Sermon Tone Analysis

Again, Who Is Timothy?

Timothy first appears in as Paul’s disciple whose mother “was a Jewish believer; but his father was a Greek” (v 1).

He was a third-generation Christian after his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois (2 Tm 1:5).

The apostle Paul, undoubtedly Timothy’s spiritual father, refers to him as “my true child in the faith” (1 Tm 1:2); he perhaps converted Timothy on his first or second missionary journey.

Timothy, who was “well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium” (), became Paul’s companion and assistant on his second missionary journey at Lystra.

Timothy, who was “well spoken of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium” (), became Paul’s companion and assistant on his second missionary journey at Lystra.

Paul put Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus and wrote him two pastoral letters addressed with his name to help him perform that responsible task.

Last word’s spoken by someone right before they died.

In times past, people often witnessed the last words of a loved one before he died.

Watching at the bedside, the family heard words of advice, or whispers of love, perhaps a few regrets.

Of one thing you can be sure, no one talked about their car or business success, or what stocks were on the rise.

People who know that the words they speak are possibly their last usually focus on serious matters.

They measure their words carefully.

Last will all anxious to see what they might get.

People who know that the words they speak are possibly their last usually focus on serious matters.

They measure their words carefully.

Paul did the same in this, his last letter.

His impending execution, by decree of Emperor Nero, stirred within him an urgency to write once again to his dear friend and protegé, Timothy.

This impassioned letter, more personal in tone than his first letter to Timothy, depicts a veteran minister eager to bolster the faith of a young pastor.

He wanted to ground Timothy firmly in his obligations to Christ and the church.

Paul did the same in this, his last letter.

His impending execution stirred within him an urgency to write once again to his dear friend and protegé, Timothy.

This impassioned letter, more personal in tone than his first letter to Timothy, depicts a veteran minister eager to bolster the faith of a young pastor.

He wanted to ground Timothy firmly in his obligations to Christ and the church.

From his many court trials and his time spent in prison, Paul felt the winds of public and official opinion turning more harshly against Christians.

Although the apostle knew it was the Holy Spirit who would guard and preserve the church’s message and mission, he seemed to feel the press of love and duty to do all he could to protect its faith and holiness against the future.

On the horizon lay some of the most brutal persecutions of the church.

From his many court trials and his time spent in prison, Paul felt the winds of public and official opinion turning more harshly against Christians.

Although the apostle knew it was the Holy Spirit who would guard and preserve the church’s message and mission, he seemed to feel the press of love and duty to do all he could to protect its faith and holiness against the future.

On the horizon lay some of the most brutal persecutions of the church.

Larson, K. (2000).

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol.

9, p. 263).

Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

I’d like to share some of my favorite parts of this letter that have meant a lot to me over the years.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988).

Timothy, Timotheus (Person).

In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol.

2, p. 2070).

Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

Fan the Flame

After his greeting, Paul highlighted Timothy’s heritage of belief in God, he confirmed his conviction that Timothy shared in this genuine faith.

He then encourages Timothy to rekindle the flame

Read vs. 6-8

Every genuine believer receives this gift from God.

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988).

Timothy, Timotheus (Person).

In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol.

2, p. 2069).

Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

This is why Paul told Timothy that he was persuaded of his sincere faith.

Timothy had this powerful gift within him, enabling him to perform all that God required.

Even so, Timothy must fan into flame the Spirit’s power.

This is a present-tense verb.

It might better be translated “keep fanning.”

It was not that the Spirit’s flame was weak or needed to be alive by human effort but that the Spirit only works in cooperation with those who desire his enablement.

We keep fanning the flame by keeping “in step with the Spirit” (), by disciplining ourselves in godliness to produce the fruit which is his nature

Even so, Timothy must fan into flame the Spirit’s power.

It might better be translated “keep fanning.”

It was not that the Spirit’s flame was weak or needed to be alive by human effort but that the Spirit only works in cooperation with those who desire his enablement.

We keep fanning the flame by keeping “in step with the Spirit” (), by disciplining ourselves in godliness to produce the fruit which is his nature

Last week we shared that Timothy was a timid, shy type of person who was thrust in a large role of leadership in the church at Ephesus.

Paul wanted to counter his timidity by reminding him of the gift of grace, the Holy Spirit.

Larson, K. (2000).

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol.

9, p. 266).

Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Giving him the boldness that should belong to every believer.

A spirit not of fear, but of power, love and sound judgement or self discipline.

We find that like Timothy, that we need God’s strength in our daily living, to endure and make wise choices, to live in patience, producing goodness.

Paul then in vs. 8 commands Timothy to not be ashamed of the gospel.

He has the power of God to do whatever God calls him and us to, power to love God and others, and power to think wisely and clearly.

How do we live out this power in our lives?

On way we do this is through speech and lifestyle—our affirmation of God’s work in us and our agreement with him.

Paul’s charge for us not to be ashamed to testify is a command to openness.

Shame often shows itself through silence.

We simply do not say anything about Christ; we keep everything to ourselves.

We simply go along with the way everyone else lives, with no difference in our ethics, moral positions, values, or ambitions.

Another way we identify with Christ is through solidarity with his people, especially those who suffer on his behalf.

The people we associate with often reflect on us.

If someone is admired, our ties with that person will grant us acceptance by people we do not even know.

Everyone enjoys approval, but we must be careful where we seek it.

Avoiding those who are controversial because they take a bold stand for Christ or steering clear of helping Christians are signs that we are ashamed of God’s people.

Our first loyalty and duty is to the household of faith.

Another way is with the message, the proclamation of God’s truth and Christ’s life.

The third means of identification is with the message, the proclamation of God’s truth and Christ’s life.

To refrain from speaking about God’s truth, to hold back from living it, is to regard the gospel with shame and dishonor.

To refrain from speaking about God’s truth, to hold back from living it, is to regard the gospel with shame and dishonor.

Later in the letter, Paul tells Timothy to be ready to share or preach the gospel at any time.

Train Others

Larson, K. (2000).

I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol.

9, pp.

267–268).

Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Paul, in chapter two reminds Timothy of the false teaching and growing apostasy, he urges him to be strong.

Timothy must not only guard the gospel; he must take the gospel and the apostolic instructions (things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses) and entrust [them] to reliable men.

Unlike the false teachers who claimed special revelation or secret knowledge, Paul’s message stood in accord with all Scripture and in agreement with the apostles.

Unlike the false teachers who claimed special revelation or secret knowledge, Paul’s message stood in accord with all Scripture and in agreement with the apostles.

What he received from the Lord he passed on in an open manner ().

Likewise, Timothy received no inside information from Paul.