by Gary L. Evans
(8/1/2023)
Timothy — Part 8
2Ti 2:1-2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
The word “grace” is from “khar’-ece” which means “graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude).”
A minister must receive strength from the working of The Holy Spirit in him through daily thanksgiving. His goal should be to teach the assembly and to identify trustworthy individuals who are good students and able to teach others.
2Ti 2:3-5 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
The word “affairs” is from “prag-mat-i’-ah” which means “a transaction, that is, negotiation.”
The phrase “strive for masteries” is from “ath-leh’-o” which means “(a contest in the public lists); to contend in the competitive games.”
We are soldiers in The Lord’s Army fighting a war, and we cannot be distracted from our mission by leaving the battlefield and going shopping in the nearest town or to negotiate business deals, because we must focus on pleasing God Who has Called us into His Unmerited Favor. Just as an athlete must work to perfect his skills by adhering to the rules and discipline of his sport, so a soldier must also be disciplined according to the rules of being a good soldier to fight a good fight in The Lord’s Name.
2Ti 2:6-7 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
This is a Dark Saying. Ministers must dedicate their lives to daily study, prayer, and meditation in God’s Word, because we must first receive the gifts of Knowledge and Understanding from The Holy Spirit so that we may teach others. If we do not receive them ourselves, then how can we share them with others? That’s not possible.
2Ti 2:8-10 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
The minister must endure persecution from unbelievers and from antichrists, who only pretend to be Christians, in order to serve The Elect so that they may also receive Eternal Life in Christ Jesus. This is our mission, to save souls.
2Ti 2:11-13 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
So a faithful minister counts himself dead to this world and does not focus on worldly endeavors much other than to obtain basic necessities. If he willingly suffers persecution now, then he will reign as a Priest in The Millennial Kingdom of Christ Jesus. But anyone who denies Christ in this world will in turn be denied by Christ.
2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
A minister must teach these doctrines to his or her students so that they will learn also to adhere to them. A minister must maintain order by insisting that the members of the assembly be faithful to the sound doctrines taught by Christ Jesus and by the Apostles of Christ to prevent any controversy from causing divisions.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Paul commands Timothy and in turn also us as well to study The Scriptures diligently every day so that we can learn line by line, precept by precept how to identify the various verses that address the same subjects, and that is so that we will learn multiple witnesses in the Bible that confirm facts of Truth and provide additional detail to each issue before us. We must use the Scriptures correctly, connecting one verse with another in a logical manner to illustrate the Truth of everything we teach. Only in this way will The Lord be pleased with our work as a minister.
Deu 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
The word “manna” is from the Hebrew and means “What is it?” And this is what The Lord gave to the Children of Israel to eat in the wilderness. And they had to gather it up every morning from the ground, and they used it to make bread to eat each day.
A minister must master ALL OF GOD’S WORD, because we are obligated to understand all of it in order to teach it to others. So daily study is the life long profession of a minister, as he partakes of that “Manna” sent down from Heaven, which was Angels’ Food, in order to learn “what is it?” Our students depend on us to first learn the meaning of God’s Word in order to teach them The Way to Eternal Life.
Joh 6:47-51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Christ Jesus, The Only Begotten Son of God, The Living Word of God, is that “manna,” that “Bread from Heaven” that God sent into this world. Everyone who eats this Bread will have Eternal Life. A minister’s work is to break The Bread of Life and give it to each of his or her students, just as Jesus broke the bread and the fish and gave to His Disciples who in turn distributed it to the people.
2Ti 2:16-18 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
A minister must maintain discipline during meetings to avoid meaningless ramblings and philosophizing among the members which only cause confusion and controversy and thereby cause divisions in the assembly and distractions from sound doctrine, and even destroys the faith of some members.
2Ti 2:19-21 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
The word “foundation” is from “them-el’-ee-os” which means “something put down, that is, a substruction (of a building, etc.), (literally or figuratively).”
Our foundation is solid, in that God is The Heart Knower and knows who are His and who are not. So every Christian must sincerely repent and cease transgressing God’s Law. But in a large assembly there will be people of all types, some sincere and others who only pretend to believe, some who are obtaining Eternal Life and others who are not. Only by true repentance and entry into The New Covenant can we please God and receive The Holy Spirit Who will guide us into all Truth.
2Ti 2:22-26 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
A minister must work with humility to teach others why they must repent so that they may learn The Truth and how God has provided them with The New Covenant so that they may receive The Holy Spirit. Because until then, they are always subject to Satan’s deception and may be literally possessed by him or by his Fallen Angels any time they choose to do so.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Timothy — Part 9
2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
In The Last Days leading up to the Return of Christ, it will be very dangerous.
