Book of 2 Timothy
Summary of the Book of 2 Timothy
This summary of the
book of 2 Timothy provides information about the title, author(s), date of
writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the
chapters of the Book of 2 Timothy.
See essay, p. 2481.
After Paul's release from prison in Rome in a.d. 62 (Ac 28) and after his fourth missionary journey (see map, pp.
2486-2487), during which he wrote 1 Timothy and Titus, Paul was again
imprisoned under Emperor Nero c. 66-67. It was during this time that he wrote 2
Timothy. In contrast to his first imprisonment, when he lived in a "rented
house" (Ac 28:30; see note there), he now languished in a cold dungeon
(see 4:13 and note), chained like a common criminal (1:16; 2:9). His friends even had a hard time finding out where he was
being kept (1:17). Paul knew that his work was done and that his life was nearly
at an end (4:6-8).
Paul had three reasons
for writing to Timothy at this time:
1. Paul was lonely. Phygelus and Hermogenes,
"everyone in the province of Asia" (1:15), and Demas (4:10) had deserted him. Crescens, Titus and Tychicus were away (4:10-12), and only Luke was with him (4:11). Paul wanted very much for Timothy to join him also. Timothy
was his "fellow worker" (Ro 16:21), who "as a son with his father" (Php 2:22 ; see note there) had served
closely with Paul (see 1Co 4:17). Of him Paul could say, "I have no one
else like him" (Php 2:20). Paul longed for Timothy (1:4) and twice asked him to come soon (4:9,21). For more information on Timothy see
Introduction to 1 Timothy: Recipient.
2. Paul was concerned about the welfare of the
churches during this time of persecution under Nero, and he admonishes Timothy
to guard the gospel (1:14), to persevere in it (3:14), to keep on preaching it (4:2) and, if necessary, to suffer for it (1:8; 2:3).
3. Paul wanted to write to the Ephesian church
through his letter to Timothy (see note on 4:22).
I.
Introduction (1:1-4)
II.
Paul's Concern for
Timothy (1:5-14)
III.
Paul's Situation (1:15-18)
IV.
Special Instructions
to Timothy (ch. 2)
A.
Call for Endurance (2:1-13)
B.
Warning about Foolish
Controversies (2:14-26)
V.
Warning about the Last
Days (ch. 3)
.
Terrible Times (3:1-9)
A. Means of Combating Them (3:10-17)
VI.
Paul's Departing
Remarks (4:1-8)
.
Charge to Preach the
Word (4:1-5)
A. Paul's Victorious Prospect (4:6-8)
VII.
Final Requests,
Greetings and Benediction (4:9-22)
From the NIV Study
Bible, Introductions to the Books of the Bible, 2 Timothy
Copyright 2002 © Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Used with permission.
2 Timothy 1 NLT
1 This letter is from Paul, chosen by
the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell
others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.
2 I am writing to Timothy, my dear son.
May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
3 Timothy, I thank God for you—the God
I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I
constantly remember you in my prayers.
4 I long to see you again, for I
remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are
together again.
5 I remember your genuine faith, for
you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother,
Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
6 This is why I remind you to fan into
flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of
fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8 So never be ashamed to tell others
about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison
for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the
sake of the Good News.
9 For God saved us and called us to
live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was
his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ
Jesus.
10 And now he has made all of this plain
to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death
and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.
11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an
apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in
prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I
am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of
his return.
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome
teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you
have in Christ Jesus.
14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit
who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted
to you.
15 As you know, everyone from the
province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16 May the Lord show special kindness to
Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He
was never ashamed of me because I was in chains.
17 When he came to Rome, he searched
everywhere until he found me.
18 May the Lord show
him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how
helpful he was in Ephesus.
2 Timothy 2 NLT
1 Timothy, my dear son, be strong
through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus.
2 You have heard me teach things that
have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other
trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
3 Endure suffering along with me, as a
good soldier of Christ Jesus.
4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the
affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted
them.
5 And athletes cannot win the prize
unless they follow the rules.
6 And hardworking farmers should be the
first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.
7 Think about what I am saying. The
Lord will help you understand all these things.
8 Always remember that Jesus Christ, a
descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach.
9 And because I preach this Good News,
I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God
cannot be chained.
10 So I am willing to endure anything if
it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has
chosen.
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we
die with him, we will also live with him.
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign
with him. If we deny him, he will deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful, he remains
faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.
14 Remind everyone about these things,
and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments
are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.
15 Work hard so you can present yourself
to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that
only leads to more godless behavior.
17 This kind of talk spreads like
cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus.
18 They have left the path of truth,
claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred; in this way,
they have turned some people away from the faith.
19 But God’s truth stands firm like a
foundation stone with this inscription: “The LORD knows those who are his,” and
“All who belong to the LORD must turn away from evil.”
20 In a wealthy home some utensils are
made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive
utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday
use.
21 If you keep yourself pure, you will
be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will
be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.
22 Run from anything that stimulates
youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and
peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure
hearts.
23 Again I say, don’t get involved in
foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.
24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel
but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult
people.
25 Gently instruct those who oppose the
truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the
truth.
26 Then they will come
to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held
captive by him to do whatever he wants.
2 Timothy 3 NLT
1 You should know this, Timothy, that
in the last days there will be very difficult times.
2 For people will love only themselves
and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient
to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.
3 They will be unloving and
unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be
cruel and hate what is good.
4They will betray their friends, be
reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.
5 They will act religious, but they
will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like
that!
6 They are the kind who work their way
into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened
with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.
7 (Such women are forever following new
teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)
8 These teachers oppose the truth just
as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit
faith.
9But they won’t get away with this for long.
Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and
Jambres.
10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what
I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my
patience, my love, and my endurance.
11 You know how much persecution and
suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch,
Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a
godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13But evil people and impostors will
flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.
14 But you must remain faithful to the
things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust
those who taught you.
15 You have been taught the holy
Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the
salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and
is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our
lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is
right.
17 God uses it to
prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 4 NLT
1 I solemnly urge you in the presence
of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he
comes to set up his Kingdom:
2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared,
whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage
your people with good teaching.
3 For a time is coming when people will
no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own
desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching
ears want to hear.
4 They will reject the truth and chase
after myths.
5 But you should keep a clear mind in
every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling
others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
6 As for me, my life has already been
poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
8 And now the prize awaits me—the crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day
of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look
forward to his appearing.
9 Timothy, please come as soon as you
can.
10 Demas has deserted me because he
loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone
to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with
you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.
12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus.
13 When you come, be sure to bring the
coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my
papers.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much
harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.
15 Be careful of him, for he fought
against everything we said.
16 The first time I was brought before
the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted
against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and gave
me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the
Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.
18 Yes, and the Lord will deliver me
from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All
glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
19 Give my greetings to Priscilla and
Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus.
20Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left
Trophimus sick at Miletus.
21 Do your best to get here before
winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all
the brothers and sisters.
22 May the Lord be
with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.
