The Pastoral Epistles: 2 Timothy 3 (3)

Pray Psalm 2.11.
Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.

Read and meditate on 2 Timothy 3.10-12.

Reflect.
1. How is Paul using the word “followed” in verse 10?

2. How is he using the word “delivered” in verse 11?

Meditate.
In 1 Corinthians 11.1, Paul commands his readers to imitate him, just as he imitated Christ. In our text for today, Paul commends Timothy because, apparently, he did just that. Notice the many areas of Paul’s life and teaching mentioned here. First, Timothy conformed himself to Paul’s teaching. He didn’t just listen to Paul; he did what Paul taught.

Everything else follows from that. From Paul’s teaching, Timothy set his purpose in life and his faith. He was fixed on Jesus and he would not turn back. Like Paul, Timothy knew longsuffering and love, but also perseverance, persecutions, and afflictions. He may have shared in some of these with Paul. He surely had troubles of his own as well. 

Paul was sustained through all these things by the Lord Jesus. His suffering was real, as was Timothy’s. But Jesus delivered them, sustaining them through their trials and bringing them through to greater growth and ministry.

All of which raises the question: What do we expect from our experience of faith? If we listen to and follow Jesus and Paul, we should expect to love well, serve faithfully, persevere in obedience, and suffer various trials and afflictions. It is given to all who trust in Jesus, not only to believe in Him, but to suffer for His Name (v. 12; cf. Phil. 1.29). 

So we shouldn’t try to dodge or avoid it. Just be faithful. Live for Jesus. Proclaim Jesus to the world. And let the Lord handle the responses (cf. Acts 17.32-34). Like Paul and Timothy, we need to have great expectations about our discipleship, and those will include everything that happened to the apostles, and to our Lord Himself.

Reflect.
1. What are some ways believers in our day might expect to suffer for the Lord?

2. How can we prepare for persecutions and afflictions, so that we endure through them and know the deliverance of the Lord?

3. How can believers help one another to carefully follow Paul’s teaching and example?

Here he calls afflictions and sorrows “persecutions.” Anyone who pursues the course of virtue should not expect to avoid grief, tribulation and temptations.John Chrysostom (344-407), Homilies on 2 Timothy 8

Strengthen me, Lord, for whatever may come today, so that I will be…

Pray Psalm 2.10-12.
What do you fear as you think about serving the Lord? Fear the Lord instead, and love Him, and He will give you the courage you need..

Sing Psalm 2.9-12
Psalm 2.9-12 (Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High!).
To Christ the Lord be given all who humbly embrace Him and on Him call.
Be wise, be warned: His judgment comes to break the prideful, sinful ones.

Rejoice with fear in Jesus’ grace, and worship before His exalted face!
Beware His anger and judgment grim: How blessed are all who rest in Him!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).