Finishing Well | 2 Timothy 2:8

INTRODUCTION

Dr J. Robert Clinton, professor of leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, has spent the past 15 years conducting extensive research on the lifelong development of Christian leaders. In an exhaustive search of the Bible, he identified approximately 1000 leaders. Most were mentioned only by name. These included everything from Old Testament patriarchs, priests, and military leaders to New Testament apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors. Sufficient information was available on only 49 prominent leaders to analyze how they finished.

The results are shocking. Only 30% of leaders in the Bible finished well. This means that 70% fell short of God’s plan for their lives. This fact should jolt any present-day leader who desires to be counted for God. These leaders are categorized below according to how they finished their ministry.

In extensive research on 1000 leaders mentioned in the Bible ranging from Old Testament patriarchs, priests, and military leaders to New Testament apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and pastors, it appears that only 30% finished well.

Completion is not an option.

The old English proverb says, well begun is half done. In the Christian life, the reality is totally different. Finishing well is more important and equally more difficult than beginning well. More than anything else how you finish matters.

A good start doesn’t guarantee a good end.

Apostle Paul’s farewell testimonial address to his young prodigy Timothy in his last letter from Paul’s pen so that we all come to terms with the glorious truth regarding how to finish well; like the Apostle Paul himself did.

2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to hold firm to the gospel despite shame and suffering (2 Tim 1:6-8) is to ensure that Timothy will finish well.

Timothy has to remain loyal—even to the point of suffering. His loyalty is to be primarily to Christ and the gospel, but it will be evidenced by his loyalty to Paul, a prisoner because of the gospel.John Stott comments,

Their religion is a great, soft cushion which protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life.

Key verse: 2 Timothy 2:8

As he sat chained in a Roman prison, anticipating an imminent execution, he wrote to 2 Timothy: 2:8  Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

Background on Timothy

• Timothy is first introduced in Acts 16:1-2, where he is placed at Lystra during Paul’s second missionary journey and is described as “the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek” and as “well spoken of by the brothers in Lystra and Iconium.”
• Timothy worked with Paul for over 10 years; AD 52 Second missionary journey
• Timothy is part of all the letters, except for Galatians, Ephesians, and Titus, (Romans 16:21, 1 Cor 4:17; 16:10, 11, 2 Cor 1:1, Phil 1:1; 2:19, Col 1:1)
• Timothy co-authored 6 letters along with Apostle Paul.
• Timothy has a religious heritage (2 Tim 1:5), biblical training (2 Tim 3:14), and testimony (Acts 16:1-3).

Paul’s Testimony about Timothy

• Faithful in ministry Phil 2:20-22  ²⁰I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. ²¹For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²²But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
• Timid and shy 1 Cor 16:10-11 ¹⁰When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. ¹¹No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

Approaching the text

After a brief “digression” in 2 Timothy1:15–18 that reminded Timothy of the disloyalty of “everyone in Asia,” “you then” in 2 Timothy 2:1.

Paul repeats the urgencies of 2 Timothy1:6–14: that he fulfills his trust and ministry (reflecting 1:6–7 and 13–14), in this instance by entrusting it to others (v. 2).

Different Translations that unravel the Text

Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. (Message Bible)

Remember always, as the center of everything, Jesus Christ, a man of human ancestry, yet raised by God from the dead according to my Gospel. (J B Philips)

Constantly keep Jesus Christ in our mind (the ever-living Lord who has] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David [king of Israel], according to my gospel [the good news that I preach] (Amplified Bible)

Does Timothy need this reminder?

Although verse 7 was something of an afterthought to the three preceding analogies, the reminder that the Lord would enable him to understand prompts the next imperative: Remember!

