2 Timothy 2 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: 2 Thess 2:1-7

1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. 3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

A. Find Out:

1. How was Timothy to be strong? v.1
2. What was he to do? v.2
3. How was he to go about his ministry? v.3,4
4. What was he also to remember? v.5
5. In encouragement who else should he remember? v.6
6. How was he to understand all this? v.7

B. Think:

1. How do you think grace and ministry (v.1,2) are linked?
2. What was the point being made by Paul’s three pictures?
3. What is Paul therefore doing in this passage?

C. Comment:

     Paul has been encouraging Timothy to persevere and not be ashamed of who he is and what he’s got to proclaim. Having just referred to others by way of illustration, he returns to Timothy and exhorts him further to maintain his ministry.

     First the HOW of ministry: be strong by means of God’s grace available to him.

     Second the WHAT of ministry: to ensure he passes on to others what he has heard and make sure that they are those who can pass it on in turn.

     Third comes three INSTANT PARABLES: a soldier who perseveres to please his commander, an athlete who keeps to the rules to ensure he is not disqualified, and a farmer who can receive blessing from his hard work. Each one of them a) works hard, b) perseveres, and c) has success or achievement.

     Finally comes a simple, “if you think about these things you’ll catch on to what I’m saying!” We sometimes get so caught up in the pictures we miss the point that Paul is making. We too need to meditate on these things; we too need to consider the import of Paul’s exhortations, that we too may persevere in the activity the Lord has given us to do.

D. Application:

1. Service is often hard work, it is often a battle, and we need to persevere.
2. God’s grace is always available to help in ministry.

Passage: 2 Tim 2:8-13

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

11 Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself.

A. Find Out:

1. What was the Gospel about? v.8
2. What was Paul’s position? v.9
3. For who was Paul enduring and why? v.10
4. What are the first 2 promises? v.11, 12a
5. What warning is there? v.12b
6. Yet what encouragement is there? v.13

B. Think:

1. Why, in a sense, was Paul not worrying about being a prisoner?
2. What determination did he hold onto?
3. What was the main point of the saying he used?

C. Comment:

      In following up this challenge to Timothy to pursue his calling and continue to share the Gospel despite fears, Paul now first challenges Timothy to remember Jesus himself. He was killed but rose again, for us, by the power of God. Even within that statement there is much challenge: Jesus submitted his will to God’s, even to death. He did it in His love for us, to die to take our sins; He received the power of God to be raised again. We are to submit to God, realising His love for us, and receive His power for today.

     Paul holds onto this Gospel and is not bothered that he is in prison, for the Gospel cannot be confined, even in prison; it will be shared and people will be saved, wherever it goes.

     Finally, Paul uses one of the early church “doctrinal sayings” as a further challenge, exhortation and encouragement. The PROMISES are first that we may have life and then that we will reign. The conditions to that are that we die to self and we keep on with the faith.

     Next comes a WARNING that if we disown Him, then He will disown us (all long-term; see Peter’s restoration after disowning Jesus as a one-off thing). Yet even in this God will remain faithful to His word even if we are not. These are matters for great encouragement.

D. Application:

1. The Gospel will not be fettered.
2. The Gospel is always conditional and always requires right response.

Passage: 2 Tim 2:14-19

14 Keep reminding God’s people of these things. Warn them before God against quarrelling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 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 word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have departed from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.’

A. Find Out:

1. What was Timothy to warn against and why? v.14
2. What was Timothy to be seen to be? v.15
3. What was he to avoid and why? v.16
4. What would happen? v.17
5. What were some saying, with what effect? v.18
6. Yet, what was the truth? v.19

B. Think:

1. What 3 things are warned against in this passage?
2. What were the effects of those things?
3. How was Timothy to view all this himself?

C. Comment:

     Paul continues to encourage Timothy to teach others (v.2) and to persevere himself.

   First, let’s note THOSE WARNED AGAINST here: he speaks against those whose words are having a detrimental effect. He speaks of those who are in dispute about the meaning of words, of those whose words are ungodly or unspiritual or uninspired, and those whose teaching is false, who have been declaring that the resurrection has already passed.

   Second, let’s note the CONSEQUENCES of their activity: their faith is being ruined, they move more and more away from the presence and knowledge of God, they are a spreading sickness and are destroying the faith of others.

    Third, let’s observe PAUL’S COUNSEL to Timothy. First he is to warn these people, to make clear to them the foolishness of what they were doing. Second, he is to look after himself, to ensure that he, at least, has no reason for being ashamed before God about the way he uses the word of God in his ministry.

     Finally note the TRUTH AFFIRMED by Paul: God knows His own and Christians are responsible for their behaviour. It is as if he says, do what I say then just rest in God’s sovereignty and remember these people are responsible for themselves before God.

D. Application:

1. Our words are important.
2. Am I an unashamed workman of God?

Passage: 2 Tim 2:20-26

20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

22 Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

A. Find Out:

1. About what sorts of article does Paul speak? v.20
2. How does he apply the picture? v.21
3. What is Timothy to avoid and pursue? v.22
4. What is he not to do and why? v.23
5. What must he not be and then be? v.24
6. How must he deal with opposition and why? v.25

B. Think:

1. What is Paul implying about the church in verses 20 & 21?
2. What two areas was Timothy counselled to avoid?
3. How would you sum up Paul’s positive guide lines to Timothy here?

C. Comment:

     Paul had previously challenged Timothy to be an approved worker for God (v.15). Now he again warns Timothy, by way of an illustration, that it is possible to end up having second best. The illustration he uses is that of articles or vessels in the house. Some are used for special purposes, others for very ordinary things. Perhaps compare a cut-glass goblet at the meal with a plastic bowl in the kitchen. The person who keeps themselves free from dirt and grime will be used in God’s hand. Implication: Timothy be like that!

     Then come specific guidelines. First, things for Timothy to avoid: wrong, self-centred desires of immaturity, and foolish intellectual arguments. Second, things to go for: the marks of maturity in life, which are righteousness, faith, love and peace (meditate on each of these). Also the marks of the godly servant, the one who is serving God: kindness, able to teach in gentleness, not resenting opposition but seeking to bring it into agreement. The things to avoid reveal a “plastic bowl” in the kingdom, the other things, indicate the beauty of cut-glass in the hand of the Master. We can choose which type of vessel we will be!

D. Application:

1. We sort of person am I. Am I “plastic” to be used in the servants’ quarters or “cut-glass” in the hand of the Master?
2. I must remember, I can choose the sort of person I will be!