2 Timothy 4
v.2
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.
He should preach in his private conversation, and in the intervals of his public labors, at the side of the sick bed, and wherever there is a prospect of doing good to any one. If his heart is full of love to the Saviour and to souls, he cannot help doing this.
v.3
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
For the Greek on desires see the Greek section Bible.
The apostle here says, that by turning away from Timothy, and from sound instruction, they would not abandon all religious teachers, but would rather increase and multiply them. A desire to hear the truth, and to learn the way of salvation, is a good desire. But this can be better gratified by far under the patient and intelligent labor of a single religious teacher, than by running after many teachers, or than by frequent changes. How much would a child learn if he was constantly running from one school to another? The true principle should be, to select those who will faithfully declare the truth, and who will** not shrink from exposing and denouncing sin**, wherever it may be found.
Does this mean that at in end times, more teachers will arise? An increase in teachers does not gurantee more educated, edified, or sanctified congregations. Rather, it begs a greater obligation to put said teachers under much scrutiny to ensure they are not merely appealing itching ears.
v.4
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
That is, the people themselves will turn away from the truth. It does not mean that the teachers would turn them away by the influence of their instructions.
Today’s epidemic of moral relativism is a prime example of a form of going away from the truth. If there is no absolute, standardized, authoratitive truth that we ought to conform to, there is no truth to turn away from. It is merely stew boiled from the individual’s emotions, thoughts, and experiences.
v.5
But you, be sober in all these things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministries.
Keep thyself from all sin, and from all idleness and laziness, and do this industriously, that thou mayst honour God in thy work.
See endurance in 2 Timothy 2:3
v.6
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.
See more inMaclaren on 2 Timothy 4 6 2Timothy4 v 6.
v.7-8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righeous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Does the degree to which I long for Jesus’ appearing purify every way in which my lifestyle today hinders my love for God? see also 1 John 3:3.
v.10
for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia , and Titus to Dalmatia.
that he was at first a friend and fellow-laborer of Paul, but that, under the influence of a desire to live, he afterward forsook him, even in circumstances where he greatly needed the presence of a friend.
Having loved this present world - This does not mean, necessarily, that he was an avaricious man, or that, in itself, he loved the honors or wealth of this world; but it means that he desired to live. He was not willing to stay with Paul, and subject himself to the probabilities of martyrdom; and, in order to secure his life, he departed to a place of safety. The Greek is, ἀγαπὴσας τὸν νὺν αἰῶνα agapēsas ton nun aiōna - having loved the world that now is; that is, this world as it is, with all its cares, and troubles, and comforts; having desired to remain in this world, rather than to go to the other. There is, perhaps, a slight censure here in the language of Paul - “the censure of grief;” but there is no reason why Demas should be held up as an example of a worldly man. That he desired to live longer; that he was unwilling to remain and risk the loss of life, is indeed clear. That Paul was pained by his departure, and that he felt lonely and sad, is quite apparent; but I see no evidence that Demas was influenced by what are commonly called worldly feelings, or that he was led to this course by the desire of wealth, or fame, or pleasure.
v.16
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.
Wow. Demas in v.10
True friendship, founded on sincere love, so rare, so difficult to be found, so little known among the gay and the great, is one of the richest of Heaven’s blessings to man, and when enjoyed, should be regarded as more than a compensation for all of show, and splendor, and flattery that wealth can obtain.
How we respond in times of betrayal will determine our promotion in the kingdom.
v.18
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
He does not say from “death,” for he expected now to die; see 2 Timothy 4:6. But he was assured that God would keep him from shrinking from death when the hour approached; from apostasy, and from the manifestation of an improper spirit when he came to die.
The apostle was delivered out of the mouth of the lion, that is, of Nero, or some of his judges. If the Lord stands by us, he will strengthen us in difficulties and dangers, and his presence will more than supply every one’s absence.
Oh, Jonathan. Only if you believed this.