The men in my home group are doing a guided quasi-inductive study of 2 Timothy. Here are my notes.
Author: Paul
Recipient: Timothy
Historical setting: Paul is imprisoned in Rome, opposed and deserted.
Purpose: Paul was giving Timothy a “last charge” before his death, to remind him to focus intently on what is most important and lay aside that which is not; regardless of difficulty, opposition, suffering, and temptation.
Week 1, day 1: context
Where is Paul? Paul is in Rome, imprisoned, “in chains”.
Why is he there? He is imprisoned, evidently on trial, for he speaks of “my defense”.
How is he being treated? He is suffering, deserted, in hardship, being “poured out as a drink offering.”
When in his life is this occurring? Toward the end; he speaks of his “departure” and of heaven.
1.2: people unsupportive of Paul
1:15-18: All who are in Asia, including Phygelus and Hermogenes, turned away from Paul.
2:15-18: Hymenaeus and Philetus went “astray from the truth”, “saying that the resurrection has already taken place.”
3:1-9, 13: Men in the last days will oppose the truth.
4:3, 4: Churches will turn their ears from the truth.
4:10: Demas deserted Paul for the sake of the world.
4:10: Crescens and Titus left; likely they were not opposed to Paul.
4:14, 15: Alexander opposed Paul’s teaching, doing him “much harm.”
1.3: Timothy (see below)
1.4: Timothy mentioned in other books (see below)
1.5: Purpose (see above)
2.1: Paul (see below)
2.2
Gospel (see below)
remember, recall, etc.
Paul remembers Timothy in his prayers (1:3).
Paul remembers Timothy’s tears (1:4).
Paul is reminded of Timothy’s sincere faith (1:5).
Paul reminds Timothy to fan the gift of God into flame (1:6).
suffering, chains
Timothy is to share in suffering for the gospel (1:8).
Paul suffers for the gospel (1:12).
Paul is in chains (1:16).
ashamed, turned away
Paul serves God with a clear conscience (1:3).
Timothy is not to be ashamed of the gospel or of Paul’s estate (1:8).
Paul is not ashamed of his suffering for the gospel (1:12).
Paul was deserted by “all who are in Asia” (1:15).
2.3: Instructions (see below).
2.4: Exhortations (see below).
2.5: God (see below).
Timothy is Paul’s beloved son (1:1).
Timothy has a believing mother and grandmother.
Timothy has a sincere faith (1:5).
A gift from God is in Timothy (1:6).
Timothy is saved and called with a holy calling (1:9).
Timothy heard sound words from Paul (1:13).
A treasure has been entrusted to Timothy (1:14).
Timothy followed Paul’s teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings (3:10-11).
Timothy has known the sacred writings from childhood (3:15).
Timothy’s mother is a Jewish believer and his father a Greek (Acts 16:1).
Timothy was well thought of by fellow believers (Acts 16:2).
Timothy joined Paul on his missionary journey (Acts 16:3).
Timothy was circumcised by Paul for the sake of Jewish believers (Acts 16:3).
Timothy helped Paul deliver apostolic decrees from Jerusalem (Acts 16:4).
Timothy is Paul’s beloved and faithful child in the Lord.
Timothy was sent to Corinth to remind them of “[Paul’s] ways which are in Christ.”
Paul regards Timothy as of kindred spirit (2:20).
Timothy seeks after Christ’s interests, not his own (2:21).
Timothy is of “proven worth”, having served Paul in the gospel “like a child serving his father” (2:22).
Timothy was to be sent to Philippi to bring news back to Paul (2:19, 23).
He is “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus” (1:1).
He serves God (1:3).
He constantly prays for Timothy (thanking God) (1:3).
He longs to see Timothy (1:4).
Through the laying on of Paul’s hands, Timothy received “the gift of God” (1:6).
Paul has received a spirit of power, love, and self-control (1:7).
Paul describes himself as the Lord’s prisoner (1:8).
Paul suffers for the gospel by the power of God (1:8, 12).
Paul was saved and called to a holy calling, not by works but by grace (1:9).
Paul was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher for the gospel (1:11).
Paul is not ashamed (in his suffering) (1:12).
Paul spoke sound words to Timothy (1:13).
The Holy Spirit dwells in Paul (1:14).
Paul was deserted by “all who are in Asia” (1:15).
Do not be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord (1:8).
Join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God (1:8).
Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (1:10).
Paul was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher for the gospel (1:10-11).
Paul suffers for the gospel (1:12).
Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me (1:13).
Guard the treasure which has been entrusted to you (1:14).
The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust to faithful men (2:2).
Jesus rose from the dead and is a descendant of David, according to my gospel (2:8).
Paul suffers hardship for the gospel (2:8-9).
The word of God is not imprisoned (2:9).
Remind them of these things (2:14).
Handle the word of truth accurately (2:15).
Men have gone astray from the truth (2:18).
The firm foundation of God stands (2:19).
Gently correct those in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth (2:25).
Certain weak women are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (3:7).
Ungodly men oppose the truth (3:8).
Timothy followed Paul’s teaching (3:10).
Continue in the things you have learned (3:14).
Preach the word (4:2).
They will not endure sound doctrine (4:3).
They will turn their ears from the truth (4:4).
Alexander vigorously opposed our teaching (4:15).
Through Paul the proclamation was accomplished (4:17).
In Christ Jesus is “promise of the life” (1:1).
1:9
God saved Paul and Timothy.
God called Paul and Timothy to a holy calling.
Paul and Timothy were not saved because of works.
Paul and Timothy were saved through God’s purpose.
Paul and Timothy were saved by God’s grace.
God gave grace to Paul and Timothy “in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”
1:10
God’s grace “has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus.”
Jesus “abolished death.”
Jesus “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Paul is an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God (1:1).
Promise of life is in Christ Jesus (1:1).
“God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” provide “grace, mercy, and peace” (1:2).
God gave Timothy a gift (1:6).
God “gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (1:7).
The power of God enables Timothy to “share in suffering for the gospel” (1:8).
God “saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (1:9).
God’s purpose and grace “[have] been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus” (1:10).
Jesus “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (1:10).
God “is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to [Paul]” (1:12).
Faith and love are in Christ Jesus (1:13).
The Holy Spirit dwells within Paul and Timothy (1:14).
God grants mercy (1:16, 18).
Paul “remind[s]” Timothy to “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in [him] through the laying on [Paul’s] hands.” (1:6)
Paul commands Timothy “not [to] be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of [Paul] his prisoner.” (1:8)
Rather, Timothy is to “share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.” (1:8)
Paul instructs Timothy to “follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1:13)
Paul commands Timothy to “guard the good deposit entrusted to you,” “by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.” (1:14)
Paul calls Timothy his “beloved child” (1:2).
Paul prays for Timothy, thanks God for him, and longs to see him (1:2-4).
Paul is reminded of Timothy’s “sincere faith” (1:5).
Paul reminds Timothy of the “gift of God” which is in him (1:6).
Paul assures Timothy God has given him a spirit of “power and love and self-control” (1:7).
Paul reminds Timothy he is “saved . . . and called . . . to a holy calling” by God’s “purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began” (1:9).
Paul reminds Timothy that “the Holy Spirit [dwells] within us” (1:14).
Paul reminds Timothy that a “good deposit [was] entrusted to you” (1:14).