An Introduction (2 Timothy 1:1-2)

We don’t like to think of death, but have you ever thought about what you would say if given the opportunity to utter your last words? What message would you convey? We think of final words that have been said over history. Some have been unfortunate. General John Sedgwick, a general in the union army during the civil war, said to his men who were ducking from a confederate sniper, “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” And was promptly killed by the sniper. Some last words have been touching. Ludwig Wittgenstein, an Austrian Philosopher is said to have uttered, Tell them I’ve had a wonderful life.” What would yours be? Would you seek to pass on any wisdom you have gained? Perhaps give final instructions to your family. 

The book to which we will now turn our attention and spend the next few months in are the final words of the Apostle Paul. He knows that he is facing certain death. He understands that his time on earth is short. So he writes to Timothy some final words as he passes on his ministry to his protegee. Yet these final words are fascinating. As we work through this book, we will discover that the topic of the final message he sent to Timothy was to endure suffering through faithfulness to the Word of God. he sought once again to ground Timothy in the Word. He reminded Timothy that the Word is sufficient for everything that we face in life. In each chapter we find some combination of the idea that we must endure suffering through the Word of Truth. 

Endure suffering through faithfulness to the Word of God

As we begin this study, we will do so with the first two verses. These will serve for us as an introduction. As is always the case when we begin a new book study, this first message will be a little different. This message serves to provide the background and theme of the book so that we can understand it rightly and handle it properly. 

The Bible cannot mean for us what it did not mean to the original author and audience. While the applications may change, the meaning does not change. So in order to understand the proper meaning intended by God, we must understand the background and purpose of the letter. So that is what we will attempt to do today.