PATTERNS OF ENDURANCE – 2 Timothy 3:10-12

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on January 7, 2015 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group; January 7, 2015

2 Timothy 3:10-12

Theme: Paul exhorts Timothy to faithfulness in preaching by reminding him of his own example of endurance.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

This passage comes after Paul’s words to Timothy about the perilous times that would come; and how hard those times would be for the preacher who would faithfully preach the word. The preacher would need to resolve to be faithful; because the character of the people of the times would be such that they would not be inclined to hear a word from God. This morning’s passage is similar in focus; but in this case, the attention is placed not so much on the ungodly character of the people of the times, but on the things that the faithful preacher of the word would be required to suffer from such people while preaching in such times.

Timothy—a careful observer of the apostle Paul—would certainly know something about all this. He would have seen firsthand the things that Paul suffered in his missionary work in such places as Antioch (where the Judaizers stirred up the Gentiles against him), Iconium (where a violent attempt was plotted against him), and in Lystra (where he was, in fact, taken out and stoned and left for dead). Preachers of the word—and indeed, all who would live in faithful obedience to that word—must be prepared to pay the price for faithfulness. But the intention of this passage—as was true of the previous section—is to exhort Timothy, in spite of the difficulties, to nevertheless pay that price.

Paul himself set the pattern for Timothy of such endurance. Note from this passage . . .

I. TIMOTHY’S OBSERVATION OF PAUL (v. 10a).

A. Paul begins by affirming Timothy; saying, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, . . .” etc. The word that Paul uses for “carefully followed” is one that suggests that Timothy accompanied Paul in close-enough proximity to make observations and learn from him; and more than that, to even conform himself to the things that he saw. He earlier wrote to Timothy, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me . . .” (1:13); and “the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2:2). Paul was a mentor to Timothy; and Timothy was a very faithful and well-instructed mentee.

B. There is a lesson in this—not only for pastors, but for all who are growing in maturity in Christ. We are being watched—not just by unbelievers but by our fellow followers of Christ; and our lives set the path for those who are looking up to us. Paul, it seems, was very mindful of the fact that he was setting a pattern for Timothy and for others; and so, he diligently embraced that role and lived conscientiously as a worthy example to be followed. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, he wrote, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” And in Philippians 4:9, he was able to say, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” We are being watched carefully—and we must be intentional about the faithful example of the faith we set for others.

II. PAUL’S OBSERVABLE CHARACTERISTICS (vv. 10b-11).

A. Note then the characteristics that Timothy could observe. Though there were no doubt many other qualities that he could have mentioned, Paul specifies only nine for Timothy’s consideration. But they are nine things that are strategic for a preacher of the word. And these nine can be divided into three main categories:

1. Paul mentions his personal characteristics before God. He speaks of “my doctrine”, which would have involved his whole teaching ministry—not only the content of his teaching and preaching, but the seriousness with which he preached it and taught it. He also mentions his “manner of life”; which speaks of the way he lived his life—his lifestyle behavior patterns; which were not a contradiction to his teaching but an adornment to it. He speaks of his “purpose”; which would have to do with the motives that drove him in ministry—the love of Christ and the desire to perfect others in him being the chief of them. And he mentions his “faith” which would have communicated to Timothy Paul’s active trust in God throughout his ministry labors. These things all show up time and again in Paul’s letters to Timothy. They would have shown Timothy the kind of man he needed to be.

2. Paul also highlighted his reactions to the trying circumstances that confronted him. His character, described above, was tested and proven by such things; and reactions to trials were also observed by Timothy. He mentions, for example, his “longsuffering”; that is, his patient endurance when tested; and perhaps his “long-fuse” when it came to impatience. He also mentions his “love”; and here we should understand him to be speaking not of a mere emotion or mere affection (although both were surely present in his life), but rather his willingness to sacrifice and lay down his own self for the good of others—both for those to whom he preached and for the Lord that he served; and even for his enemies. And then he mentions his “perseverance” or hopeful and patient endurance. He didn’t give up on his calling when—humanly speaking—there may have been great motivation to do so. Timothy would have observed these external qualities as well, and would have been deeply impacted by them.

3. Finally, Paul speaks of the trying circumstances that he encountered. Timothy not only needed to know about the character, and the ways that Paul held up under fire, but about the nature of the tests as well. He mentions “persecutions”—a word that is mentioned twice as a noun in verse 11, and once as a verb in verse 12; and that basically means “to pursue” with hostile intent. He also mentions “afflictions”—a word that refers to that which causes someone to suffer. He elaborates on those “afflictions” in a way that Timothy would have been present to have seen and that we ourselves can read about. He speaks of afflictions “which happened to me at Antioch” (see Acts 13:42-52), “at Iconium” (see Acts 14:1-7), and “at Lystra” (Acts 14:8-20).

B. Paul returns to the word “persecution” when he refers to “—what persecutions I endured”; and Timothy would have known them well. They give great meaning to Paul’s word in his preaching when he said—very probably with the wounds and scars of his stoning at Lystra still shockingly visible, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). But even though Paul endured such hardship, he nevertheless affirmed to Timothy, “And out of them all the Lord delivered me.” Paul doesn’t mean that he never experienced trials; because clearly he suffered them. Rather, he means that the gospel—and Paul as the preacher of it—was not silenced by such things. And this was no doubt meant to encourage Timothy that he wouldn’t be silenced by such things either—if he remained faithful.

III. THE GENERAL PRINCIPLE TO BE LEARNED (v. 12).

A. The Lord’s promised faithfulness didn’t, however, take away from the fact that ministry would involve suffering. Paul said, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution”; and he didn’t mean this just for preachers. It’s a truism for all who follow Christ. Ungodly people perhaps will not entirely even object if we seek to be “righteous” in our own power or on our own terms and in ways that don’t condemn them; but to seek to be godly in Christ—the Son of God who became the atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world—will involve persecution.

B. Jesus told us that this would be so. He warned that in times to come—such as Paul had been writing about—“they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9)—also adding, however, “But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (vv. 13-14).

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May we, by God’s grace, follow patterns of faithful endurance for the cause of gospel of Jesus—rejoicing if it so happens that we may be “counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41).