19th Sunday after Pentecost 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5

Preaching Commentary

Introduction

In Paul’s second extant letter to his beloved Timothy, the passage of 3:10-4:5 records Paul’s final charge to Timothy. Calling on Timothy’s trust of Paul’s ministry and character (3:10-13), the role of his mother and grandmother in his knowledge of the Gospel (3:14-15), and the divine nature and power of Scripture (3:15-3:17), Paul commissions Timothy to fulfill his ministry as a harbinger of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ (4:1-5). This is Paul’s great last words for his disciple, knowing his own death was coming soon (4:6). These essential commissioning words of Paul can be seen as the core of pastoral responsibilities for Timothy and for all pastors since.