Pauls Charge to Timothy

2Ti_3:14 to 2Ti_4:5
This letter to Timothy, the last product of Pauls pen
was written from the prison at Rome. In his desire
to encourage the young evangelist, he gave him
much counselcounsel which is as valuable for the
Christian today as it was for Timothy.
Paul urged Timothy, Continue in what you have
learned. 2Ti_3:14. That is what we should always
do with the good things we have learnedabide in
them, keep them in our heartsthen live them out.
A great many people know a great deal more truth
than they put into practice. The true test of knowing
is doing. We really only knowwhat we get into
our experience and conduct. A young man said to his
pastor at the close of a year that he had gone through
the Bible five times that year. His pastor asked him
quietly, How often has the Bible gone through you
this year? If you know these thingsyou are
blessed if you do them. Joh_13:17
Paul reminded Timothy of his home
training : From childhood you have known the
sacred Scriptures. It is a great privilege to grow up

in the atmosphere of Bible teaching, to have for ones

teacher a godly mother, who whispers into her
childs ear the truths of God, the counsels of
heavenly wisdom. Such lessons affect the life, even
down to its close. Those who have had such mothers
should never cease to be thankful for them.
The reason for valuing the Scriptures, is that they are
able to make the reader wise unto salvation. There
are different kinds of wisdom. A man may know a
great deal of science, literature, philosophy, and be
very wise in this worlds mattersand yet not have
found salvation. It is very clear, that that is not the
true wisdomwhich fails to show men the way of
eternal life. The true wisdom is found in the Word of
God, which reveals to us our need, and then tells us
of God and of Jesus Christ, and of the way to be
saved. This Book may not answer questions about
geology, astronomy, mathematics or world history
but it does answer all necessary questions about
Christian duty, about God, about the way of
salvation.
Someone tells of hearing a sermon in which he said
the distinguished clergyman told him a great deal
about the way from Jerusalem to Jerichobut did

not tell him anything about the way from earth to

heaven. How sad!
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for
teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in
righteousness. Paul has no uncertain word about
the inspiration of the Scriptures. The Bible alone is
the Word of God. Holy men wrote it as they were
moved by the Holy Spirit. There are other good
books in the worldbut none like the Word of God.
We ought to read the Bible reverently, since God
speaks to us in its pages. We ought to believe it, for
His Word must be absolutely true. We should obey
it, since what God commands must be right. We may
yield our whole life to its influence, to be guided and
fashioned by it. It is profitable for teaching that is,
for instruction in all matters that concern life. It is
profitable for rebuking it shows us our sins, our
follies, our mistakes. It is profitable for correcting
to bring us back from wrong ways to right ways. It is
profitable for training in righteousness it gives us
instruction for all true and beautiful living.
So that the man of God may be complete, equipped
for every good work. The purpose of the Bible is to
make complete men of us. If we follow it in

everything, it will show us the right way, it will reveal

to us the perfect ideal of Christian character, it will
inspire us to holy living.
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will
judge the living and the dead, and in view of his
appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge.
Living according to Gods Word, we must ever be
conscious that we are living in Gods sight. Life is
very serious. We often say it will be a solemn thing to
stand before God in judgment. Our common days
are judgment days. We should learn to do everything
as in the sight of God. This makes our every act and
word solemn. We should never leave God out of our
life, nor do anything otherwise than we would do it
if we saw the divine eye looking down upon us!
The Word Timothy had received, he was to give to
others. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and
out of season, Paul said to him. He was not
preaching with the burning ardor which should
characterize a minister of Jesus Christ. Paul sought
to stir him up to do better work. Many of us need
this lesson. We are living, some of us, only halfheartedly, probably the saintliest of us below our
best. From this Roman prison, comes the call to

every young Christian to rouse his best energies in

behalf of Christ.
That a ministers work may not be all soft words,
Paul indicated when he told Timothy that he must be
ready to correct, rebuke and encouragewith great
patience and careful instruction. The minister is to
watch his flock with a shepherds care. If he sees any
of them going astray, he is not to be indifferentbut
must seek to save them. We need great wisdom,
however, when we speak to others of their faults or
mistakes, lest by our lack of tactwe only drive them
further away. Words of reproof should always be
spoken in tender love and unwearying patience .
One reason for the faithfulness in preaching, is that
for the time will come when men will not put up
with sound doctrine. 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. We often hear about the serious responsibility
of the preacherbut we should think also of the
responsibility of the hearer. Of course, the teacher
should teach well. There is no excuse for being
dreary or dull in presenting the glorious truths of
Christianity. Paul urges Timothy to do his part

earnestly for the very reason that the people would

be apt to turn away to fables instead of listening to
the gospel. He must preach the old gospel in such a
way, that the people will be compelled to listen.