2 Timothy
Be faithful to the end: endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ and preach the word.
Second Timothy is Paul’s last letter. He is again a prisoner in Rome, but this time in chains, treated as an evildoer, and expecting execution: “I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand” (4:6). All in Asia have turned away from him; Demas has forsaken him, having loved this present world; only Luke is with him. He asks Timothy to come quickly and bring Mark, the cloak he left at Troas, and the books, “but especially the parchments” (4:13).
Yet the letter is not gloomy. Paul writes to strengthen Timothy, who seems to have been timid and in danger of discouragement. He reminds him of his faith, his gift, and the spirit “of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” God has given (1:7). He calls him to guard the truth, to commit it to faithful men, to endure hardness as a good soldier, to study to show himself approved, and to flee youthful lusts.
Paul warns that perilous times shall come in the last days, when men will have a form of godliness but deny its power, and when they will not endure sound doctrine. The answer is the Scriptures, given by inspiration of God and profitable for every need, and a ministry that preaches the word in season and out of season. Paul’s own testimony closes the letter: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (4:7).
Writer: Paul
Written: About AD 68, before Nero’s death
Name: The second canonical letter to Timothy, whose name means honoring God.
Title and authorship
The second epistle to Timothy, Paul’s final written words.
Paul wrote the letter (1:1) from his second Roman imprisonment. Though written from prison, it is not usually grouped with the “prison epistles” but with the pastoral epistles.
Historical background
Rome, in the months before Paul’s execution under Nero, about AD 67–68.
Timothy, still ministering in the region of Ephesus, and through him the ministers of the last days.
The Neronian persecution
After the fire of Rome in AD 64 Nero blamed the Christians, and believing in Christ became a capital offense. Paul’s second imprisonment was far harsher than his first; friends were ashamed of his chain (1:16) or afraid to be associated with him.
Paul’s death
Tradition says Paul, a Roman citizen, was beheaded outside Rome on the road to Ostia, probably about AD 67–68, near the end of Nero’s reign. His first defense had already been heard; “no man stood with me... Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me” (4:16–17).
The parchments
Paul asked for “the books, but especially the parchments” (4:13). Books were probably papyrus scrolls; parchments were more costly animal-skin writings, very likely copies of the Scriptures. To the end Paul was a student of the word.
Key passages
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 3:16–17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.
2 Timothy 2:3–4
The good soldier endures hardship and gives priority to pleasing his commander.
2 Timothy 4:7–8
Paul’s completed course looks forward to the righteous Judge’s reward.
Outline
1 · The entrusted doctrine
Timothy is to stir up the gift, reject fear, and guard sound words.
2 · The teaching and practice of truth
Faithful teaching, endurance, study, and holiness prepare a useful servant.
3 · Continue in the Scriptures
Perilous times make the authority and sufficiency of Scripture essential.
4 · The charge to preach and Paul’s final testimony
The word must be preached faithfully as Paul completes his course.
Original language
θεόπνευστος (theopneustos, G2315) — “given by inspiration of God”
Literally “God-breathed.” Scripture is the product of the breath of God, not merely inspiring in its effect. The word occurs only here.
ὀρθοτομέω (orthotomeo, G3718) — “rightly dividing”
To cut straight, as a workman cutting a straight line or a road. The word of truth must be handled accurately, distinguishing what differs.
σπουδάζω (spoudazo, G4704) — “study”
To be diligent, make every effort. “Study” in 1611 English meant to apply oneself with zeal, and the command includes the diligent study of Scripture.
κακοπαθέω (kakopatheo, G2553) — “endure hardness, suffer trouble”
To suffer hardship. Paul uses it and related words repeatedly: suffer trouble (2:9), endure afflictions (4:5), and endure hardness as a good soldier (2:3).
σπένδομαι (spendomai, G4689) — “to be offered”
To be poured out as a drink offering. Paul saw his coming death as a libation poured out on the altar of sacrifice.
Doctrinal study
The inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (3:16–17). Timothy knew the holy Scriptures from a child (3:15)—copies, not originals—and they were still “scripture” given by inspiration. God’s words are preserved (Psalm 12:6–7).
Perilous times
The last days will be marked by men who are lovers of their own selves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power (3:1–5). Religious apostasy, not open atheism, is the characteristic danger.
The crown of righteousness
Paul looked forward to “a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (4:8). Rewards at the judgment seat are given for faithfulness and for love of Christ’s appearing.
Commentary notes
Four calls to faithfulness
Chapter 1: be faithful to hold fast the word (1:13). Chapter 2: be faithful to hear and study it (2:2, 15). Chapter 3: be faithful to suffer for it (3:12). Chapter 4: be faithful to preach it (4:2).
Last words
Last words matter. Compare Jacob’s blessing (Genesis 49), Moses’ song (Deuteronomy 32–33), Joshua’s charge (Joshua 24), Christ’s upper room discourse (John 13–17), Stephen’s defense (Acts 7), and Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20). Second Timothy is Paul’s last speech.
The good soldier
A soldier endures cold, mud, heat, fatigue, fear, friendly fire, and separation from home. He knows his weapons, follows orders, and is a soldier every day. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2:4).
Christ in the book
- The Saviour who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light (1:10)
- Jesus Christ of the seed of David raised from the dead (2:8)
- The righteous Judge who will give the crown (4:8)
Applications
Historical
- Paul writes his final letter to encourage, comfort, and warn Timothy just before his execution.
- The circumstances differ from Paul’s first imprisonment: he now expects death and describes his course of ministry as complete.
- Paul’s requests for companionship and belongings record his personal needs during the final imprisonment.
Doctrinal
- God teaches His servants to fight the good fight in the last days of apostasy, when men turn from the truth to fables and heap to themselves teachers having itching ears (3:1–5; 4:3–4).
- The inspiration and sufficiency of Scripture provide the settled resource for ministry in an age of error.
- Faithfulness consists in continued obedience to the Lord through opposition, suffering, and the loss of human support.
Devotional
- The Christian life is tough, especially in leadership. We must endure hardness, live out the gospel, and always be faithful to preach the truth.
- The instruction of faithful people who can teach others provides for the continuation of ministry beyond the service of an individual teacher.
- Paul joins endurance under hardship to the correction of opponents with meekness, requiring patient conduct and continued fidelity to the truth.
- Paul’s final testimony encourages perseverance in the responsibility entrusted by God, including periods when approval and personal support diminish.
Answering the critics
As with 1 Timothy, critics call 2 Timothy a later composition by a follower of Paul.
The personal details—the cloak left at Troas, the books and parchments, Demas, Crescens, Titus, Tychicus, Alexander the coppersmith, Trophimus left sick at Miletum—are exactly what a forger would not invent and exactly what a dying man would write. The letter bears every mark of authenticity.