2 Timothy 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus,
(Again, Paul credited the Will of God as the cause of his apostleship.)
2 to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Paul wrote to Timothy again.., and again called Timothy his child. Paul was Timothy's spiritual father.)
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers in a pure conscience, how unceasing is my remembrance of thee in my supplications, night and day
4 longing to see thee, remembering thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
(Paul prayed for Timothy night and day and desired to see him because he knew seeing Timothy would fill him with joy.)
5 having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.
(Timothy's faith was unfeigned (sincere, genuine). The faith that was in Timothy was first in his mother and grandmother. These women raised Timothy to be a man of faith.)
6 For which cause I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee through the laying on of my hands.
(Paul reminded Timothy to remember and stir up the gift of God given to Timothy which was also referred to in 1 Timothy 4:14. In this sentence "stir up" meant "to kindle the fire anew". Paul had already imparted the gift to Timothy by the laying on of hands. Paul did not need to re-impart the gift...which would be like replanting a seed that had already been planted. Paul was telling Timothy to incubate the seed...heat it up...so that the fruit would manifest.)
7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.
(God has not given us the spirit of fear. God gave us the spirit of power, love, and discipline (a sound mind).)
8 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God;
9 who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
(Doctrine: Grace is not our works. Grace is God working through us via the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to allow God's influence to work through us but God gets the credit (He's the cause) for the works that come out.)
10 but hath now been manifested by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11 whereunto I was appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher.
(Again, Paul stated he was a preacher, apostle, and teacher of the Gentiles.)
12 For which cause I suffer also these things: yet I am not ashamed; for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold the pattern of sound words which thou hast heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
(Sound words were words that had the correct meaning. Hold or commit to the sound words that are brought by faith and love. Words spoken with faith and love will have a right how/why.)
14 That good thing which was committed unto thee guard through the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us.
15 This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 The Lord grant mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
17 but, when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me
18 (the Lord grant unto him to find mercy of the Lord in that day); and in how many things he ministered at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
(Theme of Chapter 1: Paul encouraged Timothy to stir up the gift that was imparted and continue to hold to sound words.)
2 Timothy 2
1 Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
(Paul wanted Timothy to develop leaders so more people were able to teach.)
3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
(A soldier of Jesus Christ was a servant of God.)
4 No soldier on service entangleth himself in the affairs of this life; that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier.
(Soldiers of war are focused on the tasks in front of them. They are focused on benefiting others.)
5 And if also a man contend in the games, he is not crowded, except he have contended lawfully.
(An athlete is only affirmed if he abides by the rules of the competition, if he is focused on the task that will facilitate him towards fulfilling the games.)
6 The husbandmen that laboreth must be the first to partake of the fruits.
(The husbandmen (worker of the "land") that work do so for the benefit of others. However, they must first partake in the fruit of their labor to be sure that others will benefit from their fruit. Paul used three natural examples to support his point: focus on the tasks in front of you.)
7 Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.
(We ought to consider everything, including that we could be wrong. This is humility. God will give us understanding in all things.)
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my gospel:
9 wherein I suffer hardship unto bonds, as a malefactor; but the word of God is not bound.
(Paul was in prison because he preached the Gospel. Paul was bound but the Word of God is not bound.)
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
(Remember, elect referred to those who chose to believe in justification by faith unto Salvation.
Similar to the term "choice" or "chosen," the term "select" or "elect" referred to the quality of these people. They weren't excellent people because they were elect, they were elect because they were excellent people. It is easy to abuse the Principle of Causality here and it damages the correct interpretation of scripture:
-Cause: "excellent" people
-Effect: were the "elect.")
11 Faithful is the saying: For if we died with him, we shall also live with him:
12 if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:
13 if we are faithless, he abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself.
(Paul made if/then statements that proved Christ's, and God's, Justness.)
14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they strive not about words, to no profit, to the subverting of them that hear.
(Paul told Timothy to remind the people he was with to not strive about words without a profit. Some people try to interpret this verse to mean we should not debate words and definitions. That was not what Paul stated. Paul wanted Timothy to be profitable in his words and to help others be profitable in their words, to the point that even striving (arguing) with another person could be profitable.)
15 Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.
