New Testament
2 Timothy
Paul's last letter: hold fast to Scripture, endure hardship, and preach the word.
Overview
- Who
Written by Paul, "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God" (1:1), writing as a prisoner (1:8, 2:9) who expects to die soon: "the time of my departure is at hand" (4:6).
Written to Timothy, "my dearly beloved son" (1:2), whose faith dwelt first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (1:5). Paul had sent him to stay at Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3).
- When
Traditional view: About AD 64-67, during a second imprisonment in Rome, shortly before Paul's death. It is taken to be the last of his letters.
Scholarly view: Many scholars hold that 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus were written after Paul's death by a follower writing in his name, about AD 80-100. Others accept that Paul wrote them.
- Where
Written to Probably Ephesus. Paul greets the household of Onesiphorus, who had served him at Ephesus (1:16-18, 4:19), and says he has sent Tychicus there (4:12).
Written from Rome, where Paul was in chains. Onesiphorus, "when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently" (1:16-17).
- Why
To urge Timothy to "stir up the gift of God" (1:6) and not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord (1:8); to "hold fast the form of sound words" (1:13) and commit it to faithful men (2:2); to endure hardness "as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2:3); to continue in the Scriptures (3:14-17) and "preach the word" (4:2); and to ask him to come quickly (4:9, 4:21).
Paul is in bonds, and "all they which are in Asia be turned away from me" (1:15). Demas has forsaken him and only Luke is with him (4:10-11); at his first answer "no man stood with me" (4:16). Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that the resurrection was already past (2:17-18).
Outline
- 1:1-5 Greeting and thanksgiving
- 1:6-18 Not ashamed of the gospel
- 2:1-13 Be strong in grace: soldier, athlete, farmer
- 2:14-26 A workman approved of God
- 3:1-9 Perilous times
- 3:10-17 Continue in the Scriptures
- 4:1-8 Preach the word; I have fought a good fight
- 4:9-22 Personal requests and greetings
Key themes
- Suffer for the gospel without shame (1:8, 2:3, 3:12).
- Guard the truth and pass it on (1:14, 2:2).
- "All scripture is given by inspiration of God" and makes the man of God complete (3:16-17).
- Faithfulness to the end, and "a crown of righteousness" for all who love his appearing (4:7-8).
From the letter's own text, compared with Acts and 1 Timothy; dating views summarized from standard introductions.