55) The Book of 2nd Timothy

SECOND TIMOTHY was Paul's last will and testament to his dear son in the faith. Timothy was a young pastor and Paul wrote his final advice, encouragement, exhortation, and warning to him. The last words of Paul instructed Timothy as a soldier in the spiritual battle for the faith (2 Cor. 10:3-6; Eph. 6:10-20). A faithful soldier seeks to master his spiritual weapon in the sword of God (2:15; 3:16-17). The letter has 4 chapters and 83 verses.

Paul gave Timothy four additional charges to the twelve of the first epistle. Timothy was first ordered to continue in the godly heritage of his mother and grandmother. He was ordered second to be a faithful, pure, strong, and tough soldier of Jesus Christ who continually studied the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12). The third charge warned of perilous times and evil men. The final charge ordered Timothy to faithfully follow the commands of the Captain of his salvation and finish the fight until death or the Rapture (Josh 5:13-15; Heb. 2:10).

This letter was the final inspired letter of Paul before his execution by beheading. He was a prisoner of Rome under the administration of Nero (1:8, 16-17). Roman dictators imprisoned, persecuted, and martyred Christians. Nero secretly began the burning of Rome and blamed it on the Christians. Evil tyrants secretly cause social turmoil and blame it upon their scapegoat to incite the people in the wrong cause (1 Kings 21:1-14; Luke 23:1-5; Acts 21:27-40).

The alert soldier and student of the word discerns the doctrinal truths that were prophesied Ofthe last days (3:1-7; 4:3-4). World tyrants under Rome's influence will secretly cause social turmoil and they will blame nonconformists of hindering the global community of the new age. The religious clones of socialism will encourage the people to give up their liberties for peace and safety against the fanatical nonconformists (John 19:11-15). Apostasy of the pastor breeds apathy in the people and anarchy in the nation. Faithful soldiers fight apostasy, apathy, and anarchy with an authoritative sword of God until the end.