(Let's look at the key words in this sentence:
-"present" (Strong's #3936) paristēmi - "to bring into one's fellowship or intimacy, exhibit whom you covenant with"
-"workman" (Strong's #2040) ergatēs - "to toil with works of words as a teacher"
-"needeth not to be ashamed" (Strong's #422) anepaischyntos - "unable to be of equal value by scriptural support"
-"handling aright" (Strong's #3718) orthotomeō - "make a straight cut, a precise singular surgical cut that is perpendicular to the horizon, to make a cut from above, which is God's view: straight down."
We ought to show whether we are in covenant with God or not by our ability to toil with works of words by our ability to have God's view on God's Word.)
16 But shun profane babblings: for they will proceed further in ungodliness,
(Key words:
-"profane" (Strong's #952) bebēlos - "counterfeit the threshhold (entry) in order to misdirect the dwellers"
-"babblings" (Strong's #2757) kenophōnia - "fruitless discussions, empty sounds [from artificial illumination and tones], fake fire [visual fire with no warmth], to think words that have a different meaning but same sound as true thought and words."
We ought to shun words that have the same sound but different meanings than the truth because it will lead to misdirecting us and to growing in ungodliness.)
17 and their word will eat as doth a gangrene: or whom is Hymenaeus an Philetus;
(Paul named two men who had put stumblingblocks in the paths of believers to the point that they had overthrown the faith of some.)
18 men who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some.
(Key words:
-"erred" (Strong's #795) astocheō - "swerve, deviate [miss target by having crooked sights - eye is misdirected]"
-"overthrow" (Strong's #396) anatrepō - "change straight path into a figure eight, the wrong path leads to a wrong place."
False words can cause people to be misdirected into taking a wrong path leading to a wrong place.)
19 Howbeit the firm foundation of God standeth, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his: and, Let every one that nameth the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.
(Let everyone that calls (say) on Christ also depart from iniquity (do). The say and the do need to be consistent.)
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some unto honor, and some unto dishonor.
21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, meet for the master's use, prepared unto every good work.
(Removing yourself from the physical will facilitate you towards the spiritual.)
22 But flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
(Follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace. This meant doing these things.)
23 But foolish and ignorant questionings refuse, knowing that they gender strifes.
(Notice, questionings in and of themselves were not wrong. It was foolish and ignorant questions that we ought to refuse, because they were unprofitable.)
24 And the Lord's servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing,
(The servant of God will not strive (quarrel) but is gentle, apt to teach, and forbearing (patient). In the previous epistle to Timothy, Paul gave a description for a deacon (a person who ministered to the members of the church) and bishop (overseer of the deacons). Paul's description of a servant of Christ had many of the same attributes as deacon and bishop.)
25 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth,
(In meekness (humility) the servant of God will teach those that oppose themselves (contradict themselves, have a different say and do). We do this so hopefully they will receive repentance because they would learn through understanding. Remember, Jesus said we ought to confront believers: Matthew 18:15-17 and Luke 17:3. Why?)
26 and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.
(...so that believers are able to break out of the snares of the devil through understanding. Notice, in the Greek, the "him" and "his" in this verse did not match:
-"Taken captive by him" referred to the devil.
-"Unto His will" referred to God!
This passage stated it was God's Will that people who did not learn through understanding and repent would be trapped in the snares of the devil, so they could learn through experience. Paul also stated this Doctrine in 1 Corinthians 5:5 when he said he turned the fornicator over to Satan.)
(Theme of Chapter 2: Paul focused Timothy on being profitable through words. We ought to be able to have God's view on God's Word. We should not be unprofitable/deceptive/destructive with our words. We should confront other believers who are contradictory so they are able to break out of the snares of the devil through understanding, otherwise it is God's Will they learn by experience.)
2 Timothy 3
1 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come.
(In the last days, grievous times will come. Grievous meant "hard to do, to take, to approach, hard to bear, troublesome, dangerous, harsh, fierce, savage.")
(Verses 2-7: signs of the end times.)
2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good,
4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.
(The form of godliness but denying the power of God: wolves in sheep's clothing. All of these unprofitable attributes were deceptive: they could appear to be a right what, but the how/why was wrong.)
6 For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,
7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
(Ever learning (gaining knowledge; a right what) but never able to come to truth (a right what with a right how/why). Again, this was an example of deception.)
