Bible Commentaries
2 Timothy

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

A Commentary On

THE BOOK OF SECOND TIMOTHY

By GERALD HILL

Publisher Charles Allen Bailey

Editor

Executive Editor - Joe L. Norton, Ph.D.

Copyright © 2021
Contending for the Faith Publications
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All scripture quotations,
unless otherwise indicated, are taken from
The King James Version, KJV

Introduction

Most modern writers refer to First and Second Timothy and Titus as "The Pastoral Epistles." The scriptures make a clear distinction between pastors as described in the New Testament (bishops and elders) and gospel preachers. Although Paul does give instruction to Timothy and Titus on the qualifications of elders, these three epistles are addressed to evangelists. Paul tells Timothy to "do the work of an evangelist" (2 Timothy 4:5), and he never refers to him as a "pastor." I would prefer to speak of these three epistles as "The Evangelistic Epistles."

The Author of Second Timothy

The opening words in this epistle identify its author as, "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God ...." Neither the authorship nor authenticity of this epistle was ever in doubt in the early church. The epistles to Timothy and Titus are in the Peschito-Syriac version of the second century translation of the New Testament (Johnson 258).

Muratori’s Fragment on the Cannon of Scripture at the close of the second century acknowledges them as genuine (Jamieson 1349). B.W. Johnson and Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown make note of several Christian writers of the second century who quote these evangelistic epistles, and they point out that Eusebius, in his Church History, states that they were "universally received."

The Recipient of Second Timothy

Paul refers to Timothy as his "dearly beloved son" (2 Timothy 1:2) and his "own son in the faith" (1 Timothy 1:2). Being Paul’s "son in the faith," Timothy was likely converted by the great apostle, probably on Paul’s first visit to Lystra and Derbe, a journey recorded in Acts 14. On Paul’s next visit to Lystra and Derbe, Luke notes, "A certain disciple was there named Timotheus" (Acts 16:1). Timothy’s father was a Greek, and his mother was a Jewess (Acts 16:1). Both his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois were godly women, women of genuine faith who trained Timothy in the scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15). As a result of that training and Timothy’s great interest in the Lord’s work, Paul chose him as his traveling companion (Acts 16:3). Their father-son relationship continued until Paul’s death.

The Time and Place of This Composition

Disagreement over the time of the writing of 2 Timothy ranges from 61 A.D. to 66 A.D. Clarke gives MacKnight, Paley, and Lewis Capellus’ Notes attempting to prove that the apostle wrote the epistle shortly before his death in about 66 A.D. Basic to their argument is that Paul was imprisoned not once but twice in Rome. Clarke points out that Paley first notes the tradition of the primitive church, which holds that Paul visited Rome twice and suffered imprisonment each time. Clues from this epistle in conjunction with clues from Paul’s other epistles written from Rome add validity to this conclusion. Paley gives several reasons for his position (Clarke 621-622).

It is obvious, Clarke points out, that Paul was a prisoner when he wrote this epistle (verse 8), bound "in chains" in a Roman prison (verses 16-17). On another occasion, Paul was in prison in Rome (Acts 28); at that time, however, he was not in chains but in his own house receiving all who came to see him, still able to preach the gospel. Paul’s circumstance here, though, is quite different, and the charges he faces seem to be more serious (2 Timothy 2:9).

Clarke agrees with Paley that this epistle was not written during Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome or during the time he wrote the epistles to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. He attempts to prove this by comparing these epistles with 2 Timothy.

In his earlier writings, Paul confidently looks forward to his release from prison and his speedy departure from Rome (see Philippians 2:24; Philemon 1:22), and he has Timothy, Demas, and Mark with him.

In this epistle, however, Paul writes with a tone of greater finality in saying that he has completed his work successfully and he is ready to be offered (2 Timothy 4:6-8). He also mentions that Demas had forsaken him, and he tells Timothy, who is obviously not present with him, to bring Mark when he comes.

Two points seem evident from Clarke’s observations. One, in 2 Timothy Paul refers to a journey that took place after Luke wrote the Book of Acts; and, two, this journey took place after Paul’s first imprisonment. We conclude, then, that since Paul was in prison at Rome when writing this epistle (2 Timothy 1:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:9), he had returned to Rome after his first imprisonment and was now suffering in prison for the second time.

So Paul wrote this letter in a Roman prison under extremely difficult circumstances, under the realization that his departure from this life was very near. Most historians believe Paul suffered martyrdom sometime between 64 and 67 A.D., during a time of great persecution for the Lord’s people under the reign of Nero. In 64 A.D., Nero charged Christians with setting fire to Rome. It is likely that this was one of the false charges brought against Paul. Timothy needed to be warned of what lay ahead. He must be admonished to "endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" because all that will live godly shall suffer persecution.

Paul’s Reasons For Writing 2 Timothy

In his cold damp dungeon cell, the Apostle Paul sees the dark clouds of persecution engulfing the Cause he had loved and fought for and for which he would soon die. He has seen Timothy grow and mature as a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. The cause, he realizes, soon will need a new leader. So Paul bids Timothy to come quickly. Time is short. There is the real possibility that Timothy might not arrive before Paul’s death sentence is carried out. So Paul writes to his "own son in the faith" as if he will never see him again.

Paul talks about his own life and coming death. He reminds Timothy of his rich spiritual heritage and his responsibilities as a preacher in a world becoming less tolerant toward the gospel every day. The gospel must continue to be preached at all cost.

This epistle might be viewed as the last will and testament of Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to Timothy, his beloved son in the faith. It is fitting that the apostle’s last letter be written to Timothy.