2 Timothy 4English Standard Version (ESV)

Preach the Word

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up 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 loved his appearing.

Personal Instructions

9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. 12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus. 21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.

22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. 

Paul encouraged Timothy to dive into the Scriptures. In the last chapter, Paul had talked about drawing together Timothy's mentorships and the truth of the scriptures. People will come to Timothy with bad theology, untrue ideas. Paul had encouraged Timothy to not get involved in these arguments; however, he also encourages Timothy to be ready with an answer to these discussions. Timothy will go on to be an evangelist and continue the work that Paul started. 

Dear Father, I would like to be able to say I have run the race you have laid out for me well. Help me to fan into flames the gifts you've given me. Help me to be ready with an answer for hard theology questions and harder truths. May I know Your glory. Thank You Father for your son and our hope in Him. Amen.

2 Timothy 3English Standard Version (ESV)

Godlessness in the Last Days

3 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

All Scripture Is Breathed Out by God

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Paul has thus far encouraged Timothy to use his gifts and to "fan into flame" his gift of teaching. He has also acknowledged that there will be people in the church who will distort the gospel and be attracted to untruths, bad theologies. Paul taught Timothy to gently correct these people and to keep using his gift of teaching. This chapter better describes the people Timothy will need to be aware of... "lovers of self, lovers of money... disobedient to their parents, ungrateful...having the appearance of godliness, but denying it's power." Some of these things make sense... some of these descriptors I would not taken back if someone in the church had some of these attributes.... I have some of these attributes. Yet we are told these type of people will be easy to see. Paul encourages Timothy to use his childhood training, the mentorship from Paul, and the Scriptures to keep doing the good work God has set before Timothy. 

Father, thank You for giving me Scripture to hear Your truths. Thank You for placing men and women of God in my life who have mentored me in the faith. Help me to see You working in every part of my life. Help me to be able to encourage others in their faith and not be lead others astray with my sin. Amen.

2 Timothy 2English Standard Version (ESV)

A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus

2

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.
A Worker Approved by God
14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. 19 But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Four times Paul encourages Timothy to not get distracted with, "entangled in civilian pursuits", "charge them before God not to quarrel about words", "avoid irreverent babble", and "have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies". He also encourage Timothy to keep doing the work of God as a soldier, an athlete, or a farmer would... as Paul did. Paul quotes a saying which describes how God is faithful even when we are faithless, yet still encourages Timothy to pursue being a vessel for honorable use. This is a hard concept for the modern church. We get distracted with theology (which is important) and we want to believe false gospels which our hearts take to so easily. Paul encourages Timothy to keep teaching and keep "correcting his opponents with gentleness".

Father, my heart does not pursue your faithful truth. The gospel is often far from my mind and I need it retaught to my heart often. Or I do have the "truth" and I use it against people instead of gently encouraging people to seek You. Holy Father, give me wisdom. Give me opportunities to share Your great story. Give me wisdom to know truth from untruth when it comes to theology and discerning Your ways. Walk beside me so that I know the truth, Your truth. Amen.

2 Timothy 1English Standard Version (ESV)

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,

2 To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

15 You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains, 17 but when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me— 18 may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day!—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

This is believed to be Paul's last letter before the end of his imprisonment and eventual death. He is not his typically cheery self in this letter(this is a joke), as he probably is aware of what will happen next. Yet despite horrible circumstances, later in the letter he asks that his cloak be brought to him and he talks about many people who betrayed him, he encourages Timothy to "fan into flames the gift of God", "not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord", and "guard the good deposit entrusted to you".
Paul also draws attention to the fact Timothy had many mentors in the faith, his grandmother, mother, and Paul. Mentors in one's faith are so important, yet these mentors mean little without the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul points to the work of the Holy Spirit in his life and in Timothy's life as well. 

Paul makes sure to remind Timothy the power of the Gospel comes through Jesus Christ. It is not our work that brings about the gospel, but through Jesus's completed work in His resurrection from the dead... "who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel".

Father, how good it is to meditate on how You have saved us. How good it is to have my heart encouraged by the faith of Paul in adversity. Thank you for being seen resurrected from the dead and being an active part of the work given us to further the Gospel. May the gift of God be fanned into flame in my own heart and the heart of my husband.

Mentorship: Paul to Timothy

1 Timothy 6English Standard Version (ESV)

6 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants[a] regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved.

False Teachers and True Contentment

Teach and urge these things. 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound[b] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and[c]we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before[d] Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.

Grace be with you.[e]

        Another person who would be a part of the church would be servants and slaves. Paul addresses people who are required to be submissive to their masters. The natural tendency of our hearts is to buck authority. Here Paul talks about how serving our opportunity to minister to fellow believers and non-believers. 

      Paul takes the truth of doctrine very seriously. Preaching the truths Christ gave us is important. Not adding or detracting to these truths is important. Not being distracted from these truths is equally important. 

     Lastly Paul addresses the wealthy people within the church. Paul encourages those with riches to be generous and give some very practical advice on how to not get caught up in the allure of riches. 

      Heavenly Father, I ask that You would instill in me a heart that blesses others. Help me to know how to encourage different members of the church. May I take Your truths seriously. Help me to understand and remember them. In Jesus name, Amen.