Following this series, we see how Paul’s call to Timothy is repeated and consistent — guard the gospel, know it well, live it out, fight the good fight, finish well. Tonight’s study is almost a summary of what we’ve heard so far, repackaged, restated, but the difference here is Paul wraps this package up with a beautiful and important bow on top — He talks about how Scripture undergirds all of this.
Paul’s argument tonight is incredibly simple: The key to a godly life is the God-breathed Scripture, and everything that it informs — theology, conviction and life.
(A) Following a godly life: Theology, conviction and gospel fruit modelled in discipleship (2 Tim 3:10-11)
In 2 Timothy 3:10-11, Paul refers to what Timothy has seen and learnt as he followed Paul, and we will unpack this and look at each set of phrases closely. To help us understand this, we will also take a look at another of Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Reading both letters together will help us to gain a better understanding of what Paul is writing to Timothy.
Firstly, Paul speaks of his theology — “my teaching, my conduct” (2 Tim 3:10a). We see a picture of Paul’s teaching and conduct, both informed by his theology. How would we describe Paul’s understanding of who God is?
Philippians 3 is a helpful cross-reference for us. From this chapter, we see that Paul believes in these truths:
I rejoice in the Lord (Phil 3:1).
I place no confidence in the flesh (Phil 3:2-7).
I am righteous through faith in Christ alone, who is the greatest treasure (3:8-10).
I am not yet perfect, but I press on for future glorification. I am Christ’s, and there is gospel freedom in seeking godliness (Phil 3:12-15a).
God is sovereign and in control (Phil 3:15b).
Pursue godliness and stay the course (Phil 3:16-19).
We have a sure and living hope in Jesus, and an eternity in Heaven to look forward to (Phil 3:20-21).
We see a clear laser-focus on the gospel and its promises on implications on justification, sanctification and glorification. This is who Timothy sat under. This is the theology that was taught to him day in and day out.
And as a result of his theology, he is able to be joyful, despite his suffering. Paul’s theology is modelled for Timothy.
What can we say of our theology? Are we as clear? Are we established in the truths of His word? What are we sure of? What are we not sure of? Why is that so?
What are some promises that God has given us that we don’t quite believe? What are some attributes of God we consistently struggle to believe?
Are we content with just a piecemeal understanding of His word? What are some areas in our lives we refuse to give up? Are we content to carve out a little corner where no theology is allowed?
Friends, we have free access to God’s word. What are we doing with such a gift?
Secondly, Paul’s conviction is clear (“my aim in life”, 2 Tim 3:10a) We get a sense of Paul’s purpose in life. Philippians 1:19-21 lays it out clearly for us. He speaks of how “to live is Christ, to die is gain”. Paul declares that whether he continues to live in persecution and pain, he does so to honour Christ. He does so that more may know Him. Death is seen as gain as Paul cannot wait to be with Christ again, for that is far better (Phil 1:23). So if he lives, it is for Christ. If he dies, may it be for Christ as well.
Paul models for us a way of living life in a way that is preparing us for what we gain in death, rather than living life in a way that has nothing to do with death. This gospel conviction shaped all of his decisions. This is why he labours, toils, continues to preach despite persecution and suffering. He sees his life as preparing to gain Christ when he dies. He knows that his life is not his own to life, but to live for Christ.
This gospel conviction allowed him to endure suffering. We’ll see in the next row. This conviction took him to city after city to proclaim the gospel, because to Paul this was and is the most important thing he could possibly be called to do. This conviction caused him to study God’s word and proclaim it day in and day out. Jail? I’ll preach to the guards.
What is your aim in life? What are your convictions? What drives you to do what you do?
Oftentimes our actions and decisions reveal a lot about our aims in life — what do you spend your time and money on? What gets you up in the morning? What keeps you up at night? What are our aims? Good grades? A good respectable job? A promotion? A nice house? Your next holiday? A relationship? Recognition? Money? Comfort?
What we spend our days and nights doing often reveals what our aims are.
