TEXT: II Timothy 1:13-18

SUBJECT: Exposition of II Timothy #5: Be Firm!

II Timothy was written by an old preacher to his young friend in the ministry. The old man had "fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith". The young man, though, had only just begun. He had much to learn. And no one was better suited to teach him than "Paul the aged". And that's what he intends to do. He wants to show Timothy how to be a faithful minister of Jesus Christ. And what is the minster's chief duty? To set an example for others. Thus, Paul is also teaching you how to be faithful in your calling.

Some of the traits needed for an effective ministry are listed in this chapter. The first is zeal: "Stir up the gift of God which is in you". It won't do to merely possess the gift--it must be exploited to the full. The second is boldness: "Do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord". The light is not given to be placed under a basket. It must shine with its full intensity. We must stand up and speak up for Jesus Christ.

The third trait is doctrinal firmness. If Timothy wants to succeed in the ministry, he can't be "wishy-washy". "No man, having put his hand to the plow, looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven". "Finally, brethren beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord..."

The duty is stated in vv.13-14. "Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us".

To "hold fast" means to retain; to "keep in your mind" says J.B. Phillips. What must be retained? "The pattern of sound words. "Sound words" are wholesome, healing, and life-giving. Not the "profane and vain babblings...which increase ungodliness...and spread like a cancer" (cf. 2:16-17). What are these sound words? In context, they must be the Gospel, see vv.8,10. The Gospel, moreover, is not a mish-mash of random thoughts, but an "pattern of sound words". "Pattern" (or "form" KJV) connotes order and cohesion. The Gospel, in short, makes sense. And must be retained as a logical system of thought. If Timothy would be a man of God he must "hold fast the pattern of sound words"--without wavering. His motto must be: No Compromise.

Why? Because this "pattern of sound words was heard from (Paul)". The word order is unusual. "From me you heard it". And Paul received it from Jesus Christ. Creeds, traditions, church covenants, and the like, are always negotiable! It is the Gospel that must be untouched by human hands.

When it comes to the Gospel, Timothy must be dogmatic and unyielding. But--notice carefully--this doctrinal firmness must not make him proud, ugly, and obnoxious. For it must be retained..."in the faith and the love which are in Christ Jesus". "The faith"--I think--corresponds to "a good conscience". Timothy must preach the unmixed Gospel--not for self-promotion or to advance a party--but for the glory of God alone. "Love in Christ Jesus" refers to the love in which the Lord preached. Though He preached without compromising any truth, He remained the most giving and approachable of men.

If standing for the truth makes you arrogant, bitter, or uncharitable, it is not the truth you're standing for--but yourself! Timothy must "hold fast the pattern of sound words...in the love which is in Christ Jesus".

In v.14 the same idea is taught in different words. "That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us". "That good thing" means "the Gospel". "Keep" means "to guard against its enemies". Timothy is responsible to keep the Gospel pure. But he's not adequate for it. Thus, he must do it with a felt dependence on the Holy Spirit.

This is the duty: be firm in doctrine! The incentives follow.

The first is the bad example of many. Timothy must be firm in doctrine because many preachers are not, v.15. "This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes". Paul had spent many years in Asia Minor, preaching the word and preparing men for the ministry. From him they received the truest doctrine and the most inspiring example. For a time, they preached the "truth as it is in Jesus Christ". But later, they turned away. To what? Some re-interpreted the resurrection; others denied the need for godliness; some professed a formal religion, without life. Others became legalists. But whatever error they chose, all of them deviated from the truth. Their example was shameful. Timothy mustn't follow it.

The second incentive is the good example of one man, vv.16-18. "The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesipheros, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day--and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me in Ephesus".

Onesipheros lived in the same world as the other men; heard the same heresies; felt the same temptations to compromise. But he remained true to Paul and to the Gospel. His example should inspire Timothy to follow suit.

To recap: To be a good minister (or Christian), you must be firm in doctrine. But you must be sure that the doctrine is from Christ--not others. This doctrinal firmness must always be motivated by faith and tempered with love. The good fight of faith must always be fought with the equipment the Holy Spirit provides--and not carnal weapons. To help you, look at the men who have left the truth--how unstable, miserable, barren they have become. Study the men who remained firm--how fruitful and happy they are.

But to "hold fast the pattern of sound words" assumes that you know them. They are found in the Bible, which must be your daily companion and "meditation day and night". Learn the truth. Love the truth. Guard the truth.

May God so empower us, for Christ's sake. Amen.