Paul was an example to Timothy because he ministered to others without considering himself. He was able to endure all things and focus on Christ.
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Endure All Things
2 Timothy 2:8-13
- The Apostle Paul is speaking to Timothy in our passage of the day
- You’ll recognize the context if you caught yesterday’s lesson
- We find Paul speaking more of himself here
- Making note of his commitment to continue in service for Christ
- Despite the difficulties of persecution
- And you may be familiar with the beatings and imprisonments he endured
- Paul is an example for Timothy
- And an example for us
- As he thinks, not of himself, but of others who believe
- Or will believe as a result of his ministry
- Those that he calls the elect or the chosen
- For these, he will “Endure All Things”
- That is our theme, from 2 Timothy 2:8-13
- In the verses immediately preceding our passage of the day
- Near the beginning of this chapter
- We find Paul saying that Timothy should teach what he taught
- To pass along the doctrines he declared among many witnesses to faithful men
- So that those men could also go forth teaching
- The teaching is, of course, Christ and Him crucified
- How that His death, burial, and resurrection can provide a means of salvation
- Providing we place our faith in Him, receive Him
- When we do, we must follow
- That means knowing Him and knowing His teachings
- Paul starts with details of his teachings
- Then speaks of his own journey as a disciple
- Let’s read this entire text, then look at each verse…
2 Timothy 2:8-13
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
- This passage speaks of the regular difficulty of serving Christ
- Paul had his share of experience with persecution
- And he was encouraging Timothy here to be a good soldier
- To endure hardness, as it says earlier in the chapter
- His words were not hollow
- He was enduring himself, daily
- It was worthwhile for Timothy to take note
- The same can be said for us
- Let’s look closer at the details…
2 Timothy 2:8
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
- The gospel Paul set out to proclaim included Christ’s resurrection
- Meaning, He literally died, and He literally resurrected from the dead
- Jesus was the promised seed of David
- The One foretold in Old Testament scriptures
- Who would save His people from their sins
- And also be a light to the Gentiles
- This gospel is the one Timothy was to proclaim
- To pass along to faithful men
- And it was the gospel empowering his life to face whatever hardships would come
- We know they came to Paul…
2 Timothy 2:9
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
- Trouble of many kinds came to Paul for his faith
- He was treated as an evil-doer
- Not for doing evil, but for doing good
- For boldly proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ
- For insisting He raised from the dead
- He was imprisoned for teaching truth
- He was often beaten
- And his life was under nearly constant threat
- Paul was not unique
- Many at this time faced persecution for Jesus’ name
- And many in our day face this kind of persecution
- While we enjoy freedom to speak and teach the gospel in our country
- On our island
- This is not so the world over
- Many can imagine imprisonment in their future
- But, even when God’s people are locked up
- Often when many are being locked up
- The word of God still goes forth
- Persecution has, historically, had a multiplying effect
- Because the word of God is not bound
- It can take deep root in the hearts of those who hear it
- Many times because those proclaiming it are bound
- Yet they continue praising and clinging to Him
- The credibility of the saints is elevated in these times
- This was certainly true for the Apostle Paul
- That is why he says…
2 Timothy 2:10
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
- Paul endured because there were people yet to be saved
- Remaining in their sins
- Still not knowing the transforming power of the gospel
- And knowing Jesus himself
- The wonder of rest in the hope of eternal life
- Paul desired to pass that hope along
- Not just because he loved them, but because He loved God
- And had a mission to serve Him
- Timothy had, and we have, the same mission
- And our thankfulness for salvation should overflow into ministry to others
- We should love them as He loved us
- And determine to keep going through testing and trial and torment
- Because Christ is worthy of our perseverance
- And souls are worth exerting effort to reach
- And we should remember the next verse…
2 Timothy 2:11
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
- To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord
- To live is Christ, to die is gain
- We have the hope of the resurrection
- Therefore, when we face persecution, we can do so with hope
- We shall live with Him
- Taking our lives is the worst the enemies of Christ can do
- But this is not the end
- It is the beginning of our life in glory with Him
- This is the hope any ministry of Christ can have
- Without wavering
- As the passage goes on…
2 Timothy 2:12-13
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
- The suffering saint can look forward to reigning with Him
- Certainly, no one must deny Him
- By the way, this is to persist in denying Him
- It’s not just to deny Him once under pressure
- We know Peter denied Him three times
- Yet Jesus went on to say to Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep
- And He did, faithfully
- If we fail in our belief
- He does not fail
- He remains faithful
- He cannot deny Himself
- Paul was enduring all things
- No matter what came his way for the sake of Christ
- Timothy was to do the same
- We must do the same