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Study of the Pastoral Epistles--2 Timothy: Notes and Outlines
Posted by Bob Young
Background of the Letter
Written by Paul after his release from his first imprisonment as described in Acts 28; Paul's last letter.
Who is Timothy?
- Mid-30s to near 40? Acts 16:1 is about 50 A.D. How old was Timothy, 20-25 years old? Second Timothy is written about 15 years later, thus the suggested age.
- Timothy was perhaps shy or timid
- Timothy may have had some physical infirmity
Purpose of the Letter
The letter was written to Timothy near the end of Paul's life. Reflects Paul's final instructions to his son in the faith. Thus serves as a final testament of faith, but it is doubtful that Paul had this in mind as a purpose of writing.
Content of the Letter
The four chapters can be summarized in this way:
The Gospel in 2 Timothy
Four principles set forth in the letter
The Charge to Timothy
Literary Themes and Concepts in the Letter
Chapter 1: Notes
Textual Notes
1:1--According to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus (kat' epaggelian zoes tes en Christoi Iesou); "with a view to the fulfilment of the promise." See Tit 1:1 for this same use of kata. For kat' epaggelian see Gal 3:29. See 1 Tim 4:8 for the phrase "promise of life"; "life that in Christ Jesus" includes the present as well as the future.
1:2--Beloved (agapetoi), instead of gnesioi (genuine) as in 1 Tim 1:2.
1:3-8--Contrast between timidity of Timothy and need to be bold
1:9--Before times eternal (pro chronon aionion); parallel to Tit 1:2.
Chapter 2: Notes
Textual Notes
2:2--Commit thou (parathou). Second aorist middle imperative of paratithemi (1 Tim 1:18) to deposit, same metaphor as paratheke in 2Tim 1:12,14.
2:14--Notice words that deal with what is taught in following verses
2:19--Firm (stereos), solid and compact, in NT only here, see also 1 Pet 5:9; Heb 5:12, 5:14; see stereoma in Col 2:5. For themelios see 1 Cor 3:11; Rom 15:20; 1 Tim 6:19. Compare hedraioma in 1 Tim 3:15.
2:20--Continuation of "house" metaphor from 2:19
Chapter 3: Notes
Textual Notes
3:2-4--Lovers....
3:8--Jannes and Jambres, traditional names of the magicians who opposed Moses (Ex 7:11)
3:16-4:5--Paul's charge to Timothy
Chapter 4: Notes
Textual Notes
4:2--compare list to 3:16-17
4:5--Be sober (su de nephe), present active imperative of nepho, see 1 Th 5:6,8.
Suffer hardship (kakopatheson), see 2 Tim 2:9.
Do the work of an evangelist (ergon poieson euaggelistou), 1Cor 1:17; Eph 4:11
Fulfil (plerophoreson), first aorist active imperative of plerophoreo, as Col 4:12, Col 4:17
