The Pastoral Epistles: 2 Timothy 4 (4)

Pray Psalm 57.7-9.
My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.

Read and meditate on 2 Timothy 4.6-8.

Reflect.
1. What images does Paul use to refer to his own ministry? Why are these apt?

2. What is the “crown of righteousness”? Who should expect to receive it?

Meditate.
Paul, as he supposed, was nearing the end of his life. As he reflected on his service to the Lord, four powerful images assured him that, having been faithful in his calling, he would be received into the Lord’s presence with joy.

First, Paul likened his life to “a drink offering” (v. 6). A drink offering involved pouring out a precious liquid such as wine to the Lord, for His consumption and delight, so to speak. Paul, who spent and was spent for the souls of those he served (2 Cor. 12.15), and who exhorted all his readers to make an offering of their lives to the Lord (Rom. 12.1, 2), saw himself as a drink offering – all he was and did was for the Lord.

Second, as his “departure” from this life approached, Paul reflected that he had “fought the good fight” all his days (v. 7). He probably refers here to the spiritual warfare he described in Ephesians 6 and elsewhere. He insists that he always showed up for battle, armed to gain victories for the Lord. He mastered the disciplines of a spiritual warrior, and these made him always ready to overcome every foe. He also admits that his life as a follower of Christ was no cushy enterprise; he had to fight and struggle against all kinds of opposition.

Third, Paul links his life with the Olympic games, seeing himself as having run a good race for the Lord (v. 7). He ran to win, as he said elsewhere (1 Cor. 9.24, 25), and win is exactly what he did. He never lost sight of the goal, and he never broke stride; he didn’t drop out; and he was faithfully handing the baton to Timothy, for the next leg of the race (2 Tim. 2.2).

Finally, Paul resorts to a familiar and much-loved image, that of a keeping vessel (cf. Rom. 9.21-23; 2 Cor. 4.7; 1 Thess. 4.4; 2 Tim. 2.20, 21) – like a wineskin, a serving dish, or a safety deposit box (v. 7). The faith that God deposited with him by grace, Paul kept and invested so that it produced a far-reaching return for the Lord’s glory.

No wonder he’s confident about the crown of glory and righteousness that awaits him (v. 8). All who love the soon appearing of our Lord, and who conduct their lives as Paul did, can look forward with joy to that same crown of righteousness. But we must be diligent; we must keep the faith.

Reflect.
1. What are the most important components of a life of keeping the faith?

2. How do you experience your Christian life as a fight and a race? How should you prepare for these each day?

3. Paul passed the baton to Timothy. To whom are you passing it?

So it is a great and most wholesome struggle to concentrate on prayer once begun, and with God’s help to show lively resistance to the temptations of the enemy, so that our minds may with unflagging attention strain to be ever fastened on God. Then we can deservedly recite Paul’s words: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Cassiodorus (485-580), Explanation of the Psalms 101.1

Help me to persevere today, Lord, no matter what I have to confront. Grant me grace so that I…

Pray Psalm 57.1-3, 6-11.
What opportunities for keeping the faith will you be presented with today? Use this time in prayer to prepare for them.

Sing Psalm 57.1-3, 6-11
Psalm 57.1-3, 6-11 (Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him)
Lord, be gracious, gracious to me, for my soul retreats in You.
In Your shadow keep me safely till the storms of life are through.
I will cry to You, the Most High; You do all things well for me.
You will save me when I thus cry, routing all who threaten me.

Nets and pits they set before me; overwhelmed, my soul bows down.
Let them all in their own works be thrown and scattered on the ground.
Let my heart no more be shaken, I will sing Your praises, Lord!
Harp and glory, now awaken to extol God’s faithful Word!

Praise and thanks among the nations I will sing with all my might!
For Your truth and love are stationed far above the highest height!
Be exalted o’er the heavens, let Your glory fill the earth!
To Your Name all praise be given, let all men proclaim Your worth!

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).