Bible Commentaries
2 Timothy

Introduction

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Following his release from house arrest in Rome in A.D. 62, Paul resumed his itinerant ministry in the Mediterranean world. Writing to Titus from somewhere in Macedonia, probably between A.D. 62 and 66, he said that he planned to visit Nicapolis (Tit_3:12). Assuming that he did visit Nicapolis, Paul went from there to Rome, evidently indirectly. His visit to Troas (2Ti_4:13) probably took place shortly before he wrote 2 Timothy. It may be that Paul’s arrest required his leaving his cloak, books, and parchments there, but that is only speculation. In any case, Paul ended up in Rome as a prisoner again (2Ti_2:9). He had already had his initial hearing and was awaiting trial when he wrote this epistle (2Ti_4:16). He believed that the Roman authorities would execute him soon (2Ti_4:6).

Timothy seems to have remained at Ephesus for some time following his reception of Paul’s first epistle to him and then, presumably, Paul’s personal visit of him there (1Ti_3:14). He was evidently in Ephesus when Paul wrote this second epistle to him (2Ti_1:16-18; 2Ti_4:14 cf. 1Ti_1:20; 2Ti_4:19).

Ever since Rome had burned in July of A.D. 64 and Nero had blamed the Christians, it had become dangerous to be a Christian. It was also dangerous to have contact with leaders of the church such as Paul. [Note: See D. Edmond Hiebert, Second Timothy, p. 8.] Consequently many believers, including some of Paul’s coworkers, had chosen to seek a much lower profile and become less aggressive in their ministries. Timothy faced temptation to do the same. Paul wrote this epistle to urge him to remain faithful to his calling and loyal to his father in the faith. Timothy needed to stand shoulder to shoulder with Paul and the other believers and to continue to "preach the Word" as he had done.

Paul probably wrote 2 Timothy in the fall of A.D. 67. [Note: See Donald A. Carson and Douglas J. Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, p. 578.] There are two reasons for this date. According to early church tradition Paul suffered execution shortly before Nero committed suicide in June of A.D. 68. Second, Paul penned this last of his canonical epistles fairly near the time of his execution, though before the winter of A.D. 67-68 (2Ti_4:21).

"2 Timothy is unlike either 1 Timothy or Titus. It is an intensely personal letter written to encourage Timothy in his difficult task and to ask him to come to Rome. Since it was written to one of Paul’s best friends who knew his theology, and not to a church who did not know his theology (Titus) or to a church who knew his theology but was choosing to ignore it (1 Timothy), one is not surprised if 2 Timothy does not sound like other letters. It was not intended to be a theological treatise." [Note: William D. Mounce, Pastoral Epistles, p. lxxvii.]

OUTLINE

I.    Salutation 2Ti_1:1-2

II.    Thanksgiving for faithful fellow workers 2Ti_1:3-18

A.    Timothy’s past faithfulness 2Ti_1:3-7

B.    Charges to remain loyal 2Ti_1:8-14

1.    Exhortation to be courageous 2Ti_1:8-12

2.    Exhortation to guard the gospel 2Ti_1:13-14

C.    Examples of faithful and unfaithful service 2Ti_1:15-18

III.    Exhortations to persevere ch. 2

A.    Charge to endure hardship 2Ti_2:1-13

1.    Timothy’s duty 2Ti_2:1-7

2.    The examples of Jesus and Paul 2Ti_2:8-10

3.    A popular saying 2Ti_2:11-13

B.    Charge to remain faithful 2Ti_2:14-26

1.    Faithfulness in public ministry 2Ti_2:14-18

2.    Faithfulness in personal life 2Ti_2:19-21

3.    Summary applications 2Ti_2:22-26

IV.    Directions concerning the last days 2Ti_3:1 to 2Ti_4:8

A.    Characteristics of the last days 2Ti_3:1-13

1.    Evidences of faithlessness 2Ti_3:1-7

2.    Negative and positive illustrations 2Ti_3:8-13

B.    Conduct in the last days 2Ti_3:14 to 2Ti_4:5

1.    Adherence to the truth 2Ti_3:14-17

2.    Proclamation of the truth 2Ti_4:1-5

C.    Paul’s role in the last days 2Ti_4:6-8

V.    Concluding personal instructions and information 2Ti_4:9-22

A.    Fellow workers and an opponent 2Ti_4:9-15

B.    Paul’s preliminary hearing in court 2Ti_4:16-18

C.    Additional greetings and instructions 2Ti_4:19-21

D.    Benediction 2Ti_4:22

Bibliography

Bailey, Mark L. "A Biblical Theology of Paul’s Pastoral Epistles." in A Biblical Theology of the New Testament, pp. 333-67. Edited by Roy B. Zuck. Chicago: Moody Press, 1994.

