2 Timothy 4: Three H’s
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In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Personal Remarks
9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
19 Greet Priscilla[a] and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. 21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters.[b]
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.
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The Bible
I would like to share some thoughts on 2 Timothy 4 but I invite you to chip in with your comments. This final chapter in Paul’s last letter ever written is known as Paul’s Charge to Timothy. In this chapter is can see three sections, Paul’s Herald, Paul’s Handover and Paul’s Huddle. Three H’s to write neatly in your note books!
Context:
2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter before he was martyred in AD66. Paul is in a Roman Prison. This is a letter from the Apostle Paul to his young pastor - Timothy who will continue in leadership in the Church. Paul is saying farewell, with a warning about dangers ahead and gives a testimony and guidance about the word of God to Timothy and us.
The three H’s that stand out in 2 Timothy 4 are: Herald, Handover and Huddle
1. Herald
2. Handover
3. Huddle
Herald (Keruso)
From the start of the Ltr Paul is emphasising the importance of the word. Not for thought for the day, the week but for people to encounter. Responsibility is to Christ Jesus who will judge the living and the dead (v1)
Today the church is in need of people who will herald the word. We don’t tweak and trim the scriptures to make them relevant to the age in which we live. We show how relevant the Gospel is today. ‘Read it for us again, please Jenny W….’
“The time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them …teachers to ‘say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth 5 But you keep your head in all situations endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.’ 2 Timothy 4:3-5
Does this sound familiar, the church is letting this happen today. Central truths are being marginalised: Salvation, Sin, Atonement, Repentance, Grace, Marriage, Gender, and Family. While peripheral things are being centralised: Climate Change. Carbon Footprint. Food (Vegetarianism). There were similar problems in 2 Tim 4:3-5.
In the context of this spiritual attack Paul says to Tim in 2 Timothy 4:2, ‘Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season….with great patience and careful instruction.’ (By the way we are ‘out of season right now).
I can hear you say, ‘I’m not a preacher.’ The Greek word here is ‘Kerusso’ is to ‘herald.’ Like the people who used to bring news in public in the town centre. These people were not teachers or philosophers, they were ‘heralds’ told the news. I was brought up in a small townland called Cornascriebe in Northern Ireland and it has been handed down that this is the ‘corner of the scribe’ where a ‘keruso’ would come and read the news and personal letters and write letters for the locals. The heralds were not academics or theologians, they read the news! They read letters to illiterates.
Paul was accused of this in Acts 17:18 ‘A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked,
“What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.’
Good News is News, meaning it is something that has happened! The Herald is telling people what was done. ‘Preach/herald the word’ is not telling people how to live or what to do but what has been done for us. The scriptures show what Jesus has done for us (and the world).
2 Timothy 4:5 ‘do the work of an evangelist.’
‘I’m not an evangelist you may say. Michael Green wrote in his book, ‘Evangelism in the early church’ that the good news was shared 1:1, it was too dangerous to evangelise in larger groups. They developed the secret symbol Icthus as a code to recognise each other as they evangelised and chatted the gospel. ‘proclaiming the good news of salvation with a view to people’s conversion to Christ and incorporation into the church.’ This word in 2 Timthy 4:5 to evangelise is to us all. Back then people told people they knew (didn’t risk sharing with strangers).
Be prepared, ready to share - in season and out of season (we are out of season). Does your heart sink? You say I’m not a preacher, I’m no evangelist (Billy Graham or J.John). Leave that to the pastor or crazy person. NB Luke & Mark were not evngelist
God will use the personality he has given you – I notice people chatting in the Community Cafés, a friend with a friend, listening, caring, sharing. God will use your gifting to reach others – may be a text, a gift, sport, flowers, or music. People you know, people you used to know, people you’d like to know.
But hear the rest of verse 2 Tim 4:2 - it is so important that we have an attitude of respect and care) ‘great patience and careful instruction.’ This will require Patience, listening is a slow process. Careful instruction – not slogans and jargon, but careful. People are more inclined to want to see how the gospel works out in your life; your witness is important. Do you swear, do you get drunk, do you say vulgar things – their radar is on you and if your life doesn’t look like Jesus makes a difference to you, then your gospel is tainted. Remember the integrity of the athlete we read about in 2 Timothy 3:4
Pray for openings, read God’s word and hear his prompting. Herald with care.
Handover
This is Paul’s handover to Tim. 2 Timothy is Paul’s last letter before he was martyred in AD66, – Paul in a Roman Prison, it is a moving letter from the older mentor to his successor the young pastor – Timothy. 2 Timothy 4v6 Paul says he is ‘is already poured out like a drink offering’ and that he (v7) ‘Has fought the fight, run the race, kept the faith departure is near.’
Having been in healthcare for a number of years, as chaplain, I am familiar with the importance of the handover. The night shift meets with the dayshift to highlight urgent needs and people in distress or nearing End of Life. Koinonia is the Greek word for the whole body ministry - true fellowship. The older person in ministry encourages the younger worker. The Worship, mission, young people, serving, and welcoming feeling as one. Signposting to each other, acknowledging the whole body ministry in our church is very important
Huddle
Paul is a team player, now he is handing the baton on. Here at the end of his last letter, he names people. Relationships give us an opportunity to learn together. United in the Gospel and in bonds of love that can’t be eroded in distance or time.
Only loyal Luke is with him. Paul wants a huddle, hug, fellowship (v11). He asks Tim to bring Mark. That tells us his broken relationship with Mark has been restored. When our spirits are low or lonely or if we are physically weak we need friends, and fellowship (2 Timothy 4:11)
“When you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me, and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest nights. You just call out my name and you know wherever I am I’ll come running…” (Carol King)
Some have left him like Demas, some have harmed him, like Alexander the metalworker v14,
In Acts Chapter 19 we read that Alex was the spokesperson of Paul’s accusers.
2 Timothy 4v16 at my defence, no one came to my support.. but hear his testimony ‘the Lord was with me.’
He is remembering Aquilla and Priscilla fondly (v19) and Onesiphorus. Facebook is not Fellowship.
What else did Paul call out for? He is cold in that prison and needs Coat. He also needed scrolls and parchments. At the end of his life he needs the fellowship of friends and wants to keep reading the word.
Friends, do not neglect reading the word, Paul was reading up to his death. Now he is in the departure lounge ready to meet his Saviour face to face is his destiny. ‘For me to live is Christ to die is gain’ Philippians 1:21. Paul was the only apostle not to have seen Jesus face to face - what joy lies ahead for him.
Think of the rapturous joy in heaven when you hear ‘well done good and faithful one – enter into the joy of the master’ or ‘you are my beloved in whom I am well pleased.’
We think it is awful that Paul’s life should have ended in such a brutal way. Declared to be an enemy of the empire. As the executioner raised Nero’s axe, Paul doesn’t feel the blade on his neck, he hears the heavenly host and the words of his Lord ‘well done good and faithful one’ and Paul saw his saviour king Jesus face to face.
Remember this when you stand up for the word of God. Remember this when you are given an opportunity to herald the good news of Jesus with your friends and neighbours. Hear Jesus say ‘well done good and faithful friend.’
Notice the last thing Paul says is “The Lord be with you, grace be with all of you.”
The final blessing is plural it is for all of them and all of us. Hallelujah! Amen!
“Soon and very soon we are going to see the king hallelujah we are going to see the king.” Andre Crouch
