In the first epistle of Paul to Timothy, he instructed believers as to the proper order of conduct suited to the house of God. In this second epistle, he instructs us as to how we are to conduct ourselves when things in God's house have fallen into disorder. What stands out in the second epistle is that there would be widespread spiritual declension in the Christian testimony in the last days, and need for wisdom to conduct oneself in such times.
This epistle was written to encourage Timothy to serve in a difficult day when the masses in the Christian profession were forsaking Paul and his doctrine (2 Tim. 1:15). It forewarns believers of the progressive character of corruption in Christendom, which would culminate in the last days when there would be wholesale departure from the truth of God. It anticipates a time of complete ruin and failure in the Christian testimony (2 Tim. 3:1-8; 4:3-4). At the same time, it carefully marks out the path in which the faithful are to walk in such times.
In the first epistle, the mass of Christians are seen as desiring to answer to their responsibilities in maintaining the order in God’s house, though a few individuals prove to be defective (1 Tim. 1:20; 4:1 – “some”). In the second epistle, it is the opposite. It views the mass of Christians as having failed (2 Tim. 1:15), and only a few individuals remain faithful to their profession (2 Tim. 1:16-18; 4:11).
What has happened in the history of the Church is foreseen in this epistle. Paul likens the ruin of the Christian testimony to “a great house” that is full of disorder and defilement (2 Tim. 2:20). In fact, the beginning of this departure was already noticeable when Paul wrote to Timothy. The Lord Himself foretold this time of failure and public breakdown in the parables of Matthew 13. He said that when things would be committed into the hands of men in the time of His absence, the "enemy" (Satan) would introduce “tares” (evil persons), “fowls” (evil spirits), and “leaven” (evil doctrines). Looking at the history of the Christian profession, we see that this has happened indeed. Satan’s emissaries have worked through human agents to subvert the truth of God in the hearts of men. Much corruption and disorder has been introduced into that which bears the name of Christ.
It is significant that there is no promise in the epistle (or anywhere in Scripture) of a recovery of the Christian testimony after it has fallen into this corrupted state. Instead, the Apostle told Timothy that things would only go from bad to worse (2 Tim. 3:13). He could not expect to see a recovery to the Church’s former glory as found in the early chapters of Acts, when all were filled with the Spirit, and all dwelt together in happy unity, and there were signs of the power of the Spirit. Revelation 2-3, indicates that the Church’s history on earth will end on a sad note of gross indifference to the claims of Christ. Not only would the Apostle be shunned, as mentioned in this epistle (2 Tim. 1:15), but the Lord Himself would be left outside! (Rev. 3:20) This is generally the case today.
This condition of gross departure from the truth will continue until the Lord comes and takes every true believer out of the professing mass (1 Thess. 4:15-18). With this dark picture before the Apostle, he seeks to stir up Timothy to continue in the service of the Lord. The theme of the epistle, therefore, is individual responsibility in service in a time of collective failure.
“The Man of God”
The expression, “the man of God” (1 Sam. 2:27; 9:10, etc.), occurs in Scripture when the mass of God’s professing people fail in their collective responsibility. It signifies a man who stands for God and acts for Him when those who profess to know God prove to be unfaithful. The term is always used in the singular form; Scripture never speaks of “men of God.” This shows that faithfulness is on an individual basis when there is a public breakdown in the testimony of the Lord. The expression, “the man of God,” is not used in Scripture when conditions are good among the Lord’s people, but when they are poor. The second epistles in the New Testament are particularly applicable for such times; they anticipate the public failure of God’s people and emphasize the need for individual faithfulness. It is striking, therefore, to see that Timothy is called a “man of God” (1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 3:17).
Since Timothy was a young man (1 Tim. 4:12), some have concluded that this epistle was written for young people who are struggling with the issues of youth—i.e. the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, etc. However, it clearly wasn’t written with this in mind. To imply that Timothy was struggling with the world, etc., is to demean his sterling character and his incredible devotion to the Lord. He was a mature, godly Christian, though relatively young, who was totally committed to doing the will of God and serving His people. Timothy, therefore, was not a careless and indifferent young Christian. Paul could say of him, “I have no man likeminded, who will naturally [genuinely] care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel” (Phil. 2:20-22). To read this epistle with the mistaken idea that it is addressing worldly young people is to take it out of its context.
We are not saying that we cannot make applications to the young and careless from the epistle, but the context and primary interpretation is that of an older labourer (who is about to pass off the scene) counseling and encouraging a younger labourer. The object of the epistle, therefore, is to encourage Timothy to faithfully carry the torch that was being passed to him. Being a pastoral epistle—an epistle not written to an assembly or a group of assemblies, but to an individual—it is full of godly counsel from the Apostle to Timothy regarding his life and service for the Lord. Paul passes on to him many helpful pointers that have been graciously preserved for us in the Word of God, so that anyone who desires to serve the Lord will have these guiding principles for their service. It is a very needed word for today.
Outline
The first chapter—outlines the moral and spiritual qualities needed in the “man of God” in a day of ruin.
The second chapter—lays out some great principles needed for service in such a time.
The third chapter—recounts the resources available for the servant of God in order that he would be preserved and be found useful in such a day.
The fourth chapter—closes the epistle with some divine incentives for service that are calculated to stimulate the servant of the Lord in His work.