8 And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith.
(The word "reprobate" was the same one Paul used in Romans 1:28, 1 Corinthians 9:27, and 2 Corinthians 13. Again, this word described a coin that represented one value, but was actually worth less. This word fit the context of this entire letter: Our how/why needs to fit the what that we present.)
9 But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.
(Paul stated that eventually, those with a wrong how/why would not be profitable and what appeared to be right would cease, and everyone would see the person for what they were really worth.)
10 But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience,
11 persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
(Paul had a right do (how). He was a doer of the word.)
12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
(Doctrine: All that live Godly in Christ will suffer persecution.)
13 But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
(Again, Paul warned Timothy (and us) that deception will increase.)
14 But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them.
15 And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
(In verse 14, Paul said Timothy ought to live (how/wisdom) in the things that he learned (what/knowledge) and had been assured of (why/understanding). In verse 15, Paul gave an application of this: knowing the written Word of God was able to result in Salvation (wise decision) through faith, which was according to understanding (why) and experience.)
16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.
(All scripture (written Word which was knowledge) that was inspired of God was profitable for (how): teaching (Doctrine), reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness...why?)
17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.
(…so that the man of God may be complete/perfect (maximum profitability) and completely furnished (by grace) unto all good works.)
(Theme of Chapter 3: Paul consistently kept to the theme of the right what being supported by the right how/why. He gave examples that involved exposing deceivers and being profitable with the Word of God. Clearly, one area of focus for Paul was sound Doctrine: a right what with a right how/why.)
2 Timothy 4
1 I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
(Paul's charge to Timothy…)
2 preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
(Preach the Word, be urgent in and out of season (in all seasons of life). Reprove, rebuke, exhort…with all longsuffering (patience) and teaching (Doctrine). Paul's summary focused on Doctrine...)
3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
(People will not endure the sound Doctrine: God's Doctrine. They will instead only hear doctrine from men according to what their flesh wants to hear: doctrine that appears correct (right what) but is contradictory because it has a wrong how/why.)
5 But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil thy ministry.
(Be sober (focused), endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry: fulfill all of its requirements doing all that needs to be done.)
6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come.
(Paul was in prison and knew he was near the end of his physical life.)
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith:
8 henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.
(Doctrine: The crown of Righteousness is given to all those who are saved.)
9 Give diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 for Demas forsook me, having loved this present world, and went to Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee; for he is useful to me for ministering.
(Luke was with Paul. Also, Paul asked that Timothy send Mark (John-Mark) to Paul for help in ministering. Remember, Paul had refused to take John-Mark with him: Acts 15:38-39. Now, Paul stated John-Mark was profitable for his ministry.)
12 But Tychicus I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, bring when thou comest, and the books, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord will render to him according to his works:
15 of whom do thou also beware; for he greatly withstood our words.
(People were able to resist Paul and do damage to his ministry. Paul stated Alexander withstood his words and did him much evil. Paul knew the Lord would deal with Alexander through Justice.)
16 At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me: may it not be laid to their account.
17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
(Whether this event involved Alexander or was Paul's first defense before Nero, Paul stated that only the Lord stood by him during his first defense of the Gospel.)
18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus remained at Corinth: but Trophimus I left at Miletus sick.
21 Give diligence to come before winter. Eubulus saluteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord be with thy spirit. Grace be with you.
(Theme of Chapter 4: Paul concluded his letter by referencing the importance of Doctrine.)
(The Second Epistle to Timothy was the eleventh book of the section of the New Testament known as the Pauline Epistles. Paul wrote this letter around 68 AD from Rome, making this letter, chronologically, later than all the previously covered of Paul's epistles. Many scholars believed Paul was released from prison during the time recorded in Acts 28, around 64 AD. Paul traveled to Macedonia (where he wrote his first epistle to Timothy) and Asia Minor. Around five to six years later, Paul was arrested again and sent to Rome where he was executed within a couple of years of writing this letter. This was the second letter of the section known as the Pastoral Epistles. Remember, Paul's letter to the Corinthians was to the entire church. The purpose of his first epistle to Timothy was to specifically give one person (Timothy) direction in pastoring and leading a church. The overarching theme covered teaching the believers an understanding of God's Word and God's Doctrine so that they would not be deceived into forfeiting their Salvation. This second epistle continued giving direction in pastoring and leading a church, with particular emphasis placed on the importance of sound Doctrine.)
Day 346 (Part 1)
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