2 Timothy 4
Two times in this final chapter Paul mentions the appearing of the Lord Jesus. His heart was set on the return of the Lord Jesus. In view of the return of Christ he charged Timothy with a solemn command in these verses.
When Paul gave instructions to Timothy he backed it up with his own personal actions. He had been faithful to preach the word of God under extreme circumstances. He mentioned being thrown to lions and that God delivered him. He invited Timothy to join in this spiritual battle by faithfully preaching God's word. He was to live in such a way that he was always ready to preach the word. Always ready. What does this kind of life look like?
Paul charged Timothy before God to preach the word. He exhorted him to be ready always to preach. His ministry included reproving, rebuking, and exhorting people with patience and with doctrine.
Paul predicted a time would come when people would no longer listen to sound doctrine. Instead, they would follow their own lusts and subscribe to people who tell them what they want to hear. They want to be confirmed in their sin and selfish lifestyle.
This is a description of what the church will look like in the last days. I believe with all my heart that Paul was talking about the time in which we are now currently living in.
After he pointed forward to this evil time (which is now upon us), he continued to give personal encouragement to Timothy. He told him to be alert in everything, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill his ministry.
These instructions are for us also. We are to be spiritually awake and alert. 1 Peter 5:8, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour". Paul mentions lions here also to Timothy. This is a common way of describing the devil. It could mean literal lions as well, as we see with the man of God from Judah in 1 Kings chapter 13. Because the man of God disobeyed the word of the Lord he was killed by a lion (1 Kings 13:24-25).
Enduring afflictions is part of the ministry. A truly anointed preacher of the gospel will face opposition, persecution, and learn to endure through afflictions. We are promised that if we live godly in Christ Jesus we will face persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12, "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Paul encouraged Timothy to partake of the afflictions of the gospel with the power of God. 2 Timothy 1:8, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;"
We are called to fulfill our ministry. It is not enough to begin, but we must also finish the work. 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Colossians 4:17, "And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it."
God is faithful and he will help us to complete the work. God works in us to will and to do his will. Scripture promises us that God will complete the work he started in us. Philippians 1:6.
Paul said that his departure was at hand. He was ready to go. He wrote to the Philippians that it was better to depart and be with Christ. Philippians 1:23, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better". He fought a good fight, he finished his course, he kept the faith.
Paul mentioned a crown of righteousness that he would receive as a reward for his service. This crown is not only for Paul for it is also for anyone who loves the appearing of Christ. In other words, those who long for the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. Those people will receive a special reward for this. Do you think about his appearing? Does it enter your mind that the Lord Jesus Christ will appear one day in the clouds? He will return to this earth in the same manner that he left.
Acts 1:10-11, "And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11, Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
Paul gave updates on other Christians, describing how some of these people abandoned him at a critical time, but that he prayed God would forgive them. He testified of how the Lord stood with him and gave him strength to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and that he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. Is this literal? Was Paul actually thrown to the lions? Or was he speaking in a spiritual sense? Perhaps both?
God delivered him and Paul proclaimed that he knew the Lord would deliver him from every evil work and preserve him unto the heavenly kingdom.
Second Timothy is Paul's final letter in the New Testament. It was not long after he wrote this letter to Timothy that Paul became a martyr.
But in this letter he made the statement "the word of God is not bound". We still have with us today, some 2,000 year later, the words that a man locked in a prison cell wrote to his son in the faith. We still have these words. This is the word of God. It is not bound by time, or persecution, or by the death of the saints. God's word continues to march on from one generation to the next, saving lives, and building the church.
Romans 8:38-39, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Jesus is coming back soon. Are you looking forward to his appearing? It will come at a time when people are not expecting it. He is coming back, and he will receive his people unto himself, that where he is we may be also. Amen.
Mike Kines
July 23, 2025