Title: The Importance of Good Communication (2 Timothy 2:1-4)
Scripture: “Teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. (2 Timothy 2:2 NLT)
2 Timothy 2 1-7 So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:1
How can someone be strong through grace?
Grace is God’s undeserved favor on our behalf.
Just as we are saved by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9), we should live by it (Colossians 2:6).
This means trusting completely in Christ and His power, and not trying to live for Christ in our strength alone.
Receive and utilize Christ’s power. He will give you the strength to do His work.
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:2
If the church were to consistently follow this advice, it would expand geometrically as well as well-taught believers would teach others and commission them, in turn, to teach still others.
Disciples need to be equipped to pass on their faith; our work is not done until new believers are able to make disciples of others.
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:3
The body of Christ contains all believers who have ever lived, not just those who are alive now.
When we suffer, we share in a common experience not just with those alive today but with all those who have ever suffered for the sake of the Gospel.
All the martyrs, missionaries, and pioneers of the faith had to face what we face.
Let us have the same courage, commitment, and willingness to renounce worldly pleasure in order to serve God. Can you face the challenge?
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:3-7
As Timothy preached and taught, he would face suffering, but he should be able to endure.
Paul used comparisons with solders, athletes, and farmers who discipline themselves and be willing to sacrifice to achieve the results they want.
Like soldiers, we have to give up worldly security and endure rigorous discipline.
Like athletes, we must train hard and follow the rules.
Like farmers, we must work extremely hard and be patient.
But we keep going despite suffering because of the thought of victory, the vision of winning, and the hope of harvest.
We will see that our suffering is worthwhile when we achieve our goal of glorifying God, winning people to Christ, and one day living eternally with Him.
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:7
Paul told Timothy to think about his words, and God would give him understanding.
God speaks through the Bible, His Word, but we need to be open and receptive to Him.
As you read the Bible, ask God to show you His timeless truths and application to your life. Then consider what you have read by thinking it through and meditating on it.
God will give you understanding.
8-13 Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It’s what you’ve heard from me all along. It’s what I’m sitting in jail for right now—but God’s Word isn’t in jail! That’s why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:
If we die with him, we’ll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we’ll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he’ll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—for there’s no way he can be false to himself.
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:8
False teachers were a problem in Ephesus (See Acts 20:29-30; 1 Timothy 1:3-11).
At the heart of false teaching is an incorrect view of Christ.
In Timothy’s day many asserted that Christ was divine but not human – God but not man.
These days we often hear that Jesus was human but not divine – man but not God.
Either view destroys the good news that Jesus Christ has take our sins upon Himself and has reconciled us to God.
In this verse, Paul firmly states that Jesus is fully man (“a descendant of King David”) and fully God (“raised from the dead”).
This is important doctrine for all Christians. (for more on this key concept, see the notes on Philippians 2:5-7).
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:9
Paul was in chains in prison because of the Good News he preached.
The truth about Jesus is no more popular in our day than in Paul’s, but it still reaches receptive hearts.
When Paul said that Jesus was God, he angered the Jews who had condemned Jesus for blasphemy, but many Jews became followers of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:24). He angered the Romans who worshiped the emperor as god, but even some in Caesar’s household turned to Jesus (Philippians 4:22).
When Paul said Jesus was human, he angered the Greeks, who thought divinity was soiled if it had contact with humanity, but many Greeks still accepted the faith (Acts 11:20-21).
The truth that Jesus is one person with two united natures been easy to understand, but that doesn’t make it untrue.
The truth of God’s Word is being believed by people every day and changing their lives for eternity.
Despite the opposition, continue to proclaim Christ. Some will listen and believe.
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:11-13
This is probably an early Christian hymn.
God is faithful to His children.
Although we may suffer great hardships here, God promises that someday we will live eternally with Him.
What will this involve?
It means believers will live in Christ’s Kingdom, and that we will share in the administration of that Kingdom.
This truth comforted Paul as he went through suffering and death.
Are you facing hardships in your life?
Don’t turn away from God – He promises you a wonderful future with Him.
(For more information about living eternally with God, see Matthew 16:24-27; 19:28-30; Luke 22:28-30; Romans 5:17; 6:8; 8:10-11; 17; 1 Corinthians 15:42-58; Colossians 3:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 3:21; 21:1-22:21).
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:13
Jesus is faithful. He will stay by our side even when we have endured so much that we seem to have no faith left.
We may be faithless at times, but Jesus is faithful to His promise to be with us “to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Refusing Christ’s help will break our communication with God, but He will never turn His back on us even though we may turn our backs on Him.
14-18 Repeat these basic essentials over and over to God’s people. Warn them before God against pious nitpicking, which chips away at the faith. It just wears everyone out. Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they’re not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul. Hymenaeus and Philetus are examples, throwing believers off stride and missing the truth by a mile by saying the resurrection is over and done with.
Reflection: 2 Timothy 2:14-16
Paul urged Timothy to remind the believers not to argue over unimportant details (“fighting over words”) or have foolish discussions because such arguments are confusing, useless, and even harmful.
False teachers loved to cause strife and divisions by their meaningless quibbling over unimportant details (see 1 Timothy 6:3-5).
To explain the word of truth correctly, we must study what the Word of God says so we can understand what it means.