2Ti 3:2-3 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Men will become so arrogant, self-centered, and narcissistic that many will become psychopaths that have no empathy for other human beings and thinking it a small thing to lie and slander in order to deceive others to get what they want. And they will hate people who are good and kind and honest, thinking of them as stupid fools who deserve to be ripped off.
2Ti 3:4-5 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
And the most dangerous will be those deceivers who pretend to be Christians but who are nothing more than Con Artists, Stage Play Actors, who appear religious on the surface but who contradict The Word of God in what they say and do. The most dangerous in these Last Days are the antichrists, my friends. And we can see them every day on TV pretending to be preachers of The Gospel but instead stirring up strife and division among our people. We can also see them in the pulpits of so-called churches around the country pretending to be teachers of God’s Word, but teaching falsehood to deceive the ignorant.
2Ti 3:6-7 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The antichrists are able to sneak into assemblies and deceive the weak minded members who have not yet repented and still have one foot in this world with all of its distractions, who continue to attend meetings but never learn much so they never come to The Knowledge of The Truth so they may enter The New Covenant. Some even teach, “you don’t have to change, just believe.” BELIEVE WHAT!!! People today just want to be told how good they are just to be in the assembly. Here, you get a sticker for participation. But Jesus referred to those deceivers as Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, that come to deceive and to kill.
2Ti 3:8-9 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
Just as Pharaoh’s Magicians worked their magic to fight against Moses, so the antichrists work their Silver Tongues of The Devil to rob people of their souls, and of course also of their money, which is all they want anyway.
2Ti 3:10-12 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
All True Christians WILL SUFFER PERSECUTIONS. But we are enabled to endure them by The Holy Spirit in us which we have received by The New Covenant.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Criminals and antichrists will get worse and worse, deceiving people, and also being deceived themselves.
2Ti 3:14-15 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Since Timothy had been fifteen years old he already had learned The Way to Salvation and had been converted into believing The Gospel of Jesus Christ and how to enter into The New Covenant. Have you known since you were a child that there was much more to God’s Word than you were being taught?
2Ti 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
We do not live by food only, BUT BY EVERY WORD OF GOD, which has not been given to us by the imaginations of men’s minds, but by The Almighty God. Ministers must study to show themselves approved by God, and not necessarily by men, rightly teaching to others The Scriptures, which are The Word of God, showing themselves to be workmen who will not be ashamed when our Lord Returns as Promised.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.
Timothy — Part 10
2Ti 4:1-2 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
We are commanded to preach The Word of God in The Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is The Judge of both the living and the dead when He Returns as Promised. Note that Paul is now preparing Timothy to be ordained as the Bishop over an entire region of many assemblies.
2Ti 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
In The Last Days, people will not listen to sound doctrine as taught in The Holy Scriptures, but will listen to slick talkers who recite memorized pamphlets and lessons and books of sermons from so-called Theologians who are nothing but ignorant religious muckadeeducks, and listen to others who babble on and on about philosophy and psychology and even political ideologies, and of course some will love to listen to the old traditional Bible Mythologies like “Eve ate an apple that a sneaky snake gave her and made an apron to cover her genitals where she had eaten that apple,” and like “Just keep attending our church and paying tithes and before the tribulation you will fly away with us and go to Heaven with The Lord.” The big problem is that so many people today are entertained by such meaningless babble which are deceitful lies, and thus can never come to The Knowledge of The Truth.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
The word “evangelist” is from “yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’” which means “a preacher of the gospel.”
Ministers must study to be Evangelists, those who teach others The Gospel of Jesus Christ which teaches repentance from transgression of God’s Law and the acceptance of The New Covenant and the receiving of The Holy Mind of Christ. Only in this way will a minister make full proof of his or her ministry.
2Ti 4:6-8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Paul knows that his own death may be imminent.
2Ti 4:9-11 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
Only Luke, the writer of The Gospel of Luke, was presently with Paul in Rome. Paul instructs Timothy to bring Mark, the writer of The Gospel of Mark, with him when he comes to Rome to see Paul.
2Ti 4:12-15 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
Paul gives Timothy some final instructions.
2Ti 4:16-18 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Paul is ready to die, and has full confidence in his reward when he meets The Lord.
2Ti 4:19-21 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
Paul asks Timothy to give his final salutations to those faithful men and women who helped him in his ministry.
2Ti 4:22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
The second epistle unto Timotheus, ordained the first bishop of the church of the Ephesians, was written from Rome, when Paul was brought before Nero the second time.
Whosoever has eyes to see and ears to hear, let him hear.