2 Timothy 4 - Keep Running the Race! It Will Be Worth It When You Finish!

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4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Paul summarizes Timothy's calling by saying, "Preach the word, and be prepared in season and out of season." There would be times people would be receptive to Timothy's teaching, and times people would resist and oppose it. The theme of the efficacy of God's Word is a consistent theme throughout this letter. 

Paul’s emphasis on the word of God has been constant. There are some 36 references to the true gospel in this letter and some 17 references to false teachings. - Guzik

Paul uses three words, "correct", "rebuke", and "encourage", when describing the kind of preaching Timothy should be doing. Note none of them are passive. Preaching should engage the listener and produce change through the Holy Spirit working in and through the Word. If the pastor's sermons are never challenging anyone, then one would have to wonder if they are preaching in this way. If the sermons are so loaded with correcting and rebuking that everyone leaves discouraged, this is a problem too. A good sermon has elements of all three of these. 

The bottom line is that most of us would really be comfortable than be stretched. The people in Paul and Timothy's day were surrounding themselves with fanciful preachers, who told them what they wanted to hear. They focused on myths that had nothing to do with the godly life in Christ Jesus. God's Word never changes. Circumstances and culture may change, but God's Word remains the same. 

Finally, Paul tells Timothy to discharge the duties of ministry. Paul did not want Timothy to do all of the work in the church. In fact, he is pretty clear about what he is to do and not do. Timothy needed to delegate all of the other ministries in the church to those who would do a good job and get it done. 

6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

The idea of being "poured out" recalls two important rituals in the temple. The water being poured out over the altar was a reference to the Holy Spirit and coming of the Messianic age. It was also one of the offerings prescribed by the Law. Indirectly it would remind them of the blood being poured out on the altar on the day of atonement, as a reminder of the blood of the lamb who saved them from the death of the firstborns when they left Egypt. 

Paul calls this a "living sacrifice" in Romans 12:1.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."

Paul realizes he will soon be taken up to heaven. He has no regrets.  He uses examples from the boxing ring and the track meet to point out how he has fully expended himself for the sake of the gospel. He has fought the good fight and finished the race!  

What a gratifying feeling for Paul knowing that although his departure was near, he had given his all to God's call on his life. At the end of a race runners who finish are given a medal. I have run five marathons and have a medal for each of one. They remind me of the joy of finishing the race after enduring a hard training regimen. 

But Paul has another prize, which he calls the "crown of righteousness". The crown brings to mind the image of a king. Jesus is the, King of kings, but he has promised that we will reign with him one day. God is a righteous judge, who judges all fairly. The righteousness we hav,e has been given to us by Jesus. We didn't earn it but by faith in Him we are given a righteousness not of our own. 

We too are running a race. The Christian life is more of a marathon than a sprint. Like a marathon we need to train. We need "cross" training. As we follow Jesus and engage in the disciplines he used, we get in spiritual shape. We will hit quitting points in the race. The excitement and energy we had when we started the race will sometimes feel gone. As they say "we will be running on fumes"? 

It will be our faith and encouragement from others and God's Word which will give us the strength to endure and cross the finish line with Paul and all those who have gone before us!

Personal Remarks

9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

We see again the depth of Paul's relationship with Timothy, as he longs to see him and be encouraged by him. Some of his other colleagues have deserted him when the going got tough. John Mark is someone who was helpful to him. Luke was on many missionary trips with Paul and stood by his side. John Mark had deserted him on another mission trip, but apparently had come back into good graces with Paul. 

This is evidence of a restoration of trust in Mark from Paul. Paul had wanted nothing to do with him in Acts 15:36-40. - Guzik

Paul also asked Timothy to bring his scrolls and parchments, evidence of the writing he had been doing, which were probably the other letters we read about in the New Testament. (I.e. Romans, Galatians, Colossians, Philippians)

While some abandoned Paul others, like Alexander, openly resisted Paul. 

 In 1 Timothy 1:20 Paul mentioned Alexander as someone whose faith had suffered shipwreck. Did me much harm: The implication of this phrase is that he “informed many things against me.” Perhaps Alexander was a traitor, an informer who betrayed Paul to the Roman government and was responsible for his current imprisonment. Perhaps the thought of he has greatly resisted our words meant that Alexander was a witness against Paul at his first defense.

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

We see that though Paul had those who encouraged him, there were many times where he felt completely alone. But he was never REALLY alone. Why? Because Jesus was right there beside him. This is perhaps why he could say in Philippians 4:8,

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."

Even if he was thrown into the lion's den, he knew the Lord would rescue him. Paul knew there was one of two paths for him. If God rescued him, he would preach the gospel to the Gentiles. If he died, he would be brought to the Lord's side in heaven.  

This is why he says in Philippians 1:21-23,

 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Where are you in the race? Are you just started? Halfway through? Reaching the finish line? When you are tempted to quit remember there is a reward awaiting you at the finish line, a crown of glory that will never fade away!