Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 15

Paul tells Timothy to be a Good Soldier of Christ Jesus Part 2

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. KJV

Timothy's strength (and ours also) in the grace of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is to lead to the spread of the Word of God not just by him only, but to those men and women he diffuses, distributes, and delivers the Word of God to in order that the Great Commission given to every believer in Him will be fullfilled here on the earth before He returns to take each of us home to Heaven, as it is written for us by the Apostle Matthew with these words, "Jesus' eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus had told them to meet Him. They saw Him and worshiped Him, but some of them doubted. Jesus came to them and said: 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them My disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.'" (Matthew 28:16-20) (Contemporary English Version). The Apostle Paul was very diligent to instruct Timothy of the whole counsel of God as he declared with these words documented for us by Dr. Luke, "Therefore I testify to you on this day that I am pure from the blood of all. For I did not keep back from declaring to you all the counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the Church of God which He has purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:26-28) (Modern King James Version).

The Word of God was very important to the Apostle Paul, for to him it was not just words, but the very breath of God Himself breathed into his inner man, so Paul wanted Brother Timothy to leave the Word of God with men who would declare it in truth and not compromise it for ease of life on the earth or for filthy lucre as Paul had already instructed Timothy in his first letter (1 Timothy 3:3 & 3:8), even the Apostle Peter wrote in his first epistle/letter warning those entrusted by our Lord Jesus Christ with His Word to deliver it to His Body the Church for the right reasons, as it is written, "Just as shepherds watch over their sheep, you must watch over everyone God has placed in your care. Do it willingly in order to please God, and not simply because you think you must. Let it be something you want to do, instead of something you do merely to make money." (1 Peter 5:2) (Contemporary English Version). Therefore, Paul being one that was not afraid or in anguish or ashamed of repeating himself many times in his letters once again does so by telling Timothy something he surely had often reminded him to do over the years with these words, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2) (KJV).

Paul definitely wanted Timothy to be cautious about who he would 'commit' the Word of God to for Christ Body. This English word 'commit' is translated by the Greek word paratithēmi which means to place alongside, that is, present truth; by implication to deposit (as a trust or for protection): - commit (the keeping of), put forth, set before. The little English phrase 'thou to faithful' is translated by the Greek word pistos which means objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful: - believing, faithful, sure, true. In other words, men who believe the Word of God and who will teach it as it is without fear, fright, or failure, for if God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit says something, then it is true no matter what popular human opinion might be in any era or generation, for example here is what God says concerning witchcraft and wizardry, "When you come to the land which Jehovah your God gives you, you shall not learn to do according to the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead. For all that do these things are an abomination to Jehovah. And because of these abominations Jehovah your God drives them out from before you." (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) (Modern King James Version).

However, in this era and generation we live in today, witchcraft and wizardry have been made into and declared to be good by many (even in Churches) and practicing witches and wizards are even glorified as good by many also (even in Churches). Yet, we just read that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit declares these practices and the people who practice it an abomination to Him. The English dictionary defines the word abomination as a person who is loathsome or disgusting; an action that is vicious or vile; an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence. So you see this is why the Apostle Paul wanted Timothy (and we true Christians of every era and generation) to believe the Word of God (no matter what), but to also entrust it with other true believers who do the same, just as it is declared, detailed, and described of Hanani with these words, "And it happened when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were chosen, I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem. For he was a faithful man, and feared God above many." (Nehemiah 7:1-2) (Modern King James Version). Paul declares that these faithful men or women will be competent (not within themselves, but will be made so by God) to teach or instruct others of the truth of the Word of God, not fearing reprisal or revenge or the retaliation of those human beings who disbelieve the Word of God, as the wisdom of the Proverb declares with these words so they/we must be heeded by the faithful man or woman of God, "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Jehovah shall be safe." (Proverbs 29:25) (Modern King James Version).

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say concerning this verse, "Those doctrines which I have preached the most publicly, and which many persons can attest. But he seems to refer here to the doctrines delivered to him when, in the presence of many witnesses, he laid his hands upon him; see 1 Timothy 6:12. Then the Apostle gave him the proper form of sound words which he was to teach; and now he tells him to commit those truths to faithful men in the same way that they were committed to him, that the truth might be preserved in the Church, and holy men appointed successively to preach it. These truths are still continued in the Church, and still there are faithful men who proclaim them. But where is the uninterrupted apostolical succession! Who can tell? Probably it does not exist on the face of the world. All the pretensions to it by certain Churches are as stupid as they are idle and futile. He who appeals to this for his authority as a Christian minister, had best sit down till he has made it out." Note: "Paul was not just concerned with the truth of the Word of God being declared during his lifetime, but he saw into the future and wanted those then he considered to be 'faithful men' to entrust the Word of God to other faithful men that he would never know here on the earth, but his desire was only that the truth of the Gospel be proclaimed many years after his departure to heaven, because he knew only the true Gospel would be used by God the Holy Spirit to regenerate, rebirth, and redeem lost sinful human beings, every false gospel would be powerless."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…