Paul asks Timothy to deeply consider his words in 2 Timothy 2:1-7. Paul uses the experiences of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer to relate to his ministry in the church.
You can play, download, or read the transcript of this Take Note Podcast below.
In All Things
2 Timothy 2:1-7
- The Apostle Paul speaks to his son in the faith, Timothy, in our text of the day
- Advice and prayers for Timothy are key to the verses we’ll address
- The experiences of a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer are used to relate to Christian ministry
- What it takes to be successful in these worldly pursuits will have a thing or two to teach us
- As we try to gain understanding in our role as Jesus’ disciple
- Timothy was urged to consider these words deeply
- I pray they will give us valuable insight too
- “In All Things,” which is our theme of the day
- From 2 Timothy 2:1-7
- Like many passages of scripture we address here
- It would be best to know the context before and following this passage
- Paul speaks to Timothy on a variety of topics and in a variety of ways
- Most are related to Timothy’s ministry in the church
- These seven verses are no exception
- Timothy is urged to do some things
- He’s given some advice
- And encouraged on his way
- Every word from Paul has deep meaning for us too
- Let’s read the full passage first, then take a closer look at individual verses…
2 Timothy 2:1-7
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
- I pray that we would have understanding “In All Things” too
- As that is our theme
- And a key wrap-up phrase in this section of 2 Timothy
- Beginning in verse 1…
2 Timothy 2:1
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Disciples of Christ can be strengthened by grace
- As we face the challenges of the Christian life
- Experiencing His grace throughout
- We have further strength to carry on
- This grace is a gift we don’t deserve
- It is something which affords joy, pleasure, delight
- All of these come because we know Christ
- He grants forgiveness of sin and eternal life
- And He empowers us to do His will
- Knowing this, experiencing this, gives us strength to move forward
- Timothy was to move forward in Christ’s grace
- Because he had work to do in the lives of others…
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
- That which Timothy heard in this letter
- And in previous sessions with Paul
- Those which were public, and affirmed by others
- He was to pass along
- Faithful men were to be selected
- And the truth was to be taught
- Because there is an established pattern in the church
- Men who come to know Christ as Savior are discipled in His ways
- They learn His teachings
- They mature in their walk with Him
- And they begin to teach and minister to others
- Who follow the same pattern
- The ministry of any believer is to be a disciple-maker
- And this was to be Timothy’s ministry too
- Both in His official role in the church
- And in any and every other context of His life
- Pastors, deacons, teachers, and all others are to make disciples
- Disciples that will carry on that teaching
- Such as that which we read in this passage and others
- Let’s go on…
2 Timothy 2:3
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
- The life of a soldier is not unlike the life of a disciple
- Just as a soldier faces difficulty, sometimes extreme difficulty
- Ministers will have their share
- Jesus made this clear, when He said we would face persecutions
- These difficulties, this pain, this hardship should not slow us down
- It should be endured
- Because this is the life of a soldier for Christ
- And as we heard earlier in the passage: He gives grace
- If we are to be a good soldier, we must endure
- There is work to do
- There is a mission to accomplish
- And it is all for the commander – Christ
- But soldiers face particular dangers
- Not just the danger of the enemy or of battle…
2 Timothy 2:4
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
- To become entangled in the everyday concerns of life would not do
- A soldier must be fully engaged in the battle
- Not stopping to deal with trivial matters
- Matters that relate not to the battlefield
- Generals and leaders of men expect soldiers to be committed
- What does this entanglement look like?
- It can be anything that takes the minister’s mind off his mission
- Anything that slows us down
- That becomes a distraction
- That makes it impossible to fight the battle effectively
- The Bible would call some weights that serve as a burden
- Or they could be sins
- Or any other unnecessary hindrance
- Our mission is to please to One who called us to be a soldier
- That is Christ himself
- Athletes have the same kind of mandate…
2 Timothy 2:5
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
- The verse can be restated this way…
“An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”
- Or like this…
“Athletes in a race must obey all the rules to win.”
- We know this to be true
- We know of a thing called disqualification
- The disqualified don’t win
- There results are often just thrown out
- Ministers must work according to Biblical guidelines
- Must operate as He commands we operate
- For He is in charge
- There is one other person to consider…
2Timothy 2:6
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
- Restated, this passage says…
“It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.”
- One of the benefits of hard work is the fruit
- The crops
- The results of the labor
- Ministers enjoy these benefits too
- As God allows the fruit to be produced
- We share in the joy of that fruit in the lives of those we disciple
- There is no greater joy
- Consideration of all these things should have its effect….
2 Timothy 2:7
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
- These are things to deeply consider for Timothy
- Each of these examples deserve some thought
- The character traits and attributes included have depth
- God seems to use them to give us understanding
- Understanding is important in ministry
- And in all things