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Title: Introduction to 2 Timothy Text: 2 Timothy 1:1-2 FCF: We often struggle overemphasizing our role in the call of God. Prop: Because God is all that is behind His callings, we must continue the gospel ministry. Book Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 2 Timothy chapter 1. Second Timothy is the last letter in the Pastoral Epistles. When we began we made sure to provide an overall introduction for this series and then a specific intro for each letter within. So let me remind you of a few things about the series, get some specifics about 2 Timothy and then we will read the book, and study the greeting. Be thinking now if you want to be a reader of a chapter of 2 Timothy. In a bit here I’ll be asking for volunteers to come up and read. Lots to do today, so lets get to it. [Slide 2] REVIEW: These books are called Pastoral Epistles. Epistle is another name for letter and Pastoral is attempting to communicate their genre. However, we noted that these epistles should probably be called Ecclesiastical epistles since they relate more to how the church is to function with reference to the gospel of Christ. 1 Timothy and Titus share a common theme only slightly tailored to their specific audiences. The gospel shapes and forms the church. In this we saw that doctrine which is received by true faith produces a person conformed to Christ. 2 Timothy will deviate from that theme slightly but we will get to that in a moment. Although some scholars try to discredit Pauline authorship, their case is not easily made. Indeed, most accept Paul as the author. That is the extent of what we need to review of the series itself. Let’s move into 2 Timothy specifically. [Slide 3] 2 Timothy Proper – Reader The letter is addressed to Timothy. The same Timothy that Paul sent his fist letter to. Let’s remind ourselves of some key details of Timothy. Timothy was the son of a Gentile father and Jewish mother named Eunice. His mother came to Christ prior to Paul’s 2nd Missionary journey. His mother and grandmother Lois were responsible in teaching him the scriptures. (Most of this we discover in this book) He lived in Lystra. He came to Christ during Paul’s first missionary journey when he visited Lystra in Acts 14. During the second journey Paul and Silas added Timothy to their party (Acts 16). Paul had him circumcised mainly to not be a stumbling block to those he ministered to since he was half Jewish. Timothy co-wrote with Paul 6 of his 10 non-pastoral epistles. He was sent to Thessalonica, Macedonia, Philippi and Corinth. Overall, Paul trusted him implicitly, although there was one character flaw with Timothy. Paul in a couple places speaks of how timid Timothy was. He was probably not a coward so much, as he was simply soft spoken and easy to be steamrolled. Unfortunately, this character flaw persists even to this letter which we will see. What is the occasion and date of 2 Timothy. Or to ask the question differently – Why is Paul writing again? [Slide 4] 2 Timothy Proper – Occasion and Date Well we left Paul as he was wintering in Nicopolis. Sometime shortly thereafter, Paul is arrested once again and taken to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. Since we suppose that Paul wrote 1 Timothy and Titus sometime between AD 63-65, and his execution is probably between 67-68 sometime. This gives us a general idea of somewhere between AD 65-67 is when Paul writes this letter. But why? What does he have to say? That is the interesting part. Although it is true, there are still false teachers in Ephesus, and Timothy’s work is not quite done there. Paul seems to be writing not because of what is happening in Ephesus, but rather, because of what is happening in Rome. Paul understands that his life is about to end. And in this, he is sending, what amounts to one of the most personal letters in the New Testament. It is his final marching orders to Timothy and the church, on how to endure in their own race and be found faithful. Paul writes to insure that Timothy and the church in general, are preserved by the gospel of Christ. So what are some key themes of 2 Timothy? [Slide 5] 2 Timothy Proper – Key Themes 1.) Holding fast to sound doctrine and holy practice 2.) Avoiding needless controversies and disputes 3.) The primacy of the scriptures in preserving the church of God 4.) How to sort out vessels made for holy uses and vessels made for common uses 5.) Prophesy about the end times and the corruption in the visible church We also are continuing to look out for two ecclesiastical phrases in this letter as we did with the previous two. [Slide 6] 2 Timothy Proper – Ecclesiastical phrases 1.) In chapter 2 we will see another of Paul’s trustworthy sayings, which is easy to identify but hard to swallow. 2.) In chapter 4 Paul will break out into Doxology – a song of praise. It will be interesting to note why he does this in this letter, because it seems on the surface to be different than the others. Although it actually isn’t. Finally, as I have done the last two books, I will whet your appetite with some theological challenges and spicy topics we will be covering in 2 Timothy. Just because I list them here doesn’t mean I actually know what the answers are. Not yet