Personal Refreshment 2 Tim 2:1-7

2 Tim 2:1-7

Personal Refreshment

In 2 Tim 2:6, The Apostle Paul commends a member of the Ephesian Church for always refreshing him. His name was Onesiphorus and he is mentioned as one who searched zealously for Paul in Rome. Paul also wrote, "and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus." Again, the Apostle appeals to something Timothy already knows. Except for what Paul wrote, we would know very little or nothing about this man. But, we are enriched for hearing about such a faithful man especially as he is contrasted with two troublemakers:  Phygellus and Hermogenes.

Paul takes the example of Onesiphorus and emulates his Christian love as he seeks to refresh his friend and son in the faith, Timothy.

Again, there is a lot to learn about life in church, Christian friendship, the life of one in the ministry and other important realities found only in this personal note from one prominent man in the Apostolic age to another.

1. Seek God's Grace

2 Tim 2:1-7 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 

2. Soldier On

        3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 

3. Endure like the Athlete

        5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 

4. Be supplied like the Farmer

        6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 

5. Depend on what you have heard

        7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

Let's look at the text:

1. Seek God's Grace

2 Tim 2:1-7 You then, my child,

Paul uses this term of endearment for Timothy once again. Paul directs these thoughts to Timothy directly in such a way that he would understand who Paul was directing these words to--Paul writes, You then in the ESV. Some translations use the conjunction therefore. Regardless, what follows is for Timothy in particular. However, even though this is not a collection of commands and imperatives, but words that indicate what Timothy is to do, it also indicates what all pastors may do or maybe even what they ought to do to find refreshment in the ministry.

All of us need the strong reminders. Some of the men may end up as elders at some point. People being pretty much the same in all historical epochs, you will need what is written in this paragraph and beyond. These words are primarily for those in the ministry and in a secondary way for all believers if they find themselves in similar situations.

Timothy is to be Christ-centered in his ministry starting with the source of strength or power--the Grace of God in Christ Jesus.

7b be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 

Grace is the undeserved favor of God. The grace of God brings salvation (Titus 2:11-14), it is the grace of God that works in believers to sanctify or make them holy. It is this grace that God gives abundantly that Timothy is to seek after at least as diligently as Osesiphorus searched for him in Rome.

All the life of the Christian after their conversion can be defined as seeking God's grace. If you need strength to live the Christian life, look to God to give what he commanded. Seek out his grace.

The only way Timothy could stand the pressure of ministry in Ephesus where he had been placed over older men to lead them out of error and into the truth, knowing things might get worse before they got better, was to receive the special gift of sustaining grace from the work of God in him and through him.

Evidence of the presence of God's grace in the leader is the effect of his ministry in others.

Verse two is often referred to as a proof text for one on one discipleship or accountability partners. It doesn't teach either of those things that define so much of American Evangelicalism. Paul centers these things in the context of the church.

Look at what is said:

2 and what you have heard from me

Timothy is to call to mind what Paul has taught him. Paul refers to the words heard by Timothy that came from the lips of the Apostle Paul. Paul is appealing to his teaching ministry. We don't know when in a full sort of way, but we know the various places where the Apostle had contact with Timothy, his mother and his grandmother in Lystra and Derbe. The contact was enough for Paul to see his Christian character and brought him along on his journeys (acts 19). As a member of the Apostolic band, he would have heard teach and preach in many places as churches were being founded and the gospel was being preached to the unbelievers in the Gentile world. And, possibly times when Paul addressed the entire band of travelers who were with him.

This was not one on one tutoring or discipleship. We are told that this instruction took place and the setting in which it was given.

2b in the presence of many witnesses

What Timothy heard at some point in the past was important words as he was among many who could attest to the truths taught by the Apostle Paul.

Timothy had an obligation to pass on what he had been taught by the Apostle. He was to entrust it to some.

2c entrust to faithful men

Even though teaching and preaching was given in the presence of many, there is an entrusting of the doctrines and practices of Christianity to some. This is true even while others are listening in. This is an important thing to consider. Not all men in the context of a church will be faithful men. That was certainly the case in Ephesus-just read 1Tim 1 and Eph 4-6 to see some of the problems due to unfaithfulness to Christ in the Ephesian Church.

Faithful men are to be taught--others may listen in. These are men faithful in all things, not perfect in all matters, not infallible, but faithful to apostolic doctrine and practice. These are the men to whom the mysteries of the gospel are to be committed. They in turn are to teach other faithful men. This is more evidence of how the churches of Christ need good men in particular. Churches need men like Onesiphorus and Timothy, too.

It is assumed that faithful men will be those….

2d who will be able to teach others also. 

