God has given all judgment to Christ because He is a man (John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom. 2:16). As the righteous Judge (v. 8), Christ will judge the living on His throne of glory at His second appearing (Matt. 25:31-46), and He will judge the dead on the great white throne after the millennium (Rev. 20:11-15).

This word proves that, in his life and work, Paul took the Lord's appearing and His kingdom as the incentive and goal. The Lord's appearing will be for judgment, to reward each one of us (Matt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12), and His kingdom will be for His reigning with His overcomers (Rev. 20:4, 6). The apostle not only took these two matters as the incentive and goal for himself but also by these two matters charged Timothy, who was under his leading, to faithfully fulfill his ministry of the word.

Composed of what Timothy learned of both Paul and the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:14-15). This proves that vv. 1-2 are a continuation of 2 Tim. 3:14-17. In caring for a local church, especially in a time of the church's decline, the proclaiming of the word is vital.

Be urgent, stand by.

Opportunely or inopportunely, whether the opportunity is convenient or inconvenient, whether you are welcome or unwelcome.

Implying to condemn severely.

All also modifies teaching — teaching in many aspects and directions. The carrying out of such teaching requires long-suffering.

When the decline of the church worsens.

See note 1 Tim. 1:10^1b.

Ears that seek pleasant speaking for their own pleasure.

The itching and turned-away ear is the main factor in the worsening decline in the churches.

See note 1 Tim. 2:4^2c and note 1 Tim. 3:15^5e.

See note 1 Tim. 1:4^1e.

Fill up the full measure of your ministry.

The ministry of the word, which is to minister Christ in all His riches (Eph. 3:8) to both sinners and believers for the building up of the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:11-12). Such a ministry is desperately needed to counter the trend of decline, as prophesied in vv. 3-4.

As a drink offering (see note Phil. 2:17^1b). To be poured out is to shed one's blood. Already being poured out indicates that the process had begun.

From the world to be with the Lord (Phil. 1:23), through martyrdom. Paul was imprisoned in Rome twice. The first imprisonment was from about A.D. 62-64 and was due to the Jews' accusation (Acts 28:17-20). During that time Paul wrote the Epistles to the Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians, and the Epistle to Philemon. After his release from the first imprisonment (a release that he expected in Phil. 1:25; 2:24 and Philem. 1:22), he must have visited Ephesus and Macedonia (1 Tim. 1:3), where he probably wrote the first Epistle to Timothy. Then he visited Crete (Titus 1:5); Nicopolis (Titus 3:12), where he wrote the Epistle to Titus; Troas; and Miletus (vv. 13, 20), where he probably wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews. During his second imprisonment, which occurred in about A.D. 67 and was due to Caesar Nero's sudden persecution, he wrote the second Epistle to Timothy while expecting his imminent martyrdom for his Master.

Lit., struggled the good struggle. A proper Christian life has three aspects: fighting the good fight against Satan and his kingdom of darkness for the interests of God's kingdom (1 Tim. 6:12); running the course for the carrying out of God's economy according to His eternal purpose (Heb. 12:1); and keeping the faith for participation in the divine riches in God's economy (1 Tim. 3:9). In this Paul set up an adequate pattern for us.

Paul began to run the heavenly race after the Lord took possession of him, and he continually ran (1 Cor. 9:24-26; Phil. 3:12-14) that he might finish it (Acts 20:24). Now at the end he triumphantly proclaimed, "I have finished the course." For this he will receive from the Lord a reward — the crown of righteousness.

Reserved.

The crown, a symbol of glory, is given as a prize, in addition to the Lord's salvation, to the triumphant runner of the race (1 Cor. 9:25). In contrast to salvation, which is of grace and by faith (Eph. 2:5, 8-9), this prize is not of grace nor by faith, but is of righteousness through works (Matt. 16:27; Rev. 22:12; 2 Cor. 5:10). The believers will be recompensed with such a reward, not according to the Lord's grace but according to His righteousness. Hence, it is the crown of righteousness. The Recompenser is the Lord as the righteous Judge. Paul was assured that such a prize was reserved for him and that he would be recompensed with it at the day of the Lord's second appearing.

Not the merciful God or the gracious Redeemer.

See note 2 Tim. 1:12^5f.

The Lord's appearing, His coming back, is a warning, an encouragement, and an incentive to us. We should love it and look forward to it with earnest expectation and joy. By that appearing the apostle charged Timothy to fulfill his ministry (vv. 1-2, 5).

In contrast to loved His appearing in v. 8.

A region in southeast Europe adjacent to Macedonia.

Probably a cloak or case for traveling.

A seaport in northwest Asia Minor, where Paul received the Macedonian call (Acts 16:8-11).

Rolls made of papyrus.

A figure of speech for any evil matter (v. 18) or evil person (1 Cor. 15:32 and note 1 Cor. 15:32²).

This is "the kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43), "the kingdom of My Father" (Matt. 26:29), "the kingdom of Christ and of God" (Eph. 5:5), and "the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 1:11), which will be a reward to the overcoming saints. It equals the crown of righteousness in v. 8 and is an incentive to the believers to run the heavenly race. (See note Matt. 5:3^4b and note Heb. 12:28^1a.) The apostle Paul's word here and in v. 8 proves that this reward was an incentive to him.

A city in Asia Minor near Ephesus (Acts 20:15, 17).

Why did the apostle leave in sickness one who was so intimate to him, without exercising healing prayer for him? Why did he not exercise his healing gift (Acts 19:11-12) to cure Timothy of his stomach sickness rather than instruct him to take the natural way for healing (1 Tim. 5:23)? The answer to both questions is that he and his co-workers were under the discipline of the inner life in that time of suffering rather than under the power of the outward gift. The former is a matter of grace in life; the latter is a matter of gift in power — miraculous power. In the decline of the church and in one's suffering for the church, the gift of power is not needed as much as the grace in life.

This book, which gives instructions on how to confront the degradation of the church, strongly stresses our spirit. In the beginning it emphasizes that a strong, loving, and sound spirit was given to us, a spirit by which we can fan the gift of God into flame and suffer evil with the gospel according to the power of God and the Lord's life-imparting grace (2 Tim. 1:6-10). In the conclusion it blesses us by emphasizing the Lord's being with our spirit that we may enjoy Him as grace in order to stand against the downward current of the church's decline and carry out God's economy through His indwelling Spirit (2 Tim. 1:14) and equipping word (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

In the grievous days of the worsening of the church's degradation, what is needed is the eternal grace of God, which was given to us in eternity (1:9) and is to be appropriated by us in this age. This grace, which is in the indestructible life, is nothing less than Christ, the Son of God, who is the very embodiment of the divine life, dwelling and living in our spirit. We need to exercise our spirit to enjoy the riches of this Christ (Eph. 3:8) as the sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9). Thus we may live Him as our godliness (1 Tim. 4:7-8) for the building up of the church as His testimony, bearing all the divine realities (truths) according to God's economy.