Network The Gospel

II Timothy 2: 1-7

Paul is encouraging Timothy before he leaves the body to be present with the Lord.

(1) You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Paul considers him to be his son in the Lord, and it is in Christ that we find strength.

(2) The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Paul is handing the baton to Timothy, and instructs him to pass it on to others, who will be faithful and true, to in turn pass it on to others, through the ages, like a relay race. We call this networking, and it works because it is God's plan. This is what God had Moses write the people, to teach the next generation (Deuteronomy 11: 19), and Paul is applying this principle here, too.

It only takes one generation to drop the baton.

(3) Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

He again tells Timothy to expect and be willing to suffer (as in 1: 8), and places it in a military context.

(4) No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.

Anyone who is on assignment in the military is not thinking about his affairs back home, but is concentrating on the mission, to make it successful.

(5) Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Then he uses another framework, as an athletic competition. To participate in the Games you must qualify and perform following all the rules that are set for the competition, to not be disqualified from participating.

(6) The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops.

Then he changes the picture again, to an agrarian one. The farmer who does all the work of producing the crop should receive benefit from what has been produced.

(7) Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 

Paul uses these different illustrations to picture different aspects of our work as Christians and as leaders in God's church.

He tells him to consider what he's told him, to think about it, and pray about it, to let the Holy Spirit teach him the applications of Scripture. God wrote His word in a kind of code that takes His Holy Spirit as the key to unlocking understanding of it, how it all works together, and what to expect so we're not surprised or shocked at what is happening all around us.

We are living in exciting times. As I see things, we are in the Last Days of the End Times that began with Jesus' Resurrection and Ascension and the Day of Pentecost. Now we're beginning to face the chaos and persecution He said would come.

So be strong, people, in the Spirit of the Lord, and be prepared to stand firm against the onslaught of the evil storms brewing and building even now.

O my Father, please help us to be strengthened in the knowledge of what we will be facing soon. Enlarge our perception of Your care for us in protecting us from Your wrath being poured out all around us, trusting in You to have put what wrath we deserve onto Christ Jesus as our Savior. Keep our feet firmly planted, that we will not be moved or shaken in the midst of all the turmoil.

O Father, let Your peace flood our minds, to keep us steady, that the world will know that only You are God.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, do come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Phygelus, Hermogenes and Onesiphorus

II Timothy 1: 15-18

(15) You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.

When Paul mentions Asia, he is referencing the Roman province, at the west end of Asia Minor.

Paul spent over three years in Ephesus, and while he was there the Gospel went out all over the province (Acts 19:10). Paul must have been especially disappointed with these two, to name them.

These Asians probably turned away from Paul when he was arrested and taken to Rome in disgrace for his second and final imprisonment.

(16) The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains;

This is one who realized Paul's sterling character, and the chains he was hauled off in didn't denigrate his opinion of him. Paul appreciated his consistent hospitality.

(17) but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me--

This man was determined to find Paul when he went to Rome. There were a lot of prisoners, but he "searched hard" for Paul until he finally found him.

(18) the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that Day--and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

Paul reminds Timothy of the services he rendered while he was still at the home church in Ephesus, and prays that God would have mercy on him when Jesus returns on that Day to judge for rewards.

O my Father, I pray for Your church today, please help Your children to see one another with Your eyes, as siblings in Your family. Even when we are hauled away in disgraceful chains. It's when we're treated this way that we'll know who our real friends are.

My Father, strengthen all of Your family members to uphold one another when times of trouble come, and we are being arrested for our faith. Help us all to stand strong for our faith and for one another.

O Father, send out Your children all over the whole world, so that every living person will hear how much You have loved us all, and known each of us, wanting every one of us to turn to You and accept Your generosity and gracious gift.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, our Messiah, our Savior and Redeemer, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

The Treasure Entrusted

II Timothy 1: 8-14

(8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the Gospel according to the power of God, 

Paul doesn't want Timothy to feel bad about his imprisonment. He wants Timothy to visit him if he can, and see the conditions he is in, to commiserate with him but also to rejoice with him in what God is doing. 