Bailey, Mark L., and Thomas L. Constable. The New Testament Explorer. Nashville: Word Publishing Co., 1999. Reprinted as Nelson’s New Testament Survey. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999.

Barclay, William. The Letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Daily Study Bible series. 2nd ed. and reprint ed. Edinburgh: Saint Andrews Press, 1962.

Baxter, J. Sidlow. Explore the Book. 6 vols. London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1965.

Belton, Robert H. The Minister and His Ministry. Moody Manna series. Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1963.

Bernard, J. H. The Pastoral Epistles. 1899. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1980.

Bruce, F. F. "Studies in the Pastoral Epistles: Preliminary Observations." Harvester 65:1 (January 1986):12-13.

Carson, Donald A., and Douglas J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. 2^nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

Conybeare, W. J., and J. S. Howson. The Life and Epistles of St. Paul. New ed. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1964.

Darby, John Nelson. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible. 5 vols. Revised ed. New York: Loizeaux Brothers Publishers, 1942.

Derickson, Gary W. "The Cessation of Healing Miracles in Paul’s Ministry." Bibliotheca Sacra 155:619 (July-September 1998):299-315.

_____. "The Decline of Miracles in the New Testament Era." Th.M. thesis, Dallas Theological Seminary, 1986.

Dictionary of the Apostolic Church. Edited by James Hastings. 1915 ed. S.v. "Timothy and Titus, Epistles to," by R. A. Falconer.

Dictionary of the Bible. Edited by James Hastings. 1910 ed. S.v. "Timothy, Second Epistle to," by W. Lock.

Dillow, Joseph C. The Reign of the Servant Kings. Miami Springs, Fla.: Schoettle Publishing Co., 1992.

Earle, Ralph. "1 Timothy." In Ephesians-Philemon. Vol. 11 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. 12 vols. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein and J. D. Douglas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.

_____. "2 Timothy." In Ephesians-Philemon. Vol. 11 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary. 12 vols. Edited by Frank E. Gaebelein and J. D. Douglas. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978.

Ermold, Davey S. "The Soteriology of 2Ti_2:11-13 — Part III." Journal of Dispensational Theology 15:45 (August 2011):71-89.

Fee, Gordon D. 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus. New International Biblical Commentary series. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, 1988. Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson Publishers, and Carlisle, England: Paternoster Press, 1995.

Gaebelein, Arno C. The Annotated Bible. 4 vols. Reprint ed. Chicago: Moody Press, and New York: Loizeaux Brothers, Inc., 1970.

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. By C. G. Wilke. Revised by C. L. Wilibald Grimm. Translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer, 1889.

Guthrie, Donald. New Testament Introduction. 3 vols. 2nd ed. London: Tyndale Press, 1966.

_____. The Pastoral Epistles. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries series. London: Tyndale Press, 1964.

Hanson, Anthony Tyrell. The Pastoral Epistles. New Century Bible Commentary series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publ. Co., and London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott Publ. Ltd., 1982.

Hendriksen, William. New Testament Commentary: Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1968.

Hiebert, D. Edmond. "Pauline Images of a Christian Leader." Bibliotheca Sacra 133:531 (July-September 1976):213-28.

_____. Second Timothy. Moody Colportage Library series. Chicago: Moody Press, 1958.

Hodges, Louis Igou. "Evangelical Definitions of Inspiration: Critiques and a Suggested Definition." Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 37:1 (March 1994):99-114.

Hodges, Zane C. Grace in Eclipse. Dallas: Redencion Viva, 1985.

House, H. Wayne. "Biblical Inspiration in 2Ti_3:16." Bibliotheca Sacra 137:545 (January-March 1980):54-63.

"How Common is Pastoral Indiscretion?" Leadership 9:1 (Winter 1988):12-13.

