Continuation of the Introduction to 2 Timothy

By: Scott Morton

2 Timothy 1:1-2

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, [2] To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we continue to look at this epistle we need to realize some of the struggles individuals have with the idea of who the Apostle Paul is and the message which he is giving to us in this dispensation. The traditions of men focus on the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and want to primarily look at the red letters in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, which signify the words spoken by Him. Because of this, they will state things about how Paul is writing his own thoughts and outright contradicting what had been there. They will state they are going to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, even though Paul tells us to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).

1 Thessalonians 2:13

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Here we have Paul speaking to the assembly in Thessalonica and pointing out how they accepted what he was teaching as being the Word of God. They did not have this confusion and he holds them up as a pattern for us to be looking at to say this is what we should be doing. We need to accept this as the Word of God and specifically the information which is given to us today on how we should be living our lives.

We also see how Peter points to what Paul wrote:

2 Peter 3:15-16

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; [16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Peter is writing to his audience which is the nation of Israel and is speaking in this epistle about why there has been a delay in the prophetic program, specifically the establishment of the kingdom, which was their hope. Peter identifies that Paul had written unto them and also speaks of his epistles. These were things they were supposed to have been looking at.

We also see Peter puts what Paul wrote on the level of scripture when we ends verse 16 talking about the other scriptures. Paul's writings are clearly the Word of God and we need to be applying these to our lives today. Paul did identify there would come a time when there would be this struggle:

1 Timothy 4:1-6

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; [2] Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; [3] Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. [4] For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: [5] For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. [6] If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Paul identifies there is a latter times of this dispensation which will be coming. As time goes on we will be approaching the end of this dispensation and this is where there is going to be the problems being identified. The battle is going to happen over the doctrine. When individuals think of the battle they tend to think this is going to be over behavior. They think Satan, and the angelic realm which followed him in the rebellion, tempt people to do bad things or cause bad things to happen to good people. Paul is telling us the real issue if over the doctrine which should be followed. This is why Paul is having to encourage people over and over to make sure they are standing true to the doctrine which has been given to us. The two epistles to Timothy are written to reinforce this issue and to help make sure believers are being grounded in the truth and are remaining true to it so they are not being pulled away by the seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.

The Apostle Paul identifies Timothy, his son in the faith, as the audience to this epistle. This is an individual we are introduced to during the period of the book of Acts:

Acts 16:1-3

Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: [2] Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. [3] Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

This is the first time we see Timothy being mentioned. He is identified as being a disciple already, which means he had already believed the message being preached by the Apostle Paul at this point. His family is mentioned here, which is where the whole issue of the faith that he had would have come from:

2 Timothy 1:5

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

2 Timothy 3:15

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

These two passages show the role Timothy's family had in who he became. It was his mother and grandmother who helped to shape him by teaching him things related to what the Word of God said and produced faith in him. They would have been sharing the things of the Old Testament writings, as this is the Word of God which was in existence at that time. They would have been following the principle of Proverbs 22:6, training his as a child so it would have an impact on him throughout his life.

This impact can be seen in how Timothy was living and what Paul was able to see. Paul had left him as an elder in Ephesus to help this region remain true to what had been given to them in this dispensation. We are going to see later in this epistle that this was not as successful as it should have been and Paul has to encourage Timothy throughout this. However we see that Timothy is still remaining true to the Word of God rightly divided. He is also listed as someone who helped in the writing of 2 Corinthians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and 2 Thessalonians. This means these areas would have known who Timothy was and seen him in this state of being faithful to the Word of God.

We can also see the statement Paul makes about Timothy here:

Philippians 2:19-23

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. [20] For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. [21] For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. [22] But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. [23] Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

In this passage we see how Paul describes Timothy as being likeminded and says there is nobody else who is in this position. Paul is saying that Timothy has the same thought process as the Apostle Paul and this is the only person he can think of to describe in this manner. This is a big statement when we think about the individuals Paul traveled with and taught. He only had one person who could be described this way and this is who we was sending to Philippi in order to check on them and care for them before Paul could arrive there on his own.

This way of looking at him shows why he is going to call Timothy his dearly beloved son in the beginning of this epistle. From the passage we read earlier in Acts 16 it is clear that Timothy is not his actual son. He also would not have been describing the role of his mother and grandmother and ignoring anything he would have done if he was his actual son. It is clear they all knew who Timothy's physical father was and there was no confusion related to this. He is calling him this because Timothy is his son in the faith, meaning he had shared the message of this dispensation with him:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

This is the message which produces salvation during this dispensation. Somewhere along Paul's journey he had the opportunity to share this message with Timothy, which he then believes and is identified as a member of the Body of Christ. This is why Paul can call him his son in the faith, knowing he had led him to this relationship. The members of the Body of Christ truly are a family and this is why Paul states the following:

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. [10] And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

Paul states the individuals in Thessalonica did not have to have anything written to them about the love they were to extend to each other. He describes this as a brotherly love, which they were clearly demonstrating towards each other. They were showing the love towards each other as family members because they took the instructions which were given to them by the Apostle Paul as the Word of God and were properly applying these things to their lives. This application allowed for them to see each other in this manner and they were functioning together as a family.

