IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE WITH PAUL – 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Posted by Angella Diehl, Webmaster on January 28, 2015 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group; January 28, 2015 from 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Theme: Paul shows us what it looks like to finish the Christian race on earth in faithfulness.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
We come in our study of 2 Timothy to a truly wonderful and victorious passage—even though the circumstances in which it was given were hard and lonely. Paul was was in prison awaiting execution. If the Mamertine Prison in Rome is where Paul was held, then he sat in a dark and windowless cell with nothing but a hole at the top through which food was occasionally dropped down to him. The fact that he asks Timothy in this letter to bring his cloak (4:13) and that he come before winter (v. 21) suggests that he anticipated shivering in the cold; the plea to bring the books and the parchments (v. 13) suggests that he endured periods of boredom; and the plea that Timothy come quickly (v. 9)—coupled with the fact that he speaks of some who forsook him (v. 10)—suggest that he suffered times of loneliness.
And yet, these words—clearly his final written words on earth—were words of great victory. They have sustained suffering Christians throughout the ages; and have inspired many Christians to strive on in faithfulness for their Lord. And the lesson that they were meant to convey to Timothy—and to us as well—is that the follower of Jesus who remains faithful to the end will reach that end in victory and joy. It may seem strange to the ears of the people of this world to say it, but the faithful Christian truly dies victoriously!
This passage begins with the word “For”; and this points us back to the admonition he had just given Timothy—“But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (v. 7). Paul could give that admonition because he himself had done what he admonished Timothy to do! And now, having reached the end of a life of faithful service to the Lord, we see . . .
I. PAUL’S READINESS (v. 6).
A. Paul uses the metaphor of the Old Testament sacrifice. He says, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering . . .” This speaks of the freewill offering or the vow offering in Numbers 15. After the offering was burnt on the altar, the very last thing that was done was that a drink offering was poured out upon the offering; Numbers 15:10 says, “and you shall bring as the drink offering half a hin of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.” This libation was poured out as something freely given and irretrievable. Earlier in his ministry, Paul declared that he was happy to render a life of service in this way to the cause of the gospel. He told the Philippians, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (Philippians 2:17). Now, it seems that his very life truly is—quite literally—about to be poured out for the cause of the gospel. He speaks emphatically in the original language when he says, “For I—I already am being poured out . . .”
B. His meaning in this is made clear when he goes on to say, “and the time of my departure is at hand.” Back again in the Philippian letter—on another occasion when he was in prison—he told his readers, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith . . .” (Philippians 1:22-24). Back then, he was ready and willing to die and depart, and go to be with the Lord—but seems to know, nevertheless, that he would remain. He is ready again to depart; but this time, he knows that he will in fact depart.
C. There is a lesson for us in this. We will not be ready for our departure at the end of our race as Paul was unless we are ready to depart now—ready even today to be poured out in His service—while we live our daily lives. As Jesus told us; “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).
II. PAUL’S RUN (v. 7).
A. Paul—ever the sports fan—changes his metaphor to a competition in the athletic games. He said first, “I have fought the good fight . . .” The word for “fight” is agōnizomai (from which we get our word “agony”). It speaks of a strenuous effort in an athletic contest. Note that Paul didn’t just say that he merely ‘fought’; nor even that he fought ‘a good fight’. Rather, he fought “the good fight”. There are many contentions that people can give themselves to; but Paul reach the end of his life satisfied that he fought the “good” one. He gave himself, as Jude would put it, “to contend earnestly [epagōnizomai] for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
B. Then, he affirmed, “I have finished the race . . .” The Greek word for “race” is dromos; which speaks of a course or a track (think here of the word ‘hippodrome’; which describes a track for horse and chariot races). Paul was able to say that he “finished” the race. It is a tragic thing to see a professing Christian—and especially a minister—reach the end of their time on earth unfaithful or disqualified. Paul determined long ago that this wouldn’t happen to him. Elsewhere, Paul wrote, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). He affirms here that he made it!
C. Finally, he says, “I have kept the faith.” The definite article in front of the word “faith” suggests that he is speaking of ‘the faith of the gospel’. Note that the word he uses doesn’t simply mean that he kept it for himself, but rather that he guarded its purity and preserved its integrity. What he told Timothy to do—that is to ‘guard what was committed to his trust’ (1 Timothy 6:20), and to ‘keep’ that ‘good thing’ which had been committed to him (2 Timothy 1:14)—Paul himself had done. He had not compromised the truth that God had given him to preach.
III. PAUL’S REWARD (v. 8).
A. Again, just as in an athletic competition, there is a prize at the end. Paul rejoices in the anticipation of it. He writes, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness . . .” The crown being spoken of here is the wreath—the prize that the winning runner is honored with at the end of the race. As he told the Corinthians, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:24-25). The crown of righteousness is the “wreath” of forever being clothed in the glorious righteousness of Christ when we finally see Him (1 John 3:2).
B. He rejoices also in the One who will give this crown of righteousness to him; “which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day . . .” Earlier, Paul wrote to Timothy of his willingness to suffer for the cause of the gospel; “for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (1:12). And now, he would depart this world completely with full confidence—having entrusted his all to that Day.
C. This joyful victory shout is not just for Paul, and it is not just for Timothy. It’s for you and me. Because when Paul speaks of being given this crown from Jesus, he adds, “and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” To “love His appearing” means to make the day of Jesus’ return the focal-point and the main motivation of our Christian living. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
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Many Christians have grown to love this passage of Scripture so much that they request that it be read at their funerals and memorial services. But let’s not just reserve it for then. Let’s be sure to faithfully live the words of this passage now—fighting the good fight daily, committing ourselves to finishing the race, keeping a tight hold on the integrity of the faith—so that it will be our living legacy to the world then!
