TIMID TIMOTHY’S TERRIBLE TASK

 

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

 

TIMID TIMOTHY’S TERRIBLE TASK

 

2 Tim 4:1-5

4 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. KJV

 

          While he was in Ephesus, Paul sent Timothy to straighten out the many major errors in the church at Corinth. He also wrote a letter addressing these errors and sent them by the hand of a delegation from Corinth who had come to Ephesus to inform Paul of the factions that were tearing the church apart.

 

          Timothy was a problem solver, a lover of people, and a man of reason. He had a shepherd’s heart and an administrator’s mind but a weak stomach. Paul, in the next chapter advises purifying his water with wine for his many belly aches. Timothy was to “make full proof” of his ministry. The Greek word is plerophoreo and simply means all the various aspects of the “package” that was his task.

 

          In chapter four, two different words for “endure” are used. In verse three the word is anechomai which means that they would not “put up with” sound doctrine. They would, instead, rebel and replace the clear teaching of Scripture with a less severe and more palatable message coming from teachers who were addicted to audience affirmation.

 

          In verse five Timothy would be required to practice what the Greeks called kakopatheo which means “to undergo hardships.” Pass the wine!!

 

          I believe that the most effective pastors are not bullies but inwardly timid souls who have steeled themselves for the difficult task of solving problems and loving people.

 

Lord, help me to be a sheep that follows. Let me not add to the difficulties of my shepherd. AMEN