Thru the Bible—2 TimothySample

As you journey through the book of Hebrews, we encourage you to invite the Lord into your studies through prayer, reading of the word, and reflection.

• Pray: Before you start each devotion, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• Read: Invite God to open your eyes and deepen your understanding of His Word through each daily passage.
• Reflect: Ask the Spirit to help you take to heart what He wants to show you.

A person’s last words carry a lot of weight. That’s what makes the letter of 2 Timothy so important. This is the apostle Paul’s final communication. In essence, he’s saying goodbye.

Although you hear a note of sadness in this letter, there’s triumph. Paul wrote his own epitaph: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” wrote Paul as his own epitaph (2 Timothy 4:7).

In his communication, Paul calls out the coming apostasy as the dark cloud on the horizon. Apostasy is teaching deliberate error, an intentional departure from the faith. Because of this threat, Paul emphasizes the trustworthiness of God’s Word. He urges us to: Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman that has been tested by trial and who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. Always be ready to preach the Word, he writes, when the opportunity seems right or not. Correct those who err in doctrine or behavior, warn those who are in sin, encourage those who are growing toward spiritual maturity (see 2 Timothy 2:15, 4:2).

The gospel rests on the foundational fact that we are lost sinners without Jesus Christ. We can’t be saved by perfect obedience because none of us are perfect. Neither can we be saved by imperfect obedience because God will not accept it.

Therefore, the only solution is the gospel of the grace of God, which reaches down and saves us as sinners based on the death and resurrection of Christ. Faith in Christ transforms human life. We live in a showcase today, displaying men and women all over this globe who have been transformed by the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul affirms to Timothy that life is hard. Some preach that Christian life ought to be nice, sweet, bright, and breezy. But our heavenly Father saved us and called us with a holy calling that leads us to a life of purpose, set apart, not because of any works we’ve done or rewards we’ve earned, but because of His own purpose and amazing, undeserved favor which He gives us in Christ Jesus.

This salvation we enjoy was hidden in ages past, a mystery in the Old Testament, but is now explained in the New Testament. God had this plan in mind for us since before the world began. When Jesus took on flesh and served His earthly ministry, He made death’s effects void through His own death. He brought life and immortality to us through the gospel.

Death means something altogether different to the child of God. Remember, Paul is writing this letter from death row. Physical death was imminent, just days or even hours away. Paul set his hope on God and how Jesus Christ’s death assured him he would never suffer spiritual death or separation from God.

Paul pours confidence into God’s “sound words“ and urges Timothy to keep them in faith and in love. Every word from God, breathed out by Him and recorded as Scripture, can be trusted. His Spirit living in us enables us to obey the Word and to live the Christian life in His power.

Finally, Paul gets personal. He names those who had been with him in Rome but had “turned away“ from the faith. But not everyone failed him. Onesiphorus often refreshed Paul and wasn’t ashamed of his chains. He searched Rome to find him, and when he did, he stayed close by to minister to him. Here is a wonderful saint of God. We’ll meet more people like that as the letter continues.

1. What do you think Paul’s purpose was in telling Timothy about the coming apostasy?

2.I t is one thing to know that you should trust the Word of God, but it is another to truly anchor yourself to the Bible’s trustworthiness. What can you do to become even more reliant on the Scriptures?

3. Even though believers are called to be obedient, we must remember we are saved by faith, not by obedience. How can we think better about faith as the foundation for obedience?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee’s complete teachings on 2 Timothy 1:1-6 and 2 Timothy 1:6-18.