(9) who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, 

God has chosen us before He even made the world. So it doesn't depend on anything we do or don't do, it's God's choice. He sent His Son, our Lord Jesus, to do all the work for us and redeem us into His own family. This is given to us as a free gift, that we could never earn or deserve. 

(10) but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel, 

This plan of God was manifested by Jesus' first coming. The word for appearing here is often used for His second coming, but here refers to the first, when He came to pay our debt and conquer death, to bring us eternal, spiritual life through the Good News that He has finished that work for us. 

(11) for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. 

Paul has been given to be able to preach, and to lay the groundwork for the church, and to teach Christians how to live as royal family members of the King. 

(12) For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; 

Paul is not shamed by the disrespect and mishandling as a prisoner, because he knows that it is because of what he has believed and lived out and taught others. 

for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that Day. 

What Paul has entrusted is what has been left with a trusted associate to keep while the person is away on a trip, that he expects to retrieve upon his return. Like putting your stuff in storage, you expect it to be there when you go for it. 

Paul has entrusted Christ Jesus with his salvation and redemption, and he knows that He is totally trustworthy to keep it safe until the Day of His return. 

(13) Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 

Timothy, and all of us, are to hold on to the high standard of the sound words of Scripture, which Paul taught him, believing them and applying them in our lives and relationships, loving others as Christ Jesus has loved us. 

(14) Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 

Now Paul asks Timothy to keep safe the valuable treasure that he holds, that Paul expects him to share and teach, to promote the Kingdom of God. He is to remain faithful to the truth he has learned through the Holy Spirit who dwells in every Christian. 

Paul is nearing death. He is aware that he will not be travelling any more to share the Gospel, and he is leaving Timothy with his treasure: the sound doctrine, the revelation of Christ Jesus in all its fullness. 

O my Father, You are so good to give us Paul and Moses and Abraham and David. Thank You for Joseph and Isaac and Jacob. Thank You for Isaiah and Jeremiah and Zechariah. Thank You so much, dear Father, for all the kings and prophets and people whose stories teach us Your lessons, and what to expect to come. 

Thank you, my Father, for all the blessings You have given to all of us, in this world, but especially in Your Son, our Lord God, Christ Jesus our King. 

O Father, You have loved us so much that You planned from the beginning, before You did anything to make it so, for Your Son to be our Lord God to prepare us for His first appearing to be our Savior and Redeemer; and to prepare us today for His second, Glorious Appearing, to call us out to Himself. 

Then we will reign with Him over this very Earth for the thousand years of our Golden Age, before it explodes and the Universe implodes, and You will bring about a New Heaven (Universe) and a New Earth(-like Planet) upon which Your Heaven will descend to live with us and us with You forever as Your Family! 

My Father, You have planned it all out ahead of Time itself. Then You have sent Your Son to do the work, to rule and reign, and to prepare us for the glorious future You have decided to give us! 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will sing Your glory, proclaiming that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

The Spirit Of Power, Love And A Sound Mind

II Timothy 1: 1-7

Paul wrote this more personal letter to Timothy probably close to the end of his life.  

(1) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

He identifies himself as an apostle, one who is laying the foundation for the church, because of the will of God, and twice right here, and again in the next verse, the word order of Christ Jesus, which is saying that Jesus is the Anointed One to be Lord God Almighty over all creation. And because He is our Savior, He rose from the dead with a new life to share with us forever. 

(2) To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 

He calls Timothy his well-loved son in the Lord, and blesses him with the grace, mercy and peace from both the Father and the Son. The usual greeting included grace and peace, and Paul adds mercy both here and in his first letter to Timothy. 