This does not mean we are always going to get along with each, as family members do have times when they are having problems. However, there is always a love and care which is present for the members of your family, which goes beyond the feelings we have for others. This is the feeling we are to have for the members of the Body of Christ, who are to be considered family. We are going to spend eternity with each other in the heavenly places so we should have a care for each other.

As Paul continues writing we see that he is extending grace, mercy, and peace to Timothy. These are things which are written at the beginning of each of his epistles and are much more than just a standard greeting, like how we might say hello to someone. These statements reflect the doctrine which has been given to us and the understanding of some things we should have.

The first one of these is the grace which has been extended towards us. This is the opposite of what man truly deserved:

Romans 3:9-10

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; [10] As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Paul shows here how all of mankind was viewed as being guilty in the eyes of God. There was not a single individual who could have been righteous in His eyes, as the statements from the previous chapters of this epistle have stated. Man has a definite problem and it includes all of mankind.

Romans 3:19-20

Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. [20] Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

As Paul continues writing he shows why God can view individuals in this manner. The law had been put in place and everyone has become guilty before God. This is because there was not a single individual which was able to keep the law. It is not because God was not using this as a standard for individuals, which is what some individuals are trying to say. The system of righteousness prior to the Apostle Paul was based on performance and the issue was man was not able to perform the things of the law and therefore was deserving of the punishment which would come for not being able to do the things God required.

Paul states the condition of the Gentiles during this time:

Ephesians 2:11-12

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; [12] That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

The Gentiles were completely outside of all of the things which God was doing. God was working through his firstborn (Exodus 4:22-23), the nation of Israel to reconcile the earth back to himself. This meant the Gentile nations had no hope without joining themselves to what Israel was doing and trying to be blessed. This is where the Abrahamic Covenant comes in and the nations having to bless Israel in order to receive the blessings. Otherwise, there was no hope for the Gentile nations as they did not have any relationship with God.

The Word of God describes the punishment that comes about when someone is doing things contrary to what the law says. The following is just one example:

Exodus 32:26-33

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD'S side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. [27] And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. [28] And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. [29] For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. [30] And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. [31] And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. [32] Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. [33] And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

We see from this judgment there are two different things which happen. The first of these is there is an immediate death which is happening here. They are being killed because of this transgression against God. There also is the removal of them from the book, which is a reference to the Book of Life. These individuals are also being separated from God for all of eternity. This piece shows how far being against the things of God actually goes.

The good thing for us in this dispensation is that we do not have to worry about this. We have been given the gift of eternal life (Romans 6:23) the very moment we put our trust in the gospel message for today (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). We are also told how we have been sealed with the holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) to guarantee we will be kept in this position. There is nothing we have to worry about because grace has been extended towards us.

One objection that sometimes comes up is the following passage:

Genesis 6:5-8

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [6] And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. [7] And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. [8] But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

The statement made is if Noah found grace in the eyes of God, which he did, then the information of this dispensation has always been true and the Apostle Paul is not saying anything new. It is true Noah found grace, as the only way man can have a relationship with God is through His grace. Our righteousness is as filthy rags in His sight, as we cannot do the good things to earn it on our own. The issue becomes how the grace is realized in the life of the individual. In the case of Noah, God saw his heart and then gives him the command of what he needs to do, which was to build the ark. When Noah does what God asked him to do the reality of the grace is being demonstrated, as Noah and his family are saved by their obedience to the Word of God.

The next thing Paul states is mercy. This is different from the epistles written to the local assemblies, as he does not include this when writing to them. The following is the definition of mercy from Webster's 1828 Dictionary:

Mercy

1. That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant. In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy. That which comes nearest to it is grace. It implies benevolence, tenderness, mildness, pity or compassion, and clemency, but exercised only towards offenders. Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being.

The Lord is long-suffering and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty. Num 14.

2. An act or exercise of mercy or favor. It is a mercy that they escaped.

I am not worthy of the least of all thy mercies. Gen 32.

3. Pity; compassion manifested towards a person in distress.

And he said, he that showed mercy on him. Luke 10.

4. Clemency and bounty.

Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy. Proverbs 28.

5. Charity, or the duties of charity and benevolence.

I will have mercy and not sacrifice. Mat 9.

6. Grace; favor. 1 Corinthians 7. Jude 2.

7. Eternal life, the fruit of mercy. 2 Tim 1.

8. Pardon.

I cry thee mercy with all my heart.

9. The act of sparing, or the forbearance of a violent act expected. The prisoner cried for mercy.

To be or to lie at the mercy of, to have no means of self-defense, but to be dependent for safety on the mercy or compassion of another, or in the power of that which is irresistible; as, to be at the mercy of a foe, or of the waves.