Remember also how Paul was a tentmaker. He was a lay person with a job like you and I. Yet he keeps going with the strength that God has given. Consider this: Perhaps you have more time and more energy and more bandwidth than you think. What are you giving yourself to? What is your aim in life? What do you spend your day doing and your nights thinking about?
Third, we see gospel fruit in Paul’s life (“my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness”, 2 Tim 3:10b).
In Philippians 2:12-17, we see his unwavering faithfulness in his beliefs, we see how he lives out the gospel in work and deed, we see how he loves and is patient with and is unchanging in his hopes and desires for the Philippian church. We see the extent to which he is willing to be spent — to be poured out as a drink offering for your sake (i.e. thoroughly fully spent). And sometimes the people were by no means easy to deal with or loveable!
We see the outflow of Paul’s theology and conviction here — the gospel has borne fruit in his own life — to be unwavering in his faith, to be patient with the frustrating, to love the unlovable, to remain steadfast and unchanging no matter the cost. We hear peace in his words — even if I were to be poured out and spent, so be it. We see his joy in his conviction — be glad and rejoice with me.
Have you considered the fruit in your own life? Is there gospel fruit in your life? What would you point at as evidence that God has done a work in your life? Do you find yourself in positions to exercise these gifts? Can you love the unlovable? Are we at peace when we see others getting ahead because of how we’ve chosen to spend our time? Do we experience the gospel joy and freedom we see in Paul’s life?
Finally, Paul also writes about his persecutions and sufferings, and from this, we see more of his convictions and gospel fruit in his life (2 Tim 3:11). We see records of his persecution in Acts 13:50, 14:5 and 14:19. These show us such clear evidence of his conviction and the fruit in his life. We’ll cover this in just a bit.
But before we move on to that, consider how Paul started this section. “You, however, have followed me…” (2 Tim 3:10). A big part of what we do and talk about as Bible-believing, Scripture-chugging Christians is discipleship — the modelling of life for those that come after us. The reading and teaching of Scripture, the showing how life is done, the going before so that those that come after may know how to live. Consider Timothy’s life and how it was impacted by Paul’s discipling. Do we have such an influence in our lives? Are we in positions to look around and look at the saints that have come before us an imitate their way of life, their passion and love for God and His Word?
(B) Realities of a godly life: Godliness leads to persecution, evil leads to endless lies (2 Tim 3:12-13)
By following Paul and Christ, Paul tells Timothy clearly that persecution is guaranteed (2 Tim 3:12). Paul is not shy about these expectations. He states clearly that persecution is to be expected, and yet, he continues to ask Timothy to follow him.
Neither is Christ, as he said in John 15:18–20: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.”
So why on earth would Timothy still want to follow Paul? Why then would he want to follow Christ? Because it is worth it. Consider what Paul has modelled for Timothy and what we’ve seen in the previous verses. The greatest treasure of all is salvation in Jesus Christ. It is worth more than any riches this world can offer. This is why Paul can count everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ!
Do we suffer for the sake of the gospel? I think back on my week and I don’t have to think far to know I’ve intentionally avoided conversations that would otherwise have put me in the line of fire. Are we more concerned with the consequences of standing for our faith, and the social and economical backlash that might come?
What does it mean if we are not persecuted? Perhaps we need to give pause and see if we are living like the world. Jesus’ words teach us that following Him naturally leads to persecution, for the world hated Him first.
Do we suffer because of the message we stand for and preach? Or do we suffer because we’re just insufferable people? Let’s not mistake the two — suffering persecution for the gospel is one thing, suffering and facing pushback because you’re not a very pleasant person is a whole other thing.
A big part of Paul’s teachings and what is recorded of his life is about his persecution and suffering — while we thank God for a day and age and country where we don’t necessarily face the same thing, it would be worth our time to think if the lack of pushback from the world is because we’re not too different from it after all. Let us think about how we live out our faith.
