On Preaching (2 Tim 4:1-8)

What would you say is an appropriate length for a sermon? Is 20 minutes too short? Is 1 hour too long? Is 30 minutes about right? What’s your appetite for hearing the word of God proclaimed?

What are your expectations for weekly corporate gathering of the church? Do you have a high view of the word of God? Otherwise, you run the risk of subjecting how you respond on Sunday mornings to your mood and environment. 

This passage in 2 Timothy 4:1-8 should challenge our expectations and how we respond to God’s word preached. 2 Timothy is likely the last letter Paul wrote. Picture him writing this in prison, as an old man, to a young Timothy. 

This is a text that preachers should hold to before they preach! This text should also inform how we pray for our preachers! 

(A) The charge, weighty and witnessed (2 Tim 4:1-2)

In 2 Timothy 4:1, Paul establishes the seriousness of this charge by pointing to the presence of God and also to His role as judge over the living and the dead, as well as the appearing and kingdom of Christ that are to come. This is a serious matter he is talking about here! 

What does this charge do for Timothy and us? This charge is supposed to ring in Timothy’s ear every time he opens his Bible. His job is clear and simple: preach the word. As hearers then, we should understand the weightiness of the task as assigned by Paul. 

What does this look like for both the preacher and the congregation? The preacher’s task is clear, and he is to undertake this work responsibly and with all seriousness. A preacher is therefore not a creative, thought leader, nor an influencer. He is not to come up with something new. This might come as a surprise to the readers. Preaching, then, was often associated with oratory and philosophy, expected to give grand speeches on new ideas. Instead, the Bible describes the preacher as a solider under authority of God, with a clear message or script. He is not to preach his thoughts nor opinions, but what has already been revealed. The role of the preacher is very distinct because His job is to give life, body and sound to something that has already been written. It is not original to him. Therefore, it is necessary to come with a charge. 

The congregation is to listen. Now, we tend to think of the word “listen” as a passive verb but this is not the kind of listening that Paul is speaking of. He is calling for a listening that is active, that looks for the word being preached. 

What is the substance of Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2? Timothy is to “be ready in season and out of season”: He is to be ready to preach all the time when it is planned and even when it’s unplanned.  What are some out of season occasions? It could be funerals, chatting with members, hospital visits, counseling etc. We are to expect God’s word to be a part of our lives all the time.

Friends, the Bible is not opened only 1 hour a week, and we don’t expect it the rest of the week. And, we will also see that there are different modes of preaching — to reprove, rebuke and exhort. To reprove means to correct a belief or understanding. To rebuke calls for a person to see their error and turn from their ways. Have you heard this recently in preaching? 

Lastly, to exhort involves moving someone along towards an action. The preacher calls and persuades listeners to obedience, and is not content with people hearing and not doing anything about it. Have you heard exhortation in preaching? 

Timothy is also to preach “with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tim 4:2b). Why does he say this? Preaching can be discouraging. Paul knows what pastoral ministry is really like. He knows that it is hard to preach. It is not about relevance or communicating with visual aids etc. The problem is that we all only want to hear our own voice and what our passions are (2 Timothy 4:3). Our passions cannot dictate and limit what we hear in preaching, for God has more to say to us. God made us in His image yet, we try to make Him to look like us. We like His word when it is relevant to us, and reject it when it does not seem to be relevant to us. 

Preacher, do you see this? Do you change your message to suit what the congregation wants?

(B) The choice, conformity or consistency (2 Tim 4:3-5)

Paul also tells Timothy that the days ahead will be hard (2 Tim 4:3-4). He does not sugarcoat things, and he is following in Jesus’ footsteps in doing so. 

Do we do this for each other, reminding each other that things can/will be difficult? Do we help each other to see the world as it really is, and at the same time, hold on to the gospel so that we will not be tossed by trials and difficulties? 

