BibleProject New Testament Series - Lesson 22
2 Timothy - BibleProject
In this lesson, you will learn about the background, authorship, purpose, literary genre, and major themes of 2 Timothy. You will also explore the outline and structure of the book. 2 Timothy is a pastoral letter written by the Apostle Paul to his young protégé Timothy. It emphasizes the importance of faithfulness, perseverance, sound doctrine, and godly living in the face of opposition and false teaching. The letter is structured around three main sections: an introduction and greeting, encouragement and exhortation, and warnings and instructions.
2 Timothy - BibleProject
Lesson Outline: 2 Timothy
I. Introduction to 2 Timothy
A. Background and Historical Context
B. Authorship and Purpose
C. Literary Genre and Style
II. Major Themes of 2 Timothy
A. Faithfulness and Perseverance
B. Sound Doctrine and Teaching
C. Godly Living and Ministry
III. Outline and Structure of 2 Timothy
A. Introduction and Greeting (1:1-5)
B. Encouragement and Exhortation (1:6-2:13)
C. Warnings and Instructions (2:14-4:8)
D. Personal Notes and Closing (4:9-22)
BP150-22 - 2 Timothy
Paul’s second letter to Timothy. This is Paul's final and most personal letter. He wrote it from yet another time in prison, and it's addressed to Paul's dear coworker and protege, the young Timothy. Now, we don't know how much time exactly has passed since he wrote First Timothy, but we can see that Paul's situation has changed and for the worse. He's imprisoned in Rome, which could refer to his time under house arrest. That was mentioned in Acts Chapter 28. Or it could be that he was released from that imprisonment, had another long season of ministry, and then was arrested again in TROs. Either way, Paul says he's in the middle of his court trial now and it is not going well. He's pretty sure he's not going to survive this one. And so out of this very dark situation, Paul appeals to Timothy, who it seems is still on assignment in Ephesus. He asked Timothy to come be with him in prison so Paul can pass on to him the church planting mission he started. The letters design is pretty simple. There are two large sections where Paul challenges Timothy first to accept his calling as a leader, and then before he comes to Paul to deal with the corrupt teachers that are still causing problems in Ephesus. After this, Paul concludes the letter. So Paul begins by thanking God for Timothy and his family, specifically for his grandmother, Lois, and his mother, Eunice. They immersed the young Timothy in the story of the Old Testament scriptures. They instilled in him a deep faith in the Messiah Jesus. And so because of that firm faith, Paul offers his first challenge to Timothy. He calls him to reject any temptation to be ashamed of the good news about Jesus or of Paul, who's suffering in prison for announcing that good news. Now, the reason Paul needs to emphasize this is the negative stigma that he gained by his frequent times in prison. It made many of Paul's coworkers, in fact, doubt his calling as an apostle. He mentions two guys for Jealous and her. They deserted Paul because they were ashamed of being associated with Paul, who was an accused criminal now. So Paul asked Timothy to reject any fear of shame and to come see him. Now, Paul knows that this is a costly request. It could put Timothy at risk. And so he reminds Timothy that Jesus's grace is a source of power, which is really important. You're going to need it because following Jesus is not easy. It requires everything that you have. Paul likens following Jesus to enrolling as a soldier who's striving to please their commanding officer, Or it's like an athlete who's training their body for a competition, or it's like a hardworking, dedicated farmer. All three of these metaphors involve a person who's committed to something bigger than themselves and who's willing to sacrifice and endure challenges to accomplish a greater goal. And of course, the highest example of this is Jesus himself because of his commitment to the Father. He suffered crucifixion by the Romans. And similarly, Paul himself is now suffering in a Roman prison. Hardship and sacrifice are inherent to the Christian life, and this is why Jesus's resurrection is the foundation of Christian hope. Or, as Paul puts it in a short and very powerful poem. If we died with him, then we will live with him. If we endure, then we will reign with him. If we deny him, then he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he will remain faithful, for he's unable to deny his own nature. God's love for our world has opened up a new hope through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And so for those who will take the risk of trusting and following Jesus, God promises vindication and life for those who reject him. God will honor that decision and do the same. But people's faithlessness will never compel God to abandon his faithfulness. And so Paul calls Timothy to faithfulness, knowing that it may come with a cost. Paul moves into the second half of the letter calling Timothy to confront the corrupt teachers and ethicists before he comes to Rome. They're teaching a spreading in Effusion church like a cancer. They've targeted and corrupted a number of influential women in the church. These are likely the wealthy women the Paul had to deal with in his first letter to Timothy. He doesn't offer much detail about the teachers bad theology. Timothy already knows about it, but he does give us one hint. He says they teach that the resurrection has already taken place. Now, we don't know if the teachers are following a Greek philosophical rejection of the whole idea of bodily resurrection, and they think it's only really about spiritual experience. Or it could be that they've simply distorted Paul's teaching about the resurrection life that begins now through the power of the spirit. Either way, the problem is that they've abandoned the robust future hope of resurrection and of new creation, and they've embraced instead a private, hyper spiritualized Christianity that is disconnected from day to day life. And so Paul calls Timothy to raise up faithful leaders who are going to teach the real good news about Jesus. They should avoid senseless arguments. It result from debating the teachers? In contrast, Timothy and his leadership team are to keep the main thing the main thing. They should focus on the core storyline and message of the scriptures which impulse de ment, primarily the Old Testament. These scriptures, Paul says, are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in the Messiah Jesus. He's saying the whole point of the Scriptures is to tell you a unified story that leads to Jesus and that has wisdom to offer the whole world. Then Paul talks about scriptures, nature and purpose. He says, All Scripture is divinely breathed, literally God spirited. It's a reference to the Spirit's role in guiding the biblical authors so that what they wrote is what God wanted His people to hear. And God speaks to His people in the Scriptures for a very practical purpose. He says they're useful for teaching. Telling me things I didn't know before. They're useful for challenging, getting in my face about the things I say I believe, but I don't actually live consistently with their useful for correcting me, exposing my messed up ways of thinking and behaving. And they're useful for training me in righteousness, showing me a new way to be truly human. And this is also that God's people will be prepared for doing good. Paul closes the letter by reminding Timothy that he's probably not going to make it out of prison alive. So he asked Timothy to come as soon as possible before winter. He doesn't want to freeze in his cell, and so he's going to need his heavy coat that he had to leave behind. And also, could Timothy please bring those personal documents that he left intro as likely when he got arrested? He also mentions Alexander, who's an especially dangerous man that Timothy should avoid. He's probably responsible for Paul's most recent arrest. Paul concludes by mentioning how nearly everyone's abandoned him in prison, and his only source of comfort now is the personal presence of Jesus, who stands with him and will deliver him even if he dies. And so the letter ends. The letter of second Timothy stands as a reminder that Paul's very influential life and mission were marked by persistent challenge and suffering and struggle. Following Jesus involves risk and sacrifice. It means inviting tension and discomfort into your life. And these things are not a sign of Jesus's absence. Rather, as Paul discovered with generations of Christians after him, that precisely in those dark and difficult moments, Jesus's love and faithfulness can become the most tangible and real. And that's what second Timothy Paul's final letter is all about.
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