2 Timothy 2:7 ⁷Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. ⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel,

Cf 1:6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 

Remember– This picks up the “memory” motif that recurs in this letter (2 Timothy 1:4–5, 6; 3:14–15). Just as Paul had earlier reminded him of the faith of his forebears (1:5), of his own call and empowerment for ministry (2 Timothy 1:6–7), and of the “sound teaching”

Godly parents are good but not enough

The gift of God is good but not enough

Mentors are good but not enough

The verb “remember” in the present tense, means continuous action. It is the fixing of one’s attention. Finishing well, remembering Jesus is not an option, it is a command, an imperative.

The Imperatives Paul gives to Timothy

• 1:13 “keep” what you heard from.
• 1:14“Guard” it with all your might and strength, Holy Spirit will help you.
• additional imperative com­mands (2:1-2 – be continuously strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.
• 2:2 “entrust” the word of god to others.
• 2:3“Share in sufferings”
• 2:7 “Think over/Reflect on” what Paul was saying.
• 2:8 “Remember Jesus”

Only this memory, the memory of Jesus will sustain you, this will take you to the finishing line.

What to remember.?? Not a magical formula, Not mighty acts.

For Paul from prison, the reminder could be a reminder about the mighty acts of God... Exodus, parting of Jordan or even the prison doors open in Philippi

The Passover – (Exodus 12:26, 27). Passover was meant to bring about heartening spiritual memory and reflection.

The Law – Deut 6:20-23

Crossing the Jordan – (Joshua 4:6, 7). The Israelites were to look at the stones and remember that they did not get across the Jordan through their own ability. It was all the work of God.

But Paul is careful to not mention any of those mighty acts, it is not to say God is not capable of those mighty acts now but Paul wants to encourage Timothy by only reminding Jesus Christ.

The 3 R’s of Finishing Well

1. Remember the Incarnation to finish well

The title ‘Jesus Christ is worth noting. This is one of the few places in the Pauline Epsitle (1 Tim. 6:3, 14; Tit. 1:1; 2:13; 3:6) and the only place in 2 Timothy. Paul intended to emphasize Jesus’ humanity by placing first the name given at his birth since it would be meaningful to Timothy in this context.

J I Packer writes

The almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as this truth of the incarnation.

Ashamed – Paul speaks three times in this chapter about not being ashamed (1:8, 12, 16).

Paul alludes to Jesus’ exhortation to his disciples: of those who are ashamed of Jesus and of his words, Jesus “will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)

Within Timothy’s first-century honor/shame cultural context, “the human court of opinion meant everything,” and “nothing could be more shameful in the eyes of the world than the death by execution that Jesus had undergone…”

The basic idea is that a person’s behavior is largely determined by what brings honor and what avoids shame, not only honor and shame for the individual but honor and shame for one’s family and society in general.

Paul challenged Timothy to choose God’s message in spite of the risk to his status and safety.

Timothy is urged not to be ashamed of the gospel message (the testimony about our Lord, 1:8) which could easily have been seen as something shameful (a message about a crucified criminal). Jesus warned of the temptation to be ashamed of him (Mark 8:38), a temptation that Paul was proud to say he had avoided (Rom. 1:16).

Timothy is also urged not to be ashamed of Paul (1:8).

Suffering for the gospel became a badge of honor for Paul.

“For in themselves death and imprisonment and chains are matters of shame and reproach. But when the cause is added before us, and the mystery viewed aright, they will appear full of dignity” – Chrysostom

Phygelus, Hermogenes, and other Christians in Asia had deserted Paul during his time of need (2 Timothy 1:15).

But Onesiphorus refreshed Vv1:16

In a culture in which imprisonment often involved self-sustenance, such “refreshment” probably included food as well as “cheering up.”

Thomas C Oden, one of the most influential theologians of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century writes.

I teach in a seminary. I know how embarrassed we professors are about the gospel and how hard we work to try to make the gospel conveniently acceptable to the modern mind. We will do almost anything to get wider university applause and are ashamed of the fact that God hates sin, that we are sinners, that human history remains a history of sin, and that God has suffered vicariously for us in order to redeem us from sin. Theologians are even ashamed of our own dear Loises and Eunices-our grandmothers and mothers. We cannot believe that they could have had greater integrity and strength than we have.