Earlier, in 2 Timothy 3:1-9, Paul had already spoken of false teachers that are to come. Here in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, he is speaking about the listeners that will seek out any teacher that suits their interest. They are guided solely by their passions. This is an environment of pluralism and worldly listening even when it comes to God’s word. The preacher in such an environment may be very discouraged. 

Do you think we live in such an age? Do you think your church is described here? Does your heart ache as your recognise this in your heart, or in the people around you? Should we not pray that God will purify His church, beginning first with you and I, that we would hear God’s word, even if those are bitter and painful to swallow, for those are the words we believe? 

Timothy is to be a contrast in that time and Paul has specific instructions for him, in the form of four actions (2 Tim 3:5). He is to be sober-minded, or clear-headed. Timothy is to call to mind the things he knows and to allow that to guide everything else. This is what he needs to face the difficult days to come! 

Timothy is to also “endure suffering”. The command is clear — endure! Earlier, Paul had already been writing of his own suffering (c.f. 2 Tim 1:8). Now, he is calling Timothy to join him, for Jesus’ sake.

Timothy was told to “do the work of an evangelist”. He is to tell people of the good news and not to allow himself to be affected by his circumstances, that he forgets to evangelise. Especially when it is hard and no one wants to hear it, Timothy is to bring good news. 

Finally, Timothy is to “fulfill your ministry”. He is to finish the mission, give it all and complete his service. 

Paul’s charge to Timothy comes with a choice. In an environment when people are not interested, Timothy must be sober-minded, enduring suffering, focusing on the gospel and seek to finish his service. 

(C) The crown, prepared and promised (2 Tim 4:6-8)

Paul speaks of being poured out as a drink offering (2 Tim 4:6). This picture was also used in Philippians 2:17, Here in 2 Timothy 4:6, he speaks of “already being poured out as a drink offering”.

Genesis 35:14 is the earliest reference to a drink offering. The act of a drink offering is being poured out in worship. When Jacob wanted to worship God, he had to do something — build and altar. He actively went about it to allow worship to happen. 

Here in 2 Timothy 4:6, Paul is saying that he is offering up his life as worship to God. He is giving of himself. He lays before the Lord everything and withholds nothing. He is not holding back personal dreams, hopes, family, ambition etc. He is already being poured out. 

Having given it all for the gospel, Paul is aware that ‘the time of my departure has come” (2 Tim 4:6b). He see that he has fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7). He speaks about the completion of gospel ministry and his service to God. Only then, is the fight done, and faith turned to sight.

Is this how we see gospel ministry? Is this how we understand worship? If we open our lips to sing the praises of Christ and it costs us nothing, what’s the difference between that and false worship? Have we offered Christ our very lives? 

What will happen “henceforth” to Paul? Paul looks forward to the “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:8) . These were the wreaths placed on the head of victors, the winner of the race. 

Who is to give it to him? The righteous judge, the one who sees all (c.f. 2 Tim 4:1). 

Why does Timothy need to know this? Timothy must not measure his ministry by the reception of man. It must not be measured by the itching ears of man. The preacher is accountable to this judge, even unto death and beyond death. 

This is the case for all who have loved his appearing. Friend, do you love God’s word? Do you feel like no one else around you is holding on and holding fast to this word? If you feel that way, take great comfort. There are many whom the Lord has for His own. They hold His word and treasure it. One day, when the judge appears, we will meet with brothers and sisters from persecuted lands and they too, will receive the crowns of righteousness. 

What are your expectations fro the reached word of God? Do you hear the weighty charge for preachers? They will all have to give an account to God. They have a choice to make — to be clear about what God says, even in a world that doesn’t care for it. What awaits all who are faithful to this word? A crown of righteousness. 

As we read these words in 2 Timothy 4, how should we pray for ourselves, for our churches, for the men who stand in the pulpits? How should we as the “congregation”, think about the ministry of the word? How should we think about the crown of righteousness prepared and promised those who have fought the fight, finished the race and kept the faith?