Chapter Summary

Christ's faithful servant and the faithfulness of Christ to His own.

Discussion Questions for 2 Timothy, Chapter 4

1. On what basis will Christ judge the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1)? How does this affect our walk of faith?
2. What does it mean to preach the word in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2)? How should a preacher prepare sermons based on this verse?
3. How can a person reprove, rebuke, and exhort with patience based on 2 Timothy 4:2b? Reprove and rebuke is the opposite of exhort. How can you do two things that are opposite of each other at the same time?
4. Paul warns Timothy that people will not endure sound teaching because they want teaching that sounds good to them. How can you discern sound teaching, even if you don't like it?
5. Paul tells Timothy to remain sober-minded and endure suffering to do the work of an evangelist. When a person goes through suffering, it is easy to become angry and not remain clear, or sober-minded. How do you remain calm-minded when you are angry? When we react angrily, how should we reconcile with the person we became angry with?
6. Paul uses beautiful language in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 to say that his ministry is coming to an end. The first phrase he uses is that he has been poured out as a drink offering. We use a common analogy of our life is a cup. How do you refill your cup so you can pour out (or serve) others?
7. Paul says that he has finished the race. What does he mean by "race?" How do you know where you are in your race? How do you know that you are running on the right track in your life?
8. Paul looks forward to receiving the crown of righteousness from the Lord when he reaches heaven. If you are a believer what do you look forward to when you reach heaven? Why?
9. In 2 Timothy 4:9-16, Paul describes how various people failed him in the ministry, even warning Timothy about some. How does this description by Paul affect your own personal attempts to do ministry, whether professionally or as a member of a church?
10. After listing those who left him, Paul writes about how the Lord stood by him and will rescue him. (2 Timothy 4:17-18). What do you think Paul was focusing on in his life when he wrote to Timothy? How should we treat those who failed us or view bad events in our lives? How does the knowledge Christ stands by us affect our lives as believers as we go through persecutions?

Key Words/Phrase

Charge, v. 1.

Characters

God, Christ, Paul, Demas, Timothy, Luke, Mark, Tychicus, Carpus, Alexander, Prisca, Aquila, Onesiphorus, Erastus, Trephines, Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia.

Strong Verse(s)

2, 3, 4, 8, 18.