Heb 2:11 Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters

The song by Graham Kendrick, The Servant King

From Heaven, You came helpless babe

Entered our world, your glory veiled

Not to be served but to serve

And give Your life that we might live

This is our God, The Servant King

He calls us now to follow Him

To bring our lives as a daily offering

Of worship to The Servant King

There in the garden of tears

My heavy load he chose to bear

His heart tore with sorrow

“Yet not My will but Yours”, He said

Come see His hands and His feet

The scars that speak of sacrifice

Hands that flung stars into space

To cruel nails surrendered

Is it worth it?

Paul is finishing with a bang because he is imitating Jesus

Eph 3:13 sufferings, which are your glory…. Reversal of shame and honor culture..

The crucified messiah had redefined the concept of success, glory, etc..

Paul is more like Christ when he is a prisoner.

Suffering is your glory

Paul sets himself as a model

Vs. 8 – Share in the suffering; vs. 12 – just as I suffer

Vs. 8 – Do not be ashamed; vs. 12 – For I am not ashamed

Paul remembers Jesus – 2 Tim 1:12 I know whom I have believed

Phil 2:6 ⁶Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,  being made in human likeness. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Timothy has to be strengthened 2 Timothy 2:1 like Paul who is strengthened by the Lord 2 Timothy 4:17

God exercises the power of his Holy Spirit in a mysterious, paradoxical way. God uses his power to absorb the impact of evil and confront death head-on. God’s gracious endurance of abuse bears witness to his grace, which endures evil and brings good out of evil.

three striking metaphors. The first makes further use of the comparison of Christian ministry with the life of the soldier (2 timothy 2:4), and then the athlete (2:5) and the farmer (2:6)

“Since [Jesus] himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested” (Hebrews 2:18).

2. Remember Jesus’ kingship to finish well

Jesus is a descendant of David. This draws attention to his role as Messiah (Mt. 1:1, Mk 10:47-48, Rom. 1:3) and to the fulfilment in Jesus of the promise to David that his kingdom will have no end (2 Sam. 7:12-16, Lk. 1:32-33).

His kingdom is eternal.

Descended from David (lit., “of David’s seed”)- “Out of the seed of David,” occurs in the NT only here and in Rom. 1:3 and Jn. 7:42. In both Pauline occurrences, it appears in connection with the resurrection of Christ and as an essential aspect of Paul’s gospel.

“Descendant of David” indicates Jesus’ physical lineage (Rom. 1:3) and connects him to the promise that David’s descendant would reign forever (2 Sa. 7:12ff.).

Spirit of timidity – Nero Caesar

Power, love, and self-discipline

The medical term denotes a clear mind…

It was used for a sane, clear-minded person with sound mental health. Its opposite was mental insanity with its impulsiveness, confusion, delusions, and loss of physical and emotional self-control.

Sound-minded people are not driven by disordered passions and desires but have a clear understanding of themselves and others. They have clear minds, minds that can think clearly and clearly sense what others are feeling.

Paul uses its root and its cognates frequently in the pastoral letters for that healthy spiritual common sense that enables believers to think and feel and act as Christ did.

Guard the Word:

Teaching – 2 Timothy1:13 what you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching.

• 1:14 Guard the deposit/treasure
• 2:2 entrust it to reliable people – entrust to them also reflects 1:13–14: the things you have heard me say (lit., “what you heard from me,” precisely as in 1:13, so therefore probably implying “the sound teaching” mentioned there)
• 2:15 a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
• 3:14 but as for you continue in what you have learned and have become convinced off….
• 4:2 I give you this charge… Preach the Word

Those churches that loosely handle the Good Deposit or only brush up against the Bible in their teaching are probably only loosely Evangelical.

Church members understand that success is not defined by the creation of really cool experiences, very emotional presentations, or simply rhetorical excellence, but rather, we are confident that success is found in all of us growing in faithfulness to God as we understand His Word.

