2 Tim. 3:14-4:5

"Stay the Course"

 

In WWII, the "Lady Be Good" (a B-24) was flying home from Naples, Italy to Benghazi, Libya.  Their instruments told them they were directly over their base, but they were hours ahead of schedule and assumed the instruments were wrong.  Depending upon their own senses, they flew some 400 more miles before crashing in the desert.  Most of the men managed to walk 60 or 70 miles.  One even made it 125 miles.  All died there in the desert.  They were 400 miles past their target.  Their instruments were correct.  They were even tested after finding the wreckage.  What they did not know is that a tail wind put them way ahead of schedule.  They did not have much knowledge of jet streams at that time.  They should have relied on their instruments.

 

Paul met Timothy on first journey; c. A.D. 64; Paul put Tim in Ephesus; Impostors Prevalent; Paul Leaving Soon

 

1.  Continue (3:14-17)

      -Others fell away; 1 Cor. 4:2; Marriage and Commitment

      -Things learned

      -Things convinced of

      -Holy Scriptures

            - 1:5; Jewish parents duty to teach children the law when in their 5th year; important to start early (Walter Lock, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles.  The International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh:  T. & T. Clark, 1966).

            - Make wise (1 Cor. 1:26-31)

            - Salvation thru faith; rod of God and Amalek (Moses, Aaron, Hur, Joshua-Ex. 17); Lk. 18 and staying with it

            - God-breathed; 2 Pet. 1:20-21; not mech., used own vocab; Jesus came by man and Holy Spirit

            - Profit; not only salvation, but Christian living

                  teaching

                  rebuking

                  correcting

                  training in righteousness

                  that the MOG may be equipped--like a soldier (CIF)

 

2.  Preach (4:1-4)

      -The Word; a charge has moral obligation; the emperor's herald gave formal messages in an authoritative way

      -Be prepared; stay at one's post

            - In season; when convenient

            - Out of Season; when not convenient

      -Correct; my personal feelings are not grounds for correction--doctrine is

      -Rebuke

      -Encourage

            - W/ patience (Gal. 5:22)

            - W/ instruction

      -Fall away

            - Not enduring doctrine; people don't want a Lord (Rom. 3:23)

            - Gather teachers

                  according to their desires

                  having itching ears; no book has a good chance at being published unless it can be called a "radical, provocative, novel."

            - Turn ears; PAI--deliberate action

                  from truth

                  to myths

                  opposite of repentance

 

3.  Watch (4:5)

      -In all things

      -Endure hardships (2:3; 3:12)

      -Evangelize; not an office; 2 other times used--a function; good news--soul sorrow

      -Discharge all duties; in papyri--paying back a debt (Lk. 12:48)

 

Lady Be Good

 

Stay the Course