama, and lover of all things chocolate, the great outdoors, and all right ( easy to make ) food. Stephanie is passionate about allowing God to use her good thoughts and confessions to bring religious doctrine application to life. You can read more of what she writes on the Ever Sing blog at stephaniemenglehart.com or follow her on Instagram : @ stephaniemenglehart.
