Introduction to 2nd Timothy

 Here's my introduction to the book of 2nd Timothy, and the course on it.

The second letter to Timothy was also written by the hand of Paul, the aged apostle. He was passing on his wisdom and experience concerning the Lord’s work. In this letter he gave more instruction on the importance of the Bible or “the Scriptures” as the basis for all Christian life and ministry. Timothy was warned of coming dangers to the Christian faith, terrible worldliness among many believers and our need to proclaim God’s biblical truth and to fulfill a faithful Christian ministry. The instruction given here is very important and needful for us to follow closely today!

Paul was nearing the end of his life at the time when this book was written. In fact, 2 Timothy is the last written letter from Paul that we have. He was in prison at this time, condemned as an “evil doer” (2:9). Many had forsaken him and were not supporting him at this time (1:15; 4:10, 11, 16-18). They were fearful due to the political and social unrest, and persecution against Christians under the orders of the Roman Emperor Nero (ruling from A.D. 54-68). The city of Rome had been burned by a fire in July of A.D. 64. Many suspected that Emperor Nero was the person behind it, but he began blaming and persecuting the Christians to take the heat off of himself. According to tradition, Paul had just returned from his two year ministry in Spain (AD 64 to 66). In AD 66 Paul returned to Asia [minor]. His enemies used the political unrest and growing hatred for Christians against him. Paul was arrested and was now expecting to die soon (2 Tim. 4:13,21; 2 Tim. 4:6,7). It was from his cold prison cell in Rome that Paul wrote this last letter to Timothy, in the fall of A.D. 67, to encourage him in the work and to invite him to come and visit him one last time (hopefully before the winter of that year, see 4:13,21). Timothy was evidently still in Ephesus at this time, and would have gone through Troas and Macedonia on his way to Rome (See 1:18; 4:13, 19). May you be blessed and encouraged in the faith as you study the words of Paul's final letter!

Blessings!

Ben