On the other hand, we are told that the evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived (2 Tim 3:13).
Who are these? These godless he talked about earlier in 2 Timothy 3 — lovers of self, lovers of money etc. To these, the endless cycle of deceit and lies is promised. Condemnation is promised to these people as we see in other parts of scripture, and we see the cycle of going from bad to worse, lying and being lied to, as they descend further and further from truth and salvation.
What an image for us — a descent into hell and hopelessness and non-truth. Can you imagine that? Never knowing what or who you can trust? Worldliness and godlessness might often feel good in the moment — we know what that feels like. But we can be sure of this — that it is a slow cyclical descent into condemnation if we pursue the things of this world, the things that are not of God.
Consider the same language he uses in Titus 3:3, “For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.”
Perhaps this is why Paul found the gospel all the more precious — he was once like that, and so were we. Do we see the blessing in gospel freedom? Do we count ourselves free? Friends, the freedom and joy and fruit we saw in section A stands all the more in stark contrast to the condemnation promised to the godless. Such are the realities of a godly and godless life.
What a comfort it is to know that something is true, reliable, trustworthy and will not change! So many of our anxieties are because of things that change and are untrue. But God’s word is true. God is true and unchanging. What a joy it is!
(C) Continuing a godly life: Devoted to the study of scripture for salvation, training and fruit (2 Tim 3:14-17)
What is Paul’s desire for Timothy? Paul desires for Timothy to continue in his faith, to continue in what he has learned and what he believes (2 Tim 3:14a).
This is similar to what Paul has written in Philippians 3:18–19: “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”
Paul has been around long enough to know how easy it is to forget the gospel — its truths, convictions and promises. Perhaps some of us are too. Perhaps some of us know of friends who have fallen away.
Friends — continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed. Continue in your faith. Continue in what you know. Continue in what you believe. Do not falter, do not stray. Keep the path, fight the good fight, continue in your walk.
What does he call Timothy to remember? Remember from whom you learned it (2 Tim 3:14b-15). How tender and sweet this word and picture is. Not only does he call on his discipleship of Timothy, but he reminds him of his mother and grandmother and what they taught him (c.f. 2 Tim 1:5).
What a privilege it was for Timothy, and how wonderfully did he make use of his spiritual upbringing for God’s glory. I wonder how many of us think in similar terms — what a blessing it is to be a “second generation Christian”, to be exposed to Scripture and the gospel at a young age.
Perhaps not all of us had that blessing, but we certainly are a group of young men and women here. How are we using these opportunities to ground ourselves in God’s Word as young people, with Lord-willing a whole life ahead of us? As we grow older, how will we hold out this same gospel to the next generation?
This is what is told to us in Deuteronomy 6:7, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Similarly, in Psalm 78:4, "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.”
Do you know a child — in church, your relatives? Get to know the children in your church. Model it for them!
We also see clearly the goal of the “sacred writings”. It is not more knowledge and stuff. Scripture is able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. This is why Bible reading is so important!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 shows us how at the heart of the godly life is Scripture. Let us also break down how Paul describes it.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Tim 3:16a). This means that it is inspired by Him and they are His words! It is true, trustworthy, inerrant, authoritative, unchanging, reliable. It is such a gift to us. Let’s not waste and squander it.
It is also “profitable for teaching, for reproof” (2 Tim 3:16b). It tells us of who God is and what He has done. This is why sound doctrine is important, and need to find and seek it out!
Scripture is also “for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16c). It is for life! It is for us to obey, to follow, just as Paul wrote about in Philippians 2:12b.
Why? It is so “that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17). The goal is completion and to be equipped! What a thought that Scripture enables us to be complete! All we need for life is in this book. A man of God is a man of God’s word.
In this section of 2 Timothy, there are 2 main verbs: Follow and continue. These are also how we ought to act. We are to follow those that have come before as they follow Christ. We are also to continue in the faith. Paul, Timothy and the saints before us have modelled it for us. May we also do so for those that come after us.