Ministers look out for two things: faithfulness in other men coupled with the aptitude to teach. It is a good thing when men give themselves to listen to the public ministry of the Word, study out those things and equip themselves to be faithful. Faithful and aptness to teach are two requirements to be a leader in Christ's Church. There are three other places where we find qualifications for ministry. These are the most basic while still requiring a lot. One must be faithful to the Word in doctrine and life--or how one lives. Faithfulness is all-encompassing. There may be degrees of these two areas and some development is always possible. But, to embrace the faith as it has been delivered to the saints (Jude 6), and to live a life that shows one to be a man of faith. Even the most basic passage that talks about what the grace of God that brings salvation has as accompanying graces (Titus 2:11-14). One saved, believers are not left to themselves, the grace of God works in them to conform them to God's standards for living. It is what we should expect. Jesus saves and sanctifies. As the ESV of Titus 2 reads: 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

All this is hours, to varying degree, if we belong to Jesus. If you see someone who claims to be a believer and does not show any of this grace in their life--they are not a Christian. The gift of faith changes people.

This is a summary of the kinds of things that must be taught to faithful men. They need to be reminded of the full counsel of God regularly. The full counsel is not everything that could be taught, but enough to give a mature and extensive understanding of Christianity. Timothy must have been one of these faithful men based on what Paul wrote to him and taught him. Timothy was fully equipped, even as a young man, to teach others--even faithful men.

Sometimes men have a difficult time listening and learning from men who are younger than they are. Some young men have good abilities to teach and lead. A few already have extraordinary gifts.

Paul uses three illustrations to teach Timothy about the ministry. The first reminder is for Timothy to….

Many men enter the ministry with a triumpalistic view of themselves. They think they will make a difference and it was the best thing the church ever did to call him. A lot of young men are full of misplaced zeal as they consider entering the ministry. Most seminary graduates and many men in churches, need to spend more time learning the character of shepherds, more than a mastering of teaching. Men don't always perceive themselves as others do. And, many wives don't tell their men the truth--to wait a while, get more experience being an Onesiphorus--to grow more in grace as you serve in whatever way you are allowed to or can. 

The first of these illustrations is that of a good soldier. And, as such to….

2. Soldier On

        3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 

To be a soldier in the ancient Greco-Roman world was to live a life of constant change and much mobility. Soldiers not only made war, that was a small part of what they did, they kept the peace. The first century is part of what is called the Pax Romana--the peace of Roman. It was a time of prosperity in the empire. Much of this was due to the presence of the armed soldiers in garrisons who were strategically placed to keep the peace. That is what they did well.

It we accept that premise, we can go back and look at the trials and crucifixion of Jesus as a Roman attempt to keep peace among the Jews by putting an instigator to death--even though the Roman governor, Pilate, wanted nothing to do with it. He put it back on the Jews, yet the Romans in Jerusalem were the ones who carried out their sentence of death.

The Roman soldiers were numerous and well-trained. It was not an easy life to be called on with short notice to go, make that march great distances, in order to do the business of the empire or answer to the emperor or at least in the imperial courts--like one Paul was going to face in Rome.

Timothy was to think about these things and apply them to his situation. These three illustrative vocations are among those things to think upon.

Paul tells Timothy to share in the suffering as a good soldier. Timothy was to enter into the difficult parts of the ministry. And, if we understand Paul and Jesus, suffering is to be expected. It may be unwanted and it may be inconsistent with how Christians are called to live in peace, unity and one-mindedness as they follow the rules of kingdom livings, but it is the reality given the nature of humankind. Even the professed redeemed can start battles instead of following the rules of the kingdom to maintain the peace. Timothy is called to expect and to enter into the suffering that would occur.

The weapons and armor are of singular importance. The weapons for spiritual warfare are the right use of the scriptures and prayer. As these words were written to Timothy while at Ephesus, the expanded use of Roman armor to display the Christian soldiers life is provocative as well as instructive. It is all of the believers who in their lives have the responsibility to "put on the whole armor of God. (Eph 6:11). Those words are right after Paul has delineated how the various parts of the armor should give spiritual protection. It is a beautiful metaphor that all of the people hearing the letter would have understood. There were Roman troops in abundance in a city like Ephesus.

Paul continues. He tells Timothy what a soldier in God's army should not do. And, we need to remember this application is to Timothy as a leader in the Church. He writes:

4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits,

These words have been misused and misapplied by many in our day. This does not mean a minister of the gospel can't do anything outside of the church. It means a leader in the church like Timothy must not get entangled in some outside pursuits. To be entangled has the connotation of being wrapped up and entrapped by them.

Civilian does not mean all secular endeavors. If that were so, Paul would have been a hypocrite for the secular work he did to provide for himself, so as to not be a burden to the church. In Acts 18, when Paul was in Corinth, he stayed with Pricilla and Aquilla because they were of the same occupation--tentmaking. Tentmaking has become a metaphor for pastors who are bi-vocational. Bi-vocational opportunities are fine as long as they are not entangling and pull away from the demands of ministry.

