Here is a short summary of 2 Timothy: 2 Timothy is a personal letter from the apostle Paul to his friend and colleague-in-ministry Timothy, and it’s the last letter from Paul that we have. While carrying out ministry in the Aegean region after his first Roman imprisonment, Paul was arrested in Troas and once again taken back to Rome. This time he was held in more of a dungeon-like cell, and his situation was dire. Some of his colleagues had abandoned him, and some he had sent out for ministry, so only Luke is with him. And his fate looks bleak. He expects that the outcome for him will be death and wants Timothy, his dear son in the faith and longstanding colleague in ministry, to come to him as soon as he can (hopefully before winter). He also wants to offer some final words of encouragement to Timothy. He calls him to be faithful, pure, and persevering, providing an example to the church. Timothy must fulfill his ministry.
Backstory to 2 Timothy
As we noted in the backstory to 1 Timothy, there are some questions about how 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus fit into the chronology of Paul’s life. But the longstanding church and scholarly teaching has been that 2 Timothy is the last letter we have from Paul. It’s written to one of his closest friends and colleagues in ministry, Timothy, whom Paul recruited to be a traveling companion and part of his ministry team at the beginning of Paul’s second journey (you can read the story in Acts 16:1-5). By the time Paul writes 2 Timothy, Paul and Timothy have served together in ministry for about 15 years.
Every letter invites us into a story, so here’s what seems to be the most likely scenario behind 2 Timothy.
From A.D. 60 to 62, Paul had been incarcerated in Rome under a form of house arrest. This was Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, and it’s described in Acts 28. Roman law required accusers to present their charges in person within two years, but after two years, Acts 28 records no trial. So, the consistent testimony of the early church is that Paul was released from that first imprisonment and continued to travel and preach for several years.
During this time, Paul and Timothy ministered together for a time in Ephesus. Then Paul decided to travel into Macedonia, so he left Timothy in Ephesus (see the backstory to 1 Timothy for more).
“Then Paul decided to travel into Macedonia, so he left Timothy in Ephesus.”
Some time after leaving Timothy behind in Ephesus, Paul was arrested again.
He had been in the city of Troas to the north of Ephesus when opposition arose, apparently spurred on by Alexander the coppersmith (2 Timothy 4:13-15). Paul was seized and taken as a prisoner back to Rome.
And this imprisonment seems to have been far more severe than the first. Rather than house arrest as in his first imprisonment, early church tradition says Paul was in more of a dungeon-like cell.[1]
The situation for Paul is dire. Some of his colleagues have abandoned him.
Others he’s sent to distant places to continue the work of ministry. And Paul finds himself largely alone with only Luke with him, knowing that the likely outcome of this imprisonment doesn’t look good (4:9-10).
So now he desires Timothy, his closest partner in ministry, to come to him. Paul is sending Tychicus to Ephesus to replace Timothy.
It’s probably late summer or early fall, and Paul wants Timothy to come to Rome if at all possible before winter (4:21). His arrest and extradition to Rome all seems to have happened very quickly, and Paul wasn’t even able to grab his cloak or some of his books and parchments. He asks Timothy to pick them up in Troas and bring them when he comes. His cloak would be very helpful for staying warm during the winter.
At the time of writing, Paul has already had his initial hearing and wasn’t condemned to death then. But he can see the writing on the wall and expects a negative outcome at his actual trial. In fact, he anticipates his death (4:6).
“It’s probably late summer or early fall, and Paul wants Timothy to come to Rome if at all possible before winter.”
So, as we read 2 Timothy, we should picture Paul as mostly alone, in a Roman prison, believing his time is short but wanting his closest colleague to come be with him and bring him a few important supplies.
In addition to his own circumstances and some practical needs he has, Paul is also concerned for Timothy. Timothy is his son in the faith. They have worked closely together for 15 years, and there’s deep love between them. Paul is certain the end is near for him, and that will leave Timothy on his own, without Paul. So like any good father in the faith, Paul writes to Timothy calling him to be faithful to his ministry: to endure hardship, to be a diligent and honorable servant of the Lord, and to fulfill his ministry.
