2 Timothy 4:: Preach the Word.

 

2 Timothy 4:1-5: Preach the Word.

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

This letter is a continuation of 2 Timothy 3, where Paul first warns about the last days, describing how perilous times will come and what the hearts and character of men—those without Jesus in their lives—will be like.

2 Timothy 3:1: “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.”

2 Timothy 3:2-6: “For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions.” Now Paul asks Timothy—and gives him clear and precise instructions—to safeguard the sound doctrine of the Word.

2 Timothy 3:10 “But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, and patience.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching.”

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober-minded in all things, endure hardships, do the work of an evangelist, and fulfill your ministry.”

And why does he ask all of this of him?

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but, having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and wander off into myths.”

This message is clear: we are called to have an urgency to preach the gospel so that many may be transformed in Christ Jesus, and, as a church, to remain firm in sound doctrine—despite whatever we may have to endure for the sake of the gospel and whatever we may see happening in the world.

For, in spite of everything, the Lord is faithful.

2 Timothy 4:17-18 “But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 

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Elder Catalina Aguirre 

JCRC - Latin Church.