(3) I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, 

Paul always was careful to have a clear conscience, even before Jesus confronted him on that Damascus road (Acts 9: 3-6), he followed the Jewish religion faithfully, then Jesus turned him around, and he's been faithful in following God's ways. 

as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day, 

Paul was a prayer warrior, and I don't doubt that he prayed for each of his loved ones by name. This is a good example for us to follow. 

(4) longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy. 

Timothy may have been emotional at the parting of Paul as a prisoner of Rome. So Paul is wanting to see him with a smile, to visit him in prison and rejoice with him at how God was able to use his imprisonment for the furtherance of the Gospel. 

(5) For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well. 

Timothy was raised principally by his mother and grandmother, who were faithful Jewesses who taught him the Old Testament, and Timothy most likely recognized Jesus as Messiah under Paul's ministry. 

(6) For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

Paul was no doubt among the elders who performed the ordination ceremony when Timothy was appointed pastor of the church in Ephesus (4: 14). Paul wants him to stir up the flame of the spiritual gift that can otherwise fade into an ember, as a fireplace needs to be stirred up to maintain the flame. 

(7) For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 

This is a very popular verse that is quoted often, as it is such a precious truth to be laid hold of by all of God's children. God's Holy Spirit that He has given to live in us is a spirit of powerful might; and unconditional love; and a sound, healthy, disciplined mind. He gives us the confidence to not be timid or fearful, but boldly confident in the Truth we are given to proclaim. 

And we are to proclaim it to every living person in the world. Everyone needs to know how much God values and loves each one of us, to consider us worth sending His own Son to take our death for us. To purchase us out of the slave-market of sin and be born into the very family of the royal King. 

O my Father, please send out all of Your children into our families, our relatives, our neighbors, our co-workers, our fellow shoppers in the stores and shops we frequent, and out into all the world, that every living person will be able to hear and understand enough to turn to You, Father, to Your open arms, and realize how much You love them and have already met their most important needs! 

And strengthen us, Father, to withstand all the gales of troubles and trials and sorrows this world throws at us. And when Your wrath is poured out upon this world, let us see the thousands falling at our side, and the ten thousands at our right hand, and just stand there watching as it doesn't touch us, because the wrath due us has already been poured out upon Jesus in our place! 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Fight The Good Fight

I Timothy 6: 9-21

Paul has just said how we are to be content with food and covering, the bare necessities. Now he will address what to tell those who have an abundance. 

(9) But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 

Having a generous amount of worldly goods is very dangerous to those who are susceptible to depending on their riches. 

(10) For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 

To set your desires on money to have money is a trap, because money is only a tool, not an end in itself. By making money the goal, you will find that you will never have "enough" money. And it will become your god. 

(11) But flee from these things, you man of God, 

Timothy, run away from this attitude, this consideration of wanting to have more money! 

and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 

Instead of monetary wealth, go after spiritual and mental and psychological wealth: 

Righteousness will keep your conscience clear. 

Godliness will help you grow in understanding God's ways. 

Faith will increase your trust in our Lord and Source. 

Love will enable you to obey every law and rule to get along with others and honor God as Father. 

Perseverance will help you endure all the trials and sorrows and troubles this world throws at us. 

And gentleness will take off any hard edge on any of these things, so everything will go smoothly. 

(12) Fight the good fight of faith; 

Sometimes maintaining the Truth is a battle, but keeping in mind the last verse, and remembering that our battles are the Lord's; we can stand our ground and reply graciously to those who would want to tear down our beliefs. 

take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, 

To take hold is to grasp firmly, to not let it slip away. 

and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Timothy has already made his stand, before others who can hold him accountable and strengthen him in his resolve. 

(13) I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, 

He is giving him (and also us) a command, with God the Father in whom is life as his witness. 

and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, 

Also the Lord God Jesus is witness, who Himself stood His ground before this high Roman governor. 

(14) that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

The command is to stand firm and fast on the Love of God, the foundation of every rule and standard, without anything or any deviation from the pure ways of God, all the way up to the very Glorious Appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ! 

