Posts that reference the book of 2 Timothy

2 Timothy

Study Tip: 2 Timothy

If you knew you had mere days or weeks to live, what would your frame of mind be? What things would you want people to know? What instructions would you give to ensure your work continued? These are the questions answered in the Apostle Paul's final short letter to his young protégé, Timothy. It's quick, heartfelt read.

Since Timothy was quite familiar with Paul's doctrine, you won't find much exposition in this letter. Instead you find unique insights into the heart and mind of the apostle.

Keep track of what you learn about Paul. Where is he? What is his emotional state? What things are weighing heaviest on his mind?

List the instructions and admonitions he gives Timothy. What seems to be his greatest concern for Timothy?

Bonus study: Compare this letter with Deuteronomy 31. Both Moses and Paul knew death was imminent. Are there similarities in the tone or content in their final words? What differences do you notice?

How would you summarize Paul's last words?

The Gift of a Sound Mind

By Paula

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

A sound mind –

Good judgment
Self-control
Properly prioritized

It means focusing on the sovereign nature and perfect purposes of our eternal God.

It yields confidence and peace.

Disorder, confusion and fear don't come from God.

His gifts are power, love and a sound mind.

Study Tip: Lists

By Paula

(This is an encore presentation of one of my earliest tips.)

Are you a list-maker? Why do you make them? To remember things, right? Today’s tip is learn to recognize lists in Scripture.

Some of the lists you’re already familiar with- Ten Commandments, Fruit of the Spirit and so forth. Sometimes though, they are a little more subtle. For example:

They can take the form of instructions, like in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go… teach… baptize… teach.”
They can be attributes, as in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
They can be an action plan. “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord and to do it and to teach the statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10)

One of my favorite lists is in Ephesians 1:3-6. Check out the blessings in those few verses!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”

Every spiritual blessing (We could actually stop there. The rest of it explains some of what that entails.)
Chosen in Him before the foundation of the world
Holy & blameless before Him in love
Adopted as His children
Accepted by His grace, according to His will.

Now we could dicker about exactly how many things should or could be on the list. For example, ‘holy” and ‘blameless’ could be two separate items, but no matter how you cut it, that’s a pretty fantastic list.

There’s another in Romans 5:1-11. Check out all that ‘we’ have, what ‘we’ were and what ‘we’ are now.

Noticing or even writing down the lists causes us to slow down and consider the truth for an extra moment or two. I number the list items in the text or write them in the margin.

As you study, watch for lists in Scripture, and spend some time with them. I’d love to hear what lists you discover.

Fear or Power

By Paula

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Not fear – but a sound mind. Right thinking. Not worrying. Not conjuring up worst-case scenarios

Not fear – love. Others come first.

Not fear – power. Ability. Means. Resources.

Fear paralyzes. Power acts.

God gives power.

No Fear

By Paula

shadow couple

Genesis 26:7 Isaac was afraid. He said, "they might…" or "I might…". Even the Philistine king responded with, "One of us might…"

Fear is about the worst case scenario.

Sometimes, I've experienced the worst case scenario. Like the time we got the phone call that my twenty-six year old brother collapsed. It was his heart. A few days later, he was gone.

Fear is about shadows and imagination.

I have an active imagination. The peace God pours out of His storehouses for exceeds my imagination, my comprehension … and my need. I've experienced that too.

Fear steals my joy and security.

In verses 3-5, God assured Isaac that He would bless him. In another moment, fear made him forget God's presence, God's providence and God's protection.

The new year always begins with great hope and promise. How long before fear creeps back in? Sometimes fear goes by an alias – worry, anxiety, stress, doubt, insecurity …

Fear doesn't come from God. It causes disorder and confusion, neither of which is consistent with His character. Instead He gives power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

A sound mind – confident, right-thinking, not fearful.

2011 – A year of no fear? Why not?

Study Tip: Application

By Paula

swiss army knife Bible study isn't intended to simply be way for us to rack up a store of factual knowledge. We need to apply the things we learn, growing more Christ-like day by day. How do we do that?

2 Timothy 3:16 tells four us different ways Scripture applies.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable (useful) for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

Doctrine – Don't get too hung up on the word doctrine. It simply means 'teaching'. For example, Scripture teaches us Jesus Christ is God's Son. The most basic way to apply Scripture is to recognize it as absolute truth, the final authority on a subject. Accept it. Embrace it. Conform to it.

Reproof – Scripture also points out where we've gotten off track. If I thought I should take revenge on anybody who crossed me, a quick Bible study would reprove me. The Bible tells me revenge is God's prerogative, and I'm to respond to mistreatment with grace and forgiveness, turning the other cheek even.

Correction – This is the how-to for getting us back on track. Often these are the toughest ones to apply because they involve the most work and the greatest change. For instance, Paul says in Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to the world but transformed by the renewing of our minds. Applying that verse is a life-long pursuit, with constant evaluation and adjustment.

Instruction in righteousness – Finally, Scripture tells the positive things we should do. Applying Scripture this way can be as simple as obeying the direct commands God gives. Other times, its more subtle. An example for this one is 2 Timothy 1:7 – "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind." How does it change your approach to the challenges in your life knowing that God has given you that spirit? Those changes are a result of applying the truth in that verse.

As you read and study, be aware of verses that stand out to you. Do you need to apply that verse or passage? Is it a truth you need to hold on to (doctrine or instruction)? Does it reveal an area that needs work (reproof or correction)?

What stories can you share about applying Scripture to your life?