As preachers, we are concerned about public opinion.

3. Remember the Gospel to finish well

Jesus rose from the dead. Reference to the resurrection reminds us that Jesus died, and part of the gospel is that Jesus died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3). However, the resurrection is important in its own right, for without Jesus’ resurrection there is no gospel. Without his resurrection, there is no victory over death or eternal life

Jesus’ suffering placed him among the dead but the resurrection brought him out from them (“all the dead”). Timothy is to remember that Jesus is raised from death itself, and that triumph encourages him when he contemplates suffering hardship for Christ.

This also anticipates the exposure of the false teachers in verses 2:14-18, who, by arguing that the “resurrection [of believers] has already taken place; are in effect denying the eschatological future that Paul is affirming (Vv. 5-6, 10).

When you lose this Hope.

Demas loved this world – In Philemon 24 Paul calls Demas a fellow worker along with Mark and Aristarchus and Luke. Demas was apparently a promising young man with a promising future, yet as far as we know he did not make it to the end.

ILLUSTRATION

An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was gone; they were defeated, discouraged, and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions.

No one paid much attention to them. They watched the fanfare that accompanied the President’s entourage, with passengers trying to catch a glimpse of the great man.

As the ship moved across the ocean, the old missionary said to his wife, “Something is wrong. Why should we have given our lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us.”

“Dear, you shouldn’t feel that way,” his wife said.

“I can’t help it; it doesn’t seem right.”

When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were there. The papers were full of the President’s arrival, but no one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East side, hoping the next day to see what they could do to make a living in the city.

That night, the man’s spirit broke. He said to his wife, “I can’t take this;

God is not treating us fairly.”

His wife replied, “Why don’t you go into the bedroom and tell that to the Lord?”

A short time later he came out of the bedroom, but now his face was completely different. His wife asked, “Dear, what happened?”

“The Lord settled it with me,” he said. “I told him how bitter I was that the President should receive this tremendous homecoming when no one met us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put his hand on my shoulder and simply said, ‘But you’re not home yet!’”

Crown of righteousness awaiting 2 Timothy 4

Remembering Jesus Christ is on his being the Risen One is further demonstrated from the first couplet in the hymn (Vv. 11–12a): “if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.”

Paul’s statement of the gospel ( 2 Timothy 1:9-10) was linked with the theme of suffering immediately before and immediately after (2 Timothy 1:8, 11-12). The main point was that the gospel is such a wonderful message that there is no shame in suffering for it (the theme of shame being mentioned in 1:8 and 1:12). Now again the subject of the gospel is immediately followed by mention of Paul’s suffering (2:9) and endurance (2:10).

Destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light 1:9

Jesus raised from the dead 2:8

Death is no longer a horror but the gate by which one passes from this broken world into a fuller life with God. By his death, he brought life and immortality to light revealing the meaning of the present and eternal life through the gospel (v. 10).

This Gospel gives the courage to suffer

The promise of eschatological reward (Vv. 2:4–6; cf. 1:12). Crown, crops, on that day.

2:11–12a): “if we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him.”

ILLUSTRATION

Derek Redmond was in fine form by the Barcelona Olympics, 1992. He achieved the fastest time in the first round and won his quarter-final.

In the semi-final, Redmond also started well, but as he hit the back straight about 250 meters from the finish, his hamstring suddenly tore.

After hobbling along the track, his father, Jim Redmond joined the track and accompanied him.

Jim had barged past security to get to his son, who at first thought were officials trying to stop him.

As they finished the finish line, 65,000 people gave them both a standing ovation.

Life Application Points

➢ We have a high priest who sympathizes with our weakness. Trust him!

➢ Jesus is the true king. Fear him!

➢ Jesus has conquered death. Worship him! Worshipping is remembering.

You can only finish well by fixing Jesus at the centre of everything you are and everything you do.

He is “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST ALWAYS

Christ is my reward.

Christ is enough for me.