This is the situation behind 2 Timothy, and between the example of Paul and the encouragement to Timothy, it provides a strong model of faithful ministry for all who would serve God today.
Overview of 2 Timothy
The letter of 2 Timothy breaks down into four sections: a call to endure (1:1-2:13); a call to faithfulness and purity (2:14-3:9); a call to carry out his ministry (3:10-4:8); and Paul’s immediate concerns (4:9-22).
1. A Call to Endure (1:1-2:13)
Like all ancient letters from that time, 2 Timothy opens with an introduction and greeting in 1:1-2. Paul describes himself as an apostle of King Jesus and Timothy as his beloved son.
Then in 1:3-7, Paul recounts how he thanks God for Timothy as he reflects on his genuine faith, the same kind of faith that his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois demonstrated. Paul longs with tears to see Timothy and calls him to fan to flame his gift, reminding him that God’s Spirit is full of power, love, and self-control.
In 1:8-18, Paul tells Timothy to not be ashamed of the testimony about Jesus or of Paul who is suffering for it. Rather, Timothy should join Paul in suffering for it, because it’s the revelation of God’s purpose and grace. Paul mentions that a number of people in Asia have turned away from Paul, probably due to the shame of being associated with him. He specifies two of them by name but highlights one man who wasn’t ashamed of Paul.
Paul then calls Timothy to be strong in 2:1-13. He instructs him to entrust the faith to others who can pass it on to others still, and he invites Timothy to suffer hardship for Jesus, reminding Timothy of his own faithful service through hardship.
Summary of 2 Timothy: “Paul invites Timothy to suffer hardship for Jesus, reminding Timothy of his own faithful service through hardship.”
2. A Call to Faithfulness and Purity (2:14-3:9)
In 2:14-18, Paul urges Timothy to be a diligent workman. Timothy must charge others to avoid worldly chatter and avoid it himself.
Timothy must also remember that he is an honorable vessel for the Lord’s use (2:19-26). He needs to prepare for this by cleansing himself from youthful desires and pursuing righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
In 3:1-9, Paul reminds Timothy that pursuing these things goes against the grain because people will be foolish and ungodly, lovers of self and pleasure, not of God.
3. A Call to Carry out His Ministry (3:10-4:8)
Paul’s example that Timothy knows well stands in contrast to that of the ungodly way of others. So, in 3:10-17, Paul urges Timothy to continue in what he’s learned from Paul and others. He should stay true to the scriptures he was taught from his childhood.
Timothy must fulfill his ministry (4:1-8). Like Paul, he must faithfully preach the word when it’s convenient and when it’s not, whether it’s easy or hard. This is Paul’s final appeal to Timothy, for he knows that the time of his departure has come and a victor’s crown of righteousness awaits him.
“Paul knows that the time of his departure has come and a victor’s crown of righteousness awaits him.”
4. Paul’s immediate concerns (4:9-22)
Paul then turns to his circumstances and immediate concerns. First, in 4:9-15, he urges Timothy to come as soon as he can and bring his cloak and books (before winter according to v. 21). He reports that many have left him and he’s largely alone.
He notes in 4:16-18 that he already had a first hearing and no one supported him; they all deserted him. Nevertheless, the Lord stood with him, and he will bring Paul safely into his kingdom.
Paul then signs off the letter in 4:19-22 with a handful of greetings and updates on people’s whereabouts.
2 Timothy in 10 Passages
1. “For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”
—2 Timothy 1:6-7[2]
2. “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.”
—2 Timothy 2:1-2
Summary of 2 Timothy: “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.”
3. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
—2 Timothy 2:15
4. “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
—2 Timothy 2:22
5. “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.”
—2 Timothy 3:1-5
6. “Indeed, all who want to live in a godly way in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
—2 Timothy 3:12
7. “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
—2 Timothy 3:16-17
8. “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
—2 Timothy 4:2
Summary of 2 Timothy: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
9. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
—2 Timothy 4:7-8
10. “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
—2 Timothy 4:18
[1] Some traditions associate it with the Mamertine prison. For pictures, visit https://www.bibleplaces.com/mamertine-prison/.
[2] All Scriptures are taken from the New American Standard.
For more from John, see johnwhittaker.net.
