Facing Resistance

Observations
A couple of days ago we looked at the charges Paul gave Timothy in 2 Timothy.  Yesterday I shared one observation/suggestion on those charges.  I asked you for your observations, here are mine.

Looking at the list as a whole the picture that develops is of Timothy facing increasing resistance to his ministry.  False teachers, apostasy, frivolous controversies, abandonment of the ministry by trusted companions faced not only Paul but Timothy.  What did Paul tell him to do to stand against this set of realities?

Parallels
I have mentioned that I am currently working through Psalm 119.  It is interesting that David faced similar resistance.  It is also instructive that David’s means of dealing with resistance parallels much of what Paul’s exhortation to Timothy.

Look at this list and compare it to the list from two days ago:

Verse	Means of Resistance
23	Even though princes sit and talk against me, Your servant meditates on Your statutes.
42	So I will have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word.
51	The arrogant utterly deride me, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law.
69	The arrogant have forged a lie against me; With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.
71	It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.
78	May the arrogant be ashamed, for they subvert me with a lie; But I shall meditate on Your precepts.
85	The arrogant have dug pits for me, Men who are not 1in accord with Your law.
87	They almost destroyed me on earth, But as for me, I did not forsake Your precepts.
92	If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction.
95	The wicked await for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.
98	Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, For they are ever mine
107	I am exceedingly afflicted; Revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.
110	The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts.
113	I hate those who are double-minded, But I love Your law.
115	Depart from me, evildoers, That I may observe the commandments of my God.
118	You have rejected all those who wander from Your statutes, For their deceitfulness is useless.
119	You have removed all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies.
121	I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors.
122	Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the arrogant oppress me.
139	My zeal has consumed me, Because my dversaries have forgotten Your words.
157	Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies.
158	I behold the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not keep Your word.
161	Princes persecute me without cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your words.

Do you see it?

Proclaim or Preach?

A Charge Revisited
Yesterday I shared all of the charges Paul gave Timothy in 2 Timothy.  I mentioned that I would share some observations today.  The first is on 2 Timothy 4:2.  I mentioned when I listed the charge in 2 Timothy 4:2 that I preferred “proclaim” over what most of your translations have, “preach”.

Why?

Historical Usage
If you look at the use of the word through time, you find that the word group refers to the king’s herald.  He is sent as a representative of the king to give the king’s message.  I am not sure when the word picked up the notion of preach.  I am still working on that.  I have suspicions, I will not share them unless I can validate them.

False Separation
The problem I have with translating κηρύσσω “preach” is the way most of us will understand that word.  We assign that function to the pastor, the preacher.  In doing so, eliminating those of us who are not preachers from needing to apply that verse.

I am convinced that is wrong.

We are ALL Responsible
I base that on Christ’s ministry and His charge to His disciples in Matthew 28:18 – 20, primarily but there are other passages that have that same force.  That charge is clear.  The disciples are to teach those who come to faith through their ministry ALL that Christ taught them.  One of the things that Christ did with them is to send them out to – it is the same word, κηρύσσω, in Mark 3:14 – proclaim the gospel of the kingdom.

ALL Believers to Proclaim
If all disciples are supposed to be taught ALL that Christ taught the 12, that must include κηρύσσω.  He expects us to proclaim the Word.  We certainly do that by the way we live, but we also do that verbally.  Peter got this, and got it clearly.  1 Peter 3:15 is a great example and a good cross reference to 2 Timothy 4:2.

A lot of the literature labels 2 Timothy a pastoral epistle.  When we read that we tend to assign it to our church’s staff.  If my analysis is correct here.  That is a misapplication of Paul and Christ’s intent.

We are all to proclaim.

Shoring Up Timothy

The Charges
This morning we finished our section by section study of 2 Timothy.  This next week we are summarizing what we have learned through the study.  In preparation for that – well actually I was going to write about something that I saw in chapter 4 but as I pulled that string it got longer.  That happens to me a lot in Bible study.  I decided to take a look at all of the charges Paul gave Timothy in the letter.  Here is a complete list, take a look and tell me what you see:

Verse	Charge
1:6	Kindle afresh the gift
1:8	Do not be ashamed
1:8	Join me in suffering
1:13	Retain the standard of sound words
1:14	Guard the treasure
2:1	Be strong in grace
2:2	Entrust to faithful men
2:3	Suffer hardship with me
2:7	Consider what I say
2:8	Remember Jesus Christ
2:14	Remind them
2:14	Solemnly charge them
2:15	Be diligent
2:16	Avoid worldly and empty chatter
2:22	Flee from youthful lusts
2:22	Pursue righteousness…
2:23	Refuse foolish and ignorant speculation
3:1	Realize this
3:14	You continue in the things
4:2	Proclaim (my translation – I will do another post on why later) the Word
4:2	Be ready
4:2	Reprove
4:2	Rebuke
4:2	Exhort
4:5	Be sober
4:5	Endure hardship
4:5	Do the work…
4:5	Fulfill your ministry
4:9	Make Every effort
4:13	Bring
4:15	Be on guard
4:19	Greet
4:21	Make every effort

So What?
Note that all of the verbs except the first 2 and “solemnly charge” in 2:14 are imperative mood, commands.  However, “solemnly charge” is a particple that derives its force from the preceeding verb, “remind,” which is imperative, thus taking on an imperative mood by that association.

What are your observations about this list?  I will share mine tomorrow.