But civilian does not mean secular, nor non-religious. The contrast is with the soldier and his responsibilities versus the non-soldier and their responsibilities. That is what a civilian is. It is a person who has not joined the military or one who has left the military. Their life is different than a soldier's life. The words mean to not attempt to be both a soldier engaged in spiritual battles and not a soldier at the same time and the same sense. Always be on your guard. Watch and listen for disruptions in the kingdom because you may have to deal with them. That is your job, even as you are responsible to keep the peace. Maintain the peace while being ready to suffer. Issues for the good of the church or that are contrary in the life of the church are your responsibility. Take that upon you and prove yourself a good soldier--a soldier who is not just average and like all the others. Do the Lord's work in the Lord's way as you look to the Lord Jesus Christ for grace with strength to fulfill your calling.

4b since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 

The good soldier is not out to please himself, nor even the people under his care, but to please the Lord Jesus Christ. I have tried to make the words of Dabney my own. His words to ministers were to ask ten times what God thinks about a matter before you ask once what people think. It may make the faithful pastor as a good soldier go against the perceptions of the people. But, the church is not a democracy ultimately it is a Christocracy wherein Christ rules through the gifts he has given to churches.  Pray for those who have been given the mantle to lead.

But, the soldier metaphor is to be added to others. Next comes:

3. Endure like the Athlete

        5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 

TO be an athlete that wins takes a lot of training and practice. It also takes a lot of mental focus and concentration. While competing, all the athlete realizes is the contest before them. Some try to cheat by breaking or bending the rules. That often comes with some sort of penalty when the perpetrator is caught.

In the ancient Olympics the winner would receive a simple crown of vines and herbs. They would wear it to show others they had won. The crown said a lot about their character. It spoke to endurance--even in suffering. Training often causes pain as the athlete stretches his abilities to their maximum. Practice isn't to go through the motions in a relaxed manner, but to give oneself to learn the limits of one's abilities. There are more athletes who were close to the records in many events who never made it to the Olympic Games. In some sports it is inches or fractions that make the difference.

Timothy was to consider the ministry and the practice, training and endurance that is requires. This is one of the problems with most seminary educations in our day--they don't train students to suffer and they give them very little practice to see if they have the aptitude to teach and lead. It should fall to churches. But, men often leave the churches that know them best to go somewhere else to train, never to return to the people he left. For the good of a man's ministry and the church he knows well, they ought to be encouraged to return to the place from whence they have come. Only if there isn't a need should they consider going somewhere else. Et least going to another place ought to get the release of those who had nurtured him in the faith.

The third metaphor fills out the picture of a minister.

4. Be supplied like the Farmer

        6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 

Ministers are always sowing seed. From the parable of the sower we expect the same seed to have a variety of results. But the faithful man continues to sow the gospel. They sow it in evangelistic messages or applications, they sow it in the more mundane or regular preaching and teaching opportunities. But sow they must. The gospel does no good if it is kept for oneself in a proverbial barn of some sort.

He is to be a hard-working farmer. That work is the labor of the ministry we find in the Word of God, not the typical expectations people have from watching shows like Andy Griffith. The pastor is a soldier and a spiritual athlete training for the race. He is also a hard-working farmer. The main works of the ministry we find in the New Testament are to labor in word and prayer. Just as Timothy was to think about these things in order to understand, so too, I sat for many hours in a variety of places seeking to understand how they fit together and what to they mean. There are times when mental work is more taxing than the physical. There are times when prayer is difficult--many of you know that. But, it must be done. It is spiritual warfare for the soldier. It takes the endurance of an athlete and it takes hard work to sow the needs as you speak to God on behalf of his people. Then there are other secondary things that must be done. But, there are many things in which the elders should not be entangled. The greatest civilian suit expected of ministers in the Evangelical world is for the pastor to be the social coordinator.

The farmer has a right to receive the fruit of his sowing labors and the congregation has a responsibility to provide. Oh, how wonderful it is when this comes to pass. We have received a lot of help from friends and sister churches, but I pray for the day once again, when the sacrificial giving of our own members will be enough to provide for the ministry in this place. I don't men just me, but that we would be able to have another who could take up the labors and be a part of the work as a soldier, an athlete and a hard-working farmer.

Paul then instructs for Timothy to……

5. Depend on what you have heard

        7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

As far as we know, Timothy's ministry had some spiritual success. But, all of this is after he sought that grace of God that is in Christ Jesus. That same grace available to us and to which we should never tire of asking for. For God's glory and His grace ought to flow from our lips in prayer regularly.

So the next time who see a soldier, even on the evening news; when you see athletes competing for a prize, or you see a hard-working farmer, pray for the ministers you know, especially your own. Pray for endurance in all things, even suffering for Jesus.

Amen!