This is very important to all of us, especially today in the times we are living in right now. Jesus is coming soon! 

(15) Which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 

He will come at just the time He planned to come, and everything in the world is lining up just as He said they would, for His coming to be our King over the whole world for a thousand years. 

(16) who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 

Jesus is the only One who possesses immortality in Himself, so He can give it to us, too. Where He lives is with the Father, and He is Spirit, the source of Light, that would completely immolate a human body that has not received the completed Redemption. 

No one has ever been able to see God the Father. Whenever God appeared, it was the Lord God, the Son, to whom the Father has given Lordship. The Son of God is our Lord God Almighty, who has given the Law to Moses, the promises to Abraham, the prophesies to the prophets. He is the One who will receive the honor and eternal Lordship over all creation, both now and every future universe. 

(17) Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 

Timothy is to teach those in his congregation who have an abundance of worldly wealth to not get puffed up with the importance it brings, but to recognize that God is the Source of everything, and millionaires often lose their millions, and then gain it back, repeatedly. But God is generous to provide all that we need, reliably. Depend on Him, not what He provides. 

(18) Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,

Those who have more than they need are to give away the excess, to generously supply the needs of others, to build their Heavenly bank account instead of a worldly one that will disappear. 

(19) storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. 

This Heavenly bank account will provide for their eternal life, real life, that lives forever; instead of one here that will be burned up. 

(20) O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"--

We all need to keep a guard on the pure and true faith that God has given to us, and not be deterred by any worldly "science" that is false and misleading. 

(21) which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. 

There are some who claim to be Christians, but have listened to these "scientists" who claim as "facts" what are only theories, that have never been proven, because they are clever lies from our enemy to pull us away from the faith. 

Grace be with you. 

God's grace is His goodness that we don't deserve. Paul ends this letter with the goodness of God to be poured out on Timothy and his congregation (the you here is plural). God's goodness will keep them faithful and strengthen them against all the attacks that are being perpetrated against them. 

And also to us, as we are also called upon to fight the good fight in our day. 

O my Father, You are so good! You are so gracious and generous to give us Your goodness in all the ways You want us to live our lives every day. 

Please help us to receive Your goodness, to strengthen us in fighting this good fight, standing our ground on Your Truth, and promulgating Your Good News, the Gospel to the whole world. Send us out, Father, so that everyone will hear and have enough understanding to turn to You, away from all the seductions of the devil and the world and their own flesh. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, please come quickly, Lord Jesus! 

Godliness With Contentment

I Timothy 6: 3-8

Paul just told Timothy about the attitude slaves should have toward their masters, and he said that he was to teach and preach these principles (verse 2). 

This phrase is often put as the beginning of the next verse, so it applies here, too. Actually, it applies to this whole letter. 

(3) If anyone advocates a different doctrine 

A different doctrine would be anything different from what Paul is writing here, and the rest of Scripture. 

and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 

These sound words are those spoken by Jesus in the Gospels, and also the whole Old Testament, which the rest of the New Testament is at that time being written to explain how the faith is applied and lived out. 

(4) he is conceited and understands nothing; 

If anyone doesn't want to hear sound words, then he is conceited, proud, thinks his own ideas are better than God's; that shows that he has no understanding at all of God's ways. This word is in the perfect passive, which shows "a fixed state or condition." 

but he has a morbid interest 

This is an unhealthy state of mind, the word noson, "being sick" (mentally), is "having a morbid craving for." He's describing one sick puppy! 

in controversial questions and disputes about words, 

In controversies and arguments. The controversial questions are investigations of religious and theological problems. This in itself is actually good, but the indication here is that they are being used only to argue and fight about words. The heretic described here is merely a theorist, his interest is only in academic disputes; he doesn't take into account the reality of what God's word is about. 

out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 

Because of their pride their studies only result in negative consequences. Five are listed here: 

Envy and Strife are used together also in Romans 1: 29 and Galatians 5: 21. Envy always produces quarreling and strife. 

