Year 2, Week 50, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 50, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of 2 Timothy 2-4; 2 Peter 1.

Today’s reading covers the remaining chapters of 2 Timothy. The Book of 2 Timothy is another personal letter of instruction to one of Paul’s proteges, Timothy, who had been sent to the church at Ephesus to assist in the work, receiving exhortation from Paul concerning how to finish well. 2 Timothy 2 highlights the importance of drawing strength from the Lord as well as reproducing himself in the lives of others: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 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” (2 Timothy 2:1-2). 2 Timothy 3 warns of increasing ungodliness: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people” (2 Timothy 3:1-5). 2 Timothy 4 emphasizes the importance of God’s Word: “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: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:1-2). Paul issues some of his final words to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness” (2 Timothy 4:7-8a). Today’s reading also covers the opening chapter of 2 Peter. The Book of 2 Peter issues strong warnings against false teaching even as it calls upon believers to pursue godliness: “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was Paul’s use of three metaphors in his charge to Timothy concerning his ministry tasks: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Timothy 2:3-7). Timothy’s work was Gospel ministry, not soldiering, being an athlete, or farming; however, there were facets from each of these pursuits that would serve to instruct Timothy in something vitally important in the task of ministry. Thus, Timothy was to carefully consider the significance of what soldiering, being an athlete, and farming has to say about the work of Gospel ministry. So Timothy was charged to actively consider the meaning of these metaphors, even as he was promised help from the Lord in understanding the application for his own life and ministry.

Timothy was to engage in Gospel ministry in ways that are similar to that of a good soldier: “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.” There is much about soldiers that is difficult, dangerous, and filled with affliction. Soldiers must expect to suffer. Paul had already alluded to his own sufferings from the ministry and called upon Timothy to join in sharing such ministry sufferings: “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…for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do” (2 Timothy 1:8,11). A soldier must be single-minded in how he approaches his sufferings. Single-mindedness suggests that no amount of suffering would deter the soldier from pleasing his commander.

Timothy was also to engage in Gospel ministry in ways that are similar to that of being an athlete: “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” There is much about being an athlete that requires strict discipline and a strong resolve to be ready to compete. Athletes must be disciplined. Paul pursued his Gospel ministry through the grid of a disciplined athlete: “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Paul ministered with a view to the finish line: “I have finished the race…Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord.” Paul instructs Timothy to pursue the ministry with the same athletic mindset of discipline.

Timothy was also to engage in Gospel ministry in ways that are similar to that of a farmer: "It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.” Farmers must be hard workers. Farmers must wake up early and put their shoulder to the plow, or they will have no crop to harvest. When harvest comes, farmers must stay out in the fields late into the night or they will not reap a reward from their season-long efforts. Lazy people make bad farmers. They also make for disaster in ministry.

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe