Outline of II Timothy

David Mitchell
Pastor, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Charleston, West Virginia

1. Introduction.
   1. Author: Paul (1:1).
   2. Recipient:   Timothy (1:2).
   3. Date: About A.D. 67. Paul is now in prison at Rome again. The first imprison­ment evidently was a form of house arrest, but the second imprisonment was a more solitary affair and, according to tradition, was in the Mamertine prison. At least it would seem that he was alone in close confinement.
   4. Theme: The walk and testimony of a true minister of Jesus Christ (4:1-5).
   5. Purpose: To instruct Timothy in the manner and character of his work (1:6).
      
      
2. Salutation, 1:1-5.
   
   
3. The true minister is not ashamed, 1:6-18.
   1. Such an attitude does not come from God (1:7).
   2. The true minister is not ashamed of the testimony of the Lord (1:8).
   3. The true minister is not ashamed of true servants of the Lord even in their rejection (1:8).
   4. The true minister is not ashamed of his sufferings for Christ's sake (1:12).
   5. The true minister is not ashamed of sound doctrine even if it is contrary to trends of the times (1:13-15).
      
      
4. The true minister must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2:1-7.
   1. He must be a link in the chain of truth, passing on what he is taught to others (2:2).
   2. He must endure hardness as a soldier (2:3-4).
      1. The Christian walk is a warfare against the world, the flesh, and the devil.
      2. A good soldier is not entangled in the affairs of life. Worldliness is not here
         in view as we generally think of it. What we are cautioned about is becoming
         hung-up in matters of life not wrong in themselves but highly distracting.
   3. He must strive lawfully as a disciplined athlete (2:5). He will not be awarded the victor's crown if he violates the rules by which he is to engage in the contest.
   4. He is entitled to the fruits of his labor as a hard-working farmer (2:6).
      
      
5. The true minister must follow a careful course in times of declension, 2:8-26.
   1. In sufferings, he must remember the promises of God (2:8-14).
      1. The gospel may bring suffering (2:8-9).
      2. A true minister's suffering is for the sake of God's elect who are not yet saved (2:10). This verse is a death-blow to hardshell heresy that people are saved without the gospel.
   2. The true minister must give diligence to show himself an approved workman who does not need to be ashamed (2:15-26).
      1. He must rightly handle the Word of Truth (2:15).
      2. He must avoid useless debating (2:16-19).
      3. He must purge himself from the influence of dishonorable men such as Hymenaeus and Philetus in order to remain fit for useful service (2:20-21).
      4. He must flee fleshly lust (2:22).
      5. He must avoid debates about ignorant questions that merely stir up strife (2:23).
      6. He must display a gentle spirit toward all men (2:24-26).
      
      
6. The true minister must be warned about dangers to come, 3:1-4:5.
   1. Perilous times will be experienced in the last days (3:1-13).
      1. There will be widespread moral decay (3:2-4).
      2. Such moral decay will yet profess to be religious (3:5-8). Jannes and Jambres are probably names of two of the Egyptian magicians who withstood Moses through Satanic counterfeiting of God's power.
      3. Such evil will finally be unveiled (3:9-13).
   2. The true minister must remain faithful in the face of religious and moral decline (3:14-4:5).
      1. He must continue in truth in full assurance that the scripture he preaches is the inerrant and inspired Word of God (3:14-17).
      2. He must preach the Word when it is well received or when it is rejected (4:2-4).
      3. He must watch in all things or maintain and attitude of soberness (4:5).
      4. He must endure afflictions (4:5).
      5. He must do the work of an evangelist (4:5).
      6. He must make full proof of his ministry (4:5).
      
      
7. The farewell of Paul, 4:6-22.
   1. His death as an offering is already under way. The word so translated is present tense and means to be poured out as a libation. He views the shedding of his blood as a sacrifice of praise (4:6).
   2. His death is also a departure. The word so rendered is the Greek word "analysis" and meant a loosing up. It also means to break something up into its constituent parts (as when a substance is analyzed) and here speaks of Paul's body going to the grave and his soul to God.
   3. His testimony is one of satisfaction and assurance (4:7-8) and is held out as the expectation of all who have served faithfully and die in the Lord.
   4. Paul's final comments and requests (4:9-22).