1You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same things to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. 5Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules. 6The farmer who labors must be the first to get a share of the crops. 7Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the offspring of David, according to my Good News, 9in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. 10Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11This saying is trustworthy:
“For if we died with him,
we will also live with him.
12If we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we deny him,
he also will deny us.
13If we are faithless,
he remains faithful;
for he can’t deny himself.”
14Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord that they don’t argue about words to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.
15Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. 16But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness, 17and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus: 18men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some. 19However, God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
20Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor and some for dishonor. 21If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.
22Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife. 24The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle toward all, able to teach, patient, 25in gentleness correcting those who oppose him. Perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 26and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
Three groups of people are in view in 2 Timothy 4:3-5. His special interest is for believers and his exhortation for believers is based on the importance of truth. Paul uses this word in 1 Timothy 2:4, 7; 3:15; 4:3, and 6:5. In the short letter of 2 Timothy he does similarly in 2:15, 18, 25; 3:7, 8, and 4:4. This teaching does not only apply to his generation of believers but those of subsequent generations, even to our day ("the time will come"). His command comes from the fact that all Scripture comes from the mouth of God, and that this being true it gives the preacher the authority to teach doctrine, reproof, rebuke, and correct believers.
The second group that the apostle addresses is believers who will not be faithful to the truth taught in the Word of God. He says those who claim to be believers "will not listen to sound doctrine." In light of this lure to stop preaching what is true, Timothy is to "preach the Word." When those who profess Christ are led aside to falsehood by turning "away their ears from the truth, and turn away to fables" (vv. 3, 4), Timothy is to be watchful. He is to be willing to suffer hardship, even as his mentor had done and was still doing while in a Roman prison. Timothy was to tell the good news of Jesus and complete the service that God had for him, even as Paul enunciates he has done in verses 6-8.
The third group are teachers who are willing to forsake the truth at the urge of people that no longer want to hear the truth. These teachers may be even like Demas, mentioned in verse 10, but church history and our modern day has many examples of preachers who know little of the Bible and, thus, the truth, but instead use the ministry largely for their own profit and pride. This is diametrically different from their Lord Jesus, the apostles, and many preachers who have been faithful over the centuries.