"Abusive language" is blasphemiai (plural). When directed against God it means "blasphemy," but when directed against men, as it is here, it means "slander." 

"Evil suspicions" would be "false, slanderous conjectures." 

(5) and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, 

The fifth is constant friction, "mutual irritations" or "incessant wranglings," which characterize the conversations between these men who have thoroughly corrupted and depraved minds, who have been robbed of the Truth. If the Truth was once theirs, they have deliberately disinherited themselves of it, or they may have never had it. 

who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 

These men think that godliness is only a means to procuring financial gain. 

(6) But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied with contentment. 

Godliness with contentment really is a means of wonderful gain in mental and spiritual and psychological wealth, but not necessarily financial. 

(7) For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 

(8) If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 

Since we are all born with nothing, and everything we have in this world will stay in this world when we leave, then we can be content as long as we have enough food to eat, and covering, which usually refers to clothing, but can also include shelter. So our basic needs are simple. We are rich when we have all we need, and don't need to wear ourselves out with trying to get ahead in the world. 

O my Father, please show us how to live our lives simply here in this world, while enjoying the bounty You have provided us here. Give us contentment with our basic needs and not think that we need more to have Your joy. 

My Father, when you grant us more material goods than what we need, show us how to help others who have needs, and not squander them on ourselves. Teach us Your generosity and compassion. 

O Father, send out all of Your children to tell everyone alive how much You love us all! Please help them to understand how You have already met all of our needs, particularly the spiritual, eternal ones. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come soon, Lord Jesus! 

Slaves And Employees

I Timothy 6: 1-2

(1) All who are under the yoke as slaves

The word for slaves here is correctly translated, as they are under the yoke of slavery. These people had no choice but had to do whatever their owners said.

are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor

This doesn't say only the nice and reasonable masters. The word here is despotes, despots, little dictators. And yet they were to give them respect and obedience. Why?

so that the Name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against.

Because these slaves were Christians, and to do otherwise would bring criticism on the church and the faith. This is pretty stringent and straight-forward.

(2) Those who have believers as their masters must not be disrespectful to them because they are brethren,

The idea here is that because their masters are also Christians, then they don't have to obey them.

but must serve them all the more, because those who partake of the benefit are believers and beloved.

They should want to go above and beyond for these brothers in Christ, seeing them with eyes of family and realizing their mutual benefit.

Teach and preach these principles.

Timothy is to be sure his congregation all are aware of these positive attitudes they are all to have toward one another.

I find it interesting that Paul never condemns the institution of slavery in the societies of his day. But that institution was never even questioned until very recently in history, only two hundred years ago.

So these principles would also apply to employees' attitude toward their employers. The situation is not quite the same, as workers today are free to quit and find another job. But the best employees have always considered how to make their boss look good, and help him profit financially in the business.

Anyone who doesn't feel he or she can be that supportive an employee needs to find either a different attitude or a different job. And until one can be a good employee, one is not ready to be an employer.

And a Christian is to always put the other first (Philippians 2: 3), and mutually submit to one another (Ephesians 5: 21). This is the Christ-like attitude we all are to have. Even when an employer is not a Christian, he needs employees like this to show him Christ.

O my Father, You know how hard it is for us in our weak humanity to submit ourselves to the wishes of another, especially when we either don't like the other or we don't agree with the other. Please show us how we can do this in gentleness and compassion, without compromising Your standards. Help us to be Christ to the world around us.

My Father, send out Your children into their workplaces, into the stores and shops, into the arenas for events, into the world around us, and show us how to be Christ to everyone we encounter.

Father, we are living in what can be very scary times even now. Please let Your peace in us in the midst of the turmoil and chaos show the world Your steadfastness and compassion.

And Father, open opportunities for us to share Your goodness and grace to those who are groping for survival. Help us to demonstrate Your gentleness and generosity to all.

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!