Hullinger, Jerry M. "The Historical Background of Paul’s Athletic Allusions." Bibliotheca Sacra 161:643 July-September 2004):343-59.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Edited by James Orr. 1957 ed. S.v. "Pastoral Epistles, The," by John Rutherfurd.

Ironside, Harry A. Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. Neptune, N.J.: Loizeaux Brothers, 1967.

Kelly, J. N. D. A Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles. Thornapple Commentaries series. London: A. & C. Black (Publishers) Limited, 1963; reprint ed., Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981.

Kent, Homer A., Jr. The Pastoral Epistles. Chicago: Moody Press, 1966.

Knight, George W., III. The Pastoral Epistles: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1992.

Lange, John Peter, ed. Commentary on the Holy Scripture. 12 vols. Reprint ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1960. Vol. 11: Galatians-Hebrews, by Otto Schmoller, Karl Braune, C. A. Auberlen, C. J. Riggenbach, J. J. Van Oosterzee, and Carl Bernhard Moll. Translated by C. C. Starbuck, M. B. Riddle, Horatio B. Hackett, John Lillie, E. A. Washburn, E. Harwood, George E. Day, and A. C. Kendrick.

Lea, Thomas D., and Hayne P. Griffin Jeremiah 1, 2 Timothy, Titus. New American Commentary series. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1992.

Lenski, Richard C. H. The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Colossians, to the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to Titus and to Philemon. Reprint ed. Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1964.

Litfin, A. Duane. "2 Timothy." In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, pp. 749-60. Edited by John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck. Wheaton: Scripture Press Publications, Victor Books, 1983.

Lock, Walter. The Pastoral Epistles. International Critical Commentaries series. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1924.

López, René A. "A Study of Pauline Passages with Vice Lists." Bibliotheca Sacra 168:671 (July-September 2011):301-16.

MaGee, Gregory S. "Paul’s Response to the Shame and Pain of Imprisonment in 2 Timothy." Bibliotheca Sacra 165:659 (July-September 2008):338-53.

McCoy, Brad. "Secure Yet Scrutinized—2Ti_2:11-13." Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society 1:1 (Autumn 1988):21-33.

McNeile, A. H. An Introduction to the Study of the New Testament. 2nd ed. revised by C. S. C. Williams. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1965.

The Mishnah. Translated by Herbert Danby. London: Oxford University Press, 1933.

Morgan, G. Campbell. Living Messages of the Books of the Bible. 2 vols. New York: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1912.

Mounce, William D. Pastoral Epistles. Word Biblical Commentary series. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000.

The NET (New English Translation) Bible. First beta printing. Spokane, Wash.: Biblical Studies Press, 2001.

"Private Sins of Public Ministry." Leadership 9:1 (Winter 1988):14-23.

Robertson, Archibald Thomas. Word Pictures in the New Testament. 6 vols. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1931.

Schaff, Philip. History of the Christian Church. 3rd ed. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1910; Reprint ed. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1966.

Simpson, E. K. The Pastoral Epistles. London: Tyndale Press, 1954.

Thiessen, Henry Clarence. Introduction to the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1962.

Towner, Philip H. 1-2 Timothy & Titus. The IVP New Testament Commentary series. Downers Grove, Ill., and Leicester, England: InterVarsity Press, 1994.

_____. The Goal of Our Instruction. Sheffield: Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1989.

_____. The Letters to Timothy and Titus. The New International Commentary on the New Testament series. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2006.

Wall, Joe L. Going for the Gold. Chicago: Moody Press, 1991.

Wallis, Wilbur B. "The Second Epistle to Timothy." In The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, pp. 1383-91. Edited by Charles F. Pfeiffer and Everett F. Harrison. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962.

Ward, R. W. Commentary on 1 & 2 Timothy & Titus. Waco: Word Books, 1974.

White, Newport J. D. "The First and Second Epistles to Timothy and the Epistle to Titus." In The Expositor’s Greek Testament. 5 vols. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1910.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. 2 vols. Wheaton: Scripture Press, Victor Books, 1989.

Witmer, John A. "The Truth about Error." Bibliotheca Sacra 124:495 (July-September 1967):248-53.

Wuest, Kenneth S. The Pastoral Epistles in the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1964.