7) 3:1-9 Avoid false teachers in the “last days” who slip into households and lead believers astray. They are like Pharoah’s magicians (Paul even names them even though they are not named in Exodus) who tried to lead Pharoah into not believing that Moses was giving him the word of God. Those “last days” would be the last days of the Jewish Age (from 30 AD to 70 AD when the temple was destroyed by the Romans), but Paul’s warning would apply to us today living in the Messianic Age (the “age to come”). Look at the list of sins given in these verses and you will see the same today. There are still plenty of false teaches who “slip into” the church and lead believers astray, starting up cults or splitting churches, preaching for money and interested in power and control.

8) 3:10-12 Follow my (Paul’s) teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings.” Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Would you recommend that someone you are mentoring follow your example in these matters? We are to follow Jesus’ example, but it sure helps to have some mentor in our lives to set the example for us. I’ve had mentors like that. When my wife and I first left Birmingham to attend a school of preaching for 2 years in West Monroe, La, we met Hugh and Dorothy Minor. They became mentors and examples to my wife and I all through the years during the school and after that as our paths crossed over the years. We had the privilege of working with them for many years here in Huntsville before they passed away. Hugh especially was my mentor with the way he handled church matters and problems. His wisdom, love, and patience was so obvious. I only wish we had spent more time with them. Unfortunately, that’s what we often say when a friend dies, so go spend more time with that person now.

9) 3:13-17 Continue in the scriptures that you were taught from childhood that are able to make you wise unto salvation in Jesus through faith. That would be OT scriptures that he would have been taught in childhood of course. But Paul then gives a great statement on all Scriptures: 3:¹⁶ All Scripture (graphé: Scripture, writing) is inspired (theopneustos: God-breathed, inspired by God) by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.” From AI: “ In the New Testament, “graphé” primarily refers to the sacred writings of the Old Testament, regarded as divinely inspired and authoritative. It is used to denote the collection of books that constitute the Hebrew Bible, which were considered the Word of God by early Christians. The term underscores the belief in the divine origin and enduring authority of these texts.” A good definition of “inspiration” is found in 2 Peter 1:²⁰ knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. ²¹ For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” Their original writings and teachings were infallible words of the Holy Spirit even though they were allowed to use their own vocabulary and thoughts. We don’t have the original OT or NT writings, but we have plenty of manuscripts and translations that are trustworthy. The battle today is about the inspiration of the Bible. From the gallup poll, 2022: “A record-low 20% of Americans now say the Bible is the literal word of God, down from 24% the last time the question was asked in 2017, and half of what it was at its high points in 1980 and 1984. Meanwhile, a new high of 29% say the Bible is a collection of “fables, legends, history and moral precepts recorded by man.” Bottom line, if you believe fallible men wrote the Bible, then it is not the authoritative word of God binding on us today. The inspiration of the apostle Paul is questioned when he condemns homosexuality. Those who question that might still say they believe the Bible is the word of God, but they would “twist” his writings (2 Peter 3:16), saying that Paul’s writings are just his homophobic opinions not binding on us. So it is important that we correctly understand the claim of the inspiration of the Bible.

When Paul says “All Scripture” I think he is here including any of the NT inspired writings along with the OT scriptures. Peter calls Paul’s writings “Scripture” in 2 Peter 3:¹⁵ And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, ¹⁶ as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” By 67 AD when Paul wrote 2 Timothy, there would have been several NT inspired writings like the gospels, Paul’s other letters, and the rest of the NT letters that were being circulated and copied by the churches.

10) 4:1-5 Do the work of an evangelist: preach the word at all times, patiently correcting, rebuking, and exhorting. Paul said that times would come when men would “not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” BTW, Paul also said: 4:1 I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to (mello, always means “about to” in the NT) judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign”. That imminent judgment was the motivation for being diligent in preaching the word, to get people ready for that judgement. The Bereans were the example of those who searched the OT scriptures to see if Paul’s teaching about the Messiah was true. Acts 17: ¹¹ Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Paul told the Thessalonian believers: 1 Thessalonians 2:¹³ For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe.” Contrast that with those that Paul predicts would accumulate teachers who would simply tell them what they want to hear and not what the word of God says. We are faced with that today big time. The Bible is clear in condemning the LGBQT movement and teachings. But that movement still has hundreds of paid preachers who tell them what they want to hear, i.e. that homosexuality is not a sin, even though the word of God clearly condemns it.

11) 4:9-15 Come to me in Rome as soon as possible, before winter (4:21), bringing Mark, my overcoat, and books. We don’t know if Timothy made it to see Paul before he was beheaded in 67 AD. Only Luke is with Paul in this 2nd Roman imprisonment, others having deserted him or gone on to do evangelistic work (like Titus to Dalmatia).

12) 4:19-21 Greet Aquila and Priscilla and Onesiphorus. Aquila and Priscilla had made tents with Paul in Corinth before moving to Ephesus, and had a housechurch in Ephesus when Paul wrote 2 Timothy. Onesiphorus is only mentioned twice in the NT (here and 2 Timothy 1:16). He had served Paul during the 3 years Paul spent in Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey. He had come to Paul in his 2nd Roman imprisonment and helped Paul. So Paul ends 2 Timothy with “tell everyone hello; give them my love.”

In closing, let’s notice Paul’s “mood and state of mind” during this 2nd imprisonment. He was fully expecting to die soon. 4:⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” He is disappointed at those who forsook him and left him, no doubt fearing they would be imprisoned. 1:¹⁵ You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes.” 4: ¹⁰ for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” 4:¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them.” But he is not “doom and gloom”. 1:¹² For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 4:⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; ⁸ in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 4:¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Will you be able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” when your death is imminent? Will you be fully confident that the Lord will reward you with eternal life in the heavenly kingdom? Paul is such a great example for us to follow. He said in Philippians 1 that he preferred to die even during his first imprisonment in Rome (Acts 27, 28) but that he thought that the Lord wanted him to live and preach longer, and he was indeed released. “For me to die is gain, but to live is Christ”, he said. But now in 2 Timothy, he is ready to go. After reading what all Paul suffered since becoming a believer in Jesus, you can see why he was ready to go. 2 Corinthians 12: in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; ²⁷ I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. ²⁹ Who is weak without my being weak? Who is ^[k]led into sin without my intense concern?” Paul was probably about 30 years old when he was converted (Acts 9) and about 60 years old when he died. Paul had 30 long, tough years as the apostle to the Gentiles! He sufferred much and often. He gave his life for Jesus, martyred in Rome by Nero.

I’m glad Paul wrote this last letter to Timothy before he died. There is so much in it for us today!