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2Timothy Chapter Four ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) Who did Paul say will judge the living and the dead, what charge did Paul give Timothy, how did Paul tell Timothy to be prepared, and how did Paul say to correct, rebuke and encourage?
________________________________________________________________________________ It was important for Timothy to preach the
gospel so that the Christian faith could spread throughout the world. We believe
in Christ today because people like Timothy were faithful to their mission. It
is vitally important for believers to spread the gospel. Half the people who
have ever lived are alive today, and most of them do not know Christ. He is
coming soon, and he wants to find his faithful believers ready for him. It may
be inconvenient to take a stand for Christ or to tell others about his love, but
preaching the Word of God is the most important responsibility the church and
its members have been given. Be prepared for courageous in, and sensitive to
God-given opportunity to tell the Good News. 2) What time did Paul say was coming, what will they do to suit their own desires, and from where will they turn their ears?
________________________________________________________________________________ Timothy is now warned that the time will come when people will not be able to tolerate "sound doctrine" (a key phrase in the Pastorals; cf. 1Timothy 1:10; Titus 1:9; 2:1). Timothy's major task in Ephesus is to defend and proclaim doctrines in accord with the truth of God's Word (verse 2). He must do this constantly, since the time will come when people will not listen to the truth. Instead, "to suit their own desires, they will gather around them" many teachers who will say what they want them to say, in order to gratify their self-willed hearts. (taken from The NIV Bible Commentary, Zondervan Publishers) 3) What does Paul tell Timothy to keep in all situations, what does Paul tell Timothy to endure, what work does Paul tell Timothy to do, and what does Paul tell Timothy to discharge?
________________________________________________________________________________ "Keep your head" is from a verb that often
means "be sober, abstain from wine." But in the New Testament (cf.
1Thessalonians 5:6, 8; 1Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8) it has the metaphorical sense of
being self-controlled or self-possessed-Timothy is to keep his self-control
under all circumstances. He is then again urged to "endure hardship." He must do
the work of an "evangelist" (cf. Acts 21:8; Ephesians 4:11), which means to
announce the good news of salvation in Christ. This word may well refer to an
itinerant preacher, but the established pastor must also be an evangelist,
pointing sinners to Christ. 4) How was Paul being poured out, what time did Paul say has come, what did Paul say he has fought, what did Paul say he has finished, and what did Paul say he has kept?
________________________________________________________________________________ A drink offering consisted of wine poured out
on an altar as a sacrifice to God (see Genesis 35:14; Exodus 29:41). Its
fragrance was considered pleasing to God. Paul viewed his life as an offering to
God. 5) What did Paul say was in store for him, who did Paul say will award him on that day, and who else did Paul say will receive the crown of righteousness?
________________________________________________________________________________ In Roman athletic games, a laurel wreath was
given to the winners. A symbol of triumph and honor, it was the most coveted
prize in ancient Rome. This is probably what Paul was referring to when he spoke
of a "crown." But this would be a crown of righteousness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Personal Remarks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6) Why did Paul ask Timothy to do his best to come and see him, why did Demas desert Paul, where had Crescens gone to, where has Titus gone to, who is the only on with Paul, why did Paul ask Timothy to bring Mark with him, where did Paul send Tychicus, and what did Paul ask Timothy to bring with him?
________________________________________________________________________________ Paul was virtually alone and probably lonely.
No one had been there at his trial to speak in his defense (4:6), and Demas had
left the faith (4:10). Only Luke had returned (4:11). 7) Who did Paul a great harm, who did Paul say will repay Alexander for what he has done, and why did Paul tell Timothy that he should be on guard against Alexander?
________________________________________________________________________________ We do not know when, where, or in what way Alexander did Paul "a great deal of harm." One good guess is that he had been responsible for the apostle's arrest and imprisonment. Paul emphasis that the Lord Jesus "will repay" him. Paul warns Timothy to be on guard against this malicious enemy who "strongly opposed our message." This opposition may have included not only Paul's preaching but also his defense before the court (cf. verse 16). 8) What did Paul say happened at his first defense, who did Paul say stood by his side, why did the Lord give Paul strength, and from where was Paul delivered?
________________________________________________________________________________ With his mentor in prison and his
church in turmoil, Timothy was probably not feeling very brave. Paul may have
been subtly telling Timothy that the Lord had called Timothy to peach, and would
give him the courage to continue to do so. God always gives us the strength to
do what he has commanded. This strength may not be evident, however, until we
step out in faith and actually begin doing the task. 9) What did Paul say the Lord will do, and where did Paul say the Lord will bring him safely to?
________________________________________________________________________________ Here Paul was affirming his belief in eternal life after death. Paul knew the end was near, and he was ready for it. Paul was confident in God's power even as he faced death. Anyone facing a life and death struggle can be comforted knowing that God will bring each believer safely through death to his heavenly kingdom. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Final Greetings ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10) Who did Paul tell Timothy to greet, who stayed in Corinth, who did Paul leave sick in Miletus, when did Paul want Timothy to visit him, who did Paul say greeted Timothy, and who did Paul say will be with Timothy's spirit?
________________________________________________________________________________ Priscilla and Aquila were fellow Christian
leaders with whom Paul had lived and worked (Acts 18:2, 3). Onesiphorus visited
and encouraged Paul in jail. Erastus was one of Paul's trusted companions (Acts
19:22), as was Trophimus (Acts 20:4; 21:29). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Answers 2Timothy Chapter Four ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1) God and Jesus Christ...preach the Word...in
season and out of season...with great patience and careful instruction ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Taken from The NIV Life Application Study Bible, Zondervan Publishers |