We see from these definitions what has been extended towards mankind in this dispensation. God has extended something to us which had not been part of his dealings with everyone. He is overlooking the things man has done wrong and is extending grace towards individuals. This is why we see the following statement from Paul related to salvation:

Titus 3:4-5

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, [5] Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The love of God has been extended not based on anything we have done. Nobody could have done anything righteous enough to have received the love of God on their own. The righteousness of man is filthy rags in the eyes of God. We only receive this through the mercy which has been extended and the grace shown towards us. Our belief in the gospel is what shows this, as we are putting our trust in what the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished for us.

We see how Paul speaks about himself and states he had obtained mercy:

1 Timothy 1:15-16

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. [16] Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

The mercy shown to the Apostle Paul functions as a pattern for those in this dispensation. He was shown mercy as the chief of sinners, by his own statement here. He looks back at all of the things which he had done opposed to God and can make this statement. By the mercy being shown towards him, we can see a pattern for everyone else, as we can have this came mercy extended towards us. This is open to everyone who lives during this dispensation and we are to be extending this out.

This mercy is not what man deserves. We receive this because it is part of the character of God:

Ephesians 2:4

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

2 Corinthians 1:3

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

We see from these passages that God is extending mercy towards us. Paul tells us He is the Father of mercies, meaning He can be the only source of this. Since He is the one who is righteous and will be pouring out judgment on those who do not have the righteousness which comes from Him, He can be the only one who can extend this mercy. There is nothing which man can do to create on it their own.

This is only mentioned in the epistles to Timothy and Titus. These were the two individuals Paul was sending out to various local assemblies to be ministering to them and making sure they were staying true to the message for this dispensation. The two of them were being reminded of this because it was part of the message they were to be declaring to those who were not part of the program for today and reminding those who are part of the program of this reality. This is a big portion of the will of God of helping individuals to come to the knowledge of the truth. The mercy of God has been extended, whether individuals fully understand it or not.

The last part of the introduction is the peace which comes from God. The following comes from Webster's 1828 Dictionary:

Peace

1. In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance or agitation; applicable to society, to individuals, or to the temper of the mind.

2. Freedom from war with a foreign nation; public quiet.

3. Freedom from internal commotion or civil war.

4. Freedom from private quarrels, suits or disturbance.

5. Freedom from agitation or disturbance by the passions, as from fear, terror, anger, anxiety or the like; quietness of mind; tranquillity; calmness; quiet of conscience.

Great peace have they that love the law. Psalm 119.

6. Heavenly rest; the happiness of heaven.

7. Harmony; concord; a state of reconciliation between parties at variance.

8. Public tranquillity; that quiet, order and security which is guaranteed by the laws; as, to keep the peace; to break the peace.

This word is used in commanding silence or quiet; as, peace to this troubled soul.

Peace, the lovers are asleep.

To be at peace, to be reconciled; to live in harmony.

To make peace, to reconcile, as parties at variance.

To hold the peace, to be silent; to suppress one's thoughts; not to speak.

It is interesting to note how the issue of peace is added only in what are known as the Pastoral epistles. Paul's other writings only state grace and peace. Paul has added the issue of peace, as he is reminding Timothy, Titus, and Philemon what they are to be proclaiming to other individuals as they are going around and preaching the message of grace to the lost.

We see from this how there is now a state of tranquility or fellowship with God which has been put in place. This is something which was not deserved by man, as we should have had enmity and wrath. God has taken care of the issues which separated us from Him and put us in a position to where we have fellowship. This is why we can see how Paul writes to the local assembly in Thessalonica:

1 Thessalonians 1:10

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

We see Paul twice telling them they are not appointed to wrath. They are not going to have to worry about what would come upon the lost. The reason for this is the issue of sin has been taken care of. When Paul is writing in his epistles we see him bringing this up so people would understand what has been done for us:

Colossians 3:5-7

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: [6] For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: [7] In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

1 Corinthians 6:9-12

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. [12] All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

These two passages show the difference between the individual before they were saved and the position they now have as a believer. Prior to salvation we were identified as being part of the children of disobedience and would have been deserving of the wrath of God. This is no longer how we are identified and will not be part of this.

We also will not be brought under the power of any of these things. The issue of power means that these things have a control over the individual. Many of the things which individuals do which are contrary to the Word of God end up having control over the life of the believer. This is not what is intended and God has warned us of this.

The solution for many individuals is to try to put themselves under the law. The law works wrath (Romans 4:15) and we have been redeemed from the curse of the law in this dispensation (Galatians 3:13). Paul has made it clear that we are not to be under these this:

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

In the dispensation of grace the law is no longer in place and we are to be functioning according to the doctrine which has been given to us by the Apostle Paul. He makes it clear we are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17), which is something which was not written about by any other writer. He also tells us how we should be living:

Galatians 2:20

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

We are to allow the Lord Jesus Christ to live in us and through us. When we are doing this we can see the impact it has on ourselves and those around us. This allows us to be able to see the peace we are to have in our lives today.