The last section brings everything to a head. Paul lays a charge of persistent, patient, faithful teaching and pastoring at the feet of Timothy, accountable to Jesus himself! These are beautiful commands, though. Preach the word. Just tell people about the Good News of Jesus. Be ready when when people expect it and when they don’t. Be honest, have integrity to tell people when they are walking away or crooked and set it right; encourage them with complete patience. That’s complete patience, fellas, not hair-trigger tolerance that overreacts when people don’t do the things we try to help them in doing. It’s not productive. Overreacting at how sinful someone else is generally comes from forgetting how sinful you are and how gracious God has been with you. Do the work, but be patient in it. (See Luke 16 on the unjust steward who refuses to give the same grace to others as he himself has received. That ends poorly for him.)
This thing about folks having itching ears is especially relevant today. People go to the Bible to have what they already think affirmed instead of coming to it looking to have it change them. If you’re not prepared to read the word of God and have it change your life, put it down, you’re not using it correctly. The problem Paul talks about here is the reason we have people justifying all kinds of nonsense (past and present) by looking for things in the Bible that will affirm what they want while ignoring the parts that put it into context or directly refute their desires.
For example, look back at 1 Timothy chapter 6, the one about the slaves. Some people used this verse in modern America to justify owning people and treating those who bear the image and likeness of God (and frankly a skin tone closer to what Jesus would have had then the gaggle of Anglo-Saxons doing this Bible study) in terrible ways. However, as we pointed out in that book, Paul lists “enslavers” as lawless and disobedient in chapter 1. Can’t just take what we want. The desire in our culture of individualism to have our opinion or feelings on one matter or another be treated as if it true and right simply because it originated from us will continue to be a serious roadblock in people getting to know Jesus. To believe in, submit to and follow Jesus is to acknowledge his authority, that he is right regardless of how you “feel” about it. If you’re not prepared to bring your entitlement in this area to die so that His authority may reign over you, then you’re not ready to live in His Kingdom, you’re just trying to rent space and open up a bakery in his lands. (As you should be aware, Jesus is fully capable of handling his own bread situation.)
But what’s our response to this? Be pissed? Put fingers in faces and bring the truth to bear in holy and righteous anger?! Nah, stay sober-minded (you’re grounded in the truth, let’s act like it). Endure suffering and do the work of an evangelist (which should be considered in this context both sharing good news and disciple-making). People often yell and cuss and waive their arms around and other stuff to try and make the thing they are saying more forceful. But the truth does its own work. Yes, some folks are wrong, but it’s often because they are deaf or don’t speak the language. Getting louder at either of these groups doesn’t help, but living with integrity and helping them see truth that matches what you’re speaking, suddenly those words will start to make sense.
Ultimately what Paul is asking Timothy to do is what he has done himself. And because of this work he is about to die. But, as always, he is ok with his life being an example, for ever since being accosted by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), Paul has fought the good fight, kept the faith and kept running until the end (some of his best work was in prison, actually. What is hindering you from doing what God has going on in your life?) I’m struck by the endurance, here. I have trouble keeping up with anything or an extended amount of time, and that’s for things that don’t cause me any particular pain or suffering or inconvenience. But Paul can look back at the last 3 decades and comfortably say, “I’ve kept the faith”. You don’t get that way making big plans, it happens by walking one mile and then walking the next. It happens by taking the sheep out of the barn and then back into the barn, over and over and over again. Walk miles, sheep in sheep out, be faithful in the means and let God handle the ends. You live your life like you live your days. So, mind your days, keep the faith in the small things and the big thing will happen all by itself.
Paul’s reward awaits him in heaven, a crown of righteousness (it’s indistinct what exactly this means in the afterlife but, you know, I can’t imagine it’ll be a disappointment.) And, it’s not just for Paul, it’s for all who follow Jesus and await His return.
The personal instructions are interesting. It kind of reinforces the mixed world and responses that Paul is subject to in His gospel work. It’s interesting that Mark shows up here in the list after Paul and him had a falling out previously (Acts 15). Paul also wants his coat and some stuff to read (pretty normal prison action) and warns Timothy to keep an eye out for some ne’re-do-wells, including the coppersmith, who doesn’t take kindly to good news. Don’t miss Paul’s response to those who deserted him. Like Jesus, who looked down at those who mocked him and likely thought of his students that had abandoned him, Paul asks that they be forgiven, the debt they incurred by their sin be not charged against them. Can you do that? Can you think of those who have wronged you and honestly desire that the harm they have done you not be counted against them? (See above on the dangers of reading the Bible without the intention of it changing you.)
Paul ends with some specific greetings. He speaks of Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila (Acts 18), who remain an interesting couple in that she is always mentioned first. In the ancient world, order of names listed was to denote importance (note that Peter is always first in the list of disciples, no matter what gospel account you’re reading.) To have a woman be first is interesting, as well as the fact that we find her involved with helping share truth with a man named Apollos in Acts 18. These things provide a unique context to our understanding of Paul’s view on women and their role in the church. It’s one of the reasons why this topic remains a work in progress for me.
Paul desires for Timothy to come and to try to make it before winter. This is likely because it’s dangerous to travel in the winter and, of course, he’s supposed to be bring Paul a coat, which doesn’t do much good if brought after Winter.
Paul ends the letter simply, in some ways unceremoniously given the situation he’s in and the fate that is before him. Although, he did most of that earlier in this chapter (the beautiful encouragement, the final description of his own perseverance, and the reminder of how it will all end.) However, there likely isn’t anything more appropriate to leave his spiritual son with then a desire that the Lord be with him.