II Timothy
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2 Timothy 4:1-2:
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and our of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” 
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I love the admonition of Paul to Timothy—preach the Word! Preach means “to cry out, herald, or exhort.” Haddon W. Robinson states, “Preaching should so stir a man that he pours out the message with passion and fervor. Not all passionate pleading from a pulpit, however, possesses divine authority. When a preacher speaks as a herald, he must cry out ‘the Word.’ Anything less cannot legitimately pass for Christian preaching.”
Paul goes on to say in 2 Timothy 4:2,“…be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.” Like a military officer, the aged apostle gives five important imperatives to young Timothy as he begins his ministry of preaching. -Ministry 127 |
Every Christian pastor would affirm his call to preach the Bible. Yet, surveys of the evangelical church in America reveal that doctrinal teaching is not the norm. Christian pastors would likewise affirm the inerrancy and infallibility of Scripture. But, practices in the Church do not support the reality of the sufficiency of Scripture. Some teach that there are “things” that need to be added to be effective and successful. Programs that address lifestyles are cleverly devised. Preferences in worship music are considered if the church is to “reach” our modern culture. The word “relevant” regularly comes up in conversations concerning one’s church of preference. Relevant is defined today as hearing a “message” that addresses “my” feelings or circumstances. The trend is to design worship for men, women, and children so that chords are struck affirming emotions. Today, church leaders diligently seek to accommodate various life stages to develop a “relevant” message. -Rev. Louis B. Tiscione; Weatherford Presbyterian Church.
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II Timothy 4:3-4:
“The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires . . . they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth.” 
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People will turn away from the truth, they will grow weary of the plain gospel of Christ, they will be greedy of fables, and take pleasure in them. People do so when they will not endure that preaching which is searching, plain, and to the purpose. Those who love souls must be ever watchful, must venture and bear all the painful effects of their faithfulness, and take all opportunities of making known the pure gospel. --Matthew Henry's Commentary
Many are becoming more and more confused and even deceived as they are embracing teachings that promise them that everything in society will just get better and more comfortable before the end. Yet this is an hour when God’s judgments will cause multitudes to learn righteousness as God’s shepherds proclaim that truth about them—yes, God’s judgments remove everything that hinders love. -Mike Bickle;Ihop
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II Timothy 4:7:
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." |
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II Timothy 4:10:
For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. |
The Greek word "ecclesia," translated "church," means a "called out company," implying separation. The early church separated themselves from the evils of the world system. This is God's ideal for the church. Every effort to unite the church and the world system is opposed to God's mind and must end in confusion. The church will never convert the world or the world's systems, although the church can get "churchy" and the church can be immensely worldly.
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