Quizzing the New Testament: 2 Timothy

Answer: Rome

Paul does not specifically name his location but this may be inferred from the following:
"May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me" (2 Timothy 1 v. 16-17).

Additionally, both the book of Acts and church tradition have Rome as Paul's final destination.

Answer: He is suffering imprisonment

"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God ... And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." (2 Timothy 1 v. 8 and 11-12)

This is a continuation of an argument that Paul has used in some of his other letters, namely that his sufferings do not negate the truth of the gospel he carries. In fact, he goes further in this letter by stating that "everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3 v. 12). The text may be familiar to some from the song "I Know Whom I Have Believed", written by the nineteenth-century revivalist Daniel Whittle.

Answer: The gift of God within him

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1 v. 6-7)

Paul has already referred to this "gift" in his previous letter to Timothy:
"Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you" (1 Timothy 4 v. 14).

This may refer to a particular gifting of the Holy Spirit or Paul may mean a more general spiritual empowering given for the ministry of church leadership.

Answer: The gospel as Paul had taught it to him

"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." (2 Timothy 1 v. 13-14)

Paul uses a juxtaposition of images. Firstly, he expresses his conviction that God is able "to guard what I have entrusted to him" (2 Timothy 1 v. 12). The image is drawn from the world of Paul's day and the pledge that a person would make to safeguard an article for another. There is no-one better than God, Paul suggests, at keeping a promise such as this. He then goes on to describe the gospel message and teaching that he has passed on to Timothy. This is described as "sound doctrine", probably in contrast to the false doctrine with which Timothy had to contend in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1 v. 3). Finally, Paul turns the illustration around by reminding Timothy that the same God, who safeguards the deposit of his eternal life, entrusts him with the task of safeguarding sound teaching.

Answer: That these are the last days

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3 v. 1-5)

Paul's letters have to be set against the apocalypticism of the first century AD and belief that the end times were approaching fast. Paul's imprisonment; the persecution of Christians; and the general decadence of society, were all enough to convince him that these were, indeed, the last days. A few verses later he also refers to Jannes and Jambres, two names that had come, in Jewish tradition, to represent those of Pharaoh's magicians that opposed Moses (Exodus 7). Commentators believe that he is quoting from an apocalyptic work not found in the Bible. This may be the pseudepigraphical book of "Jannes and Jambres" which exists today only in fragments.

Answer: As an infant

"... from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3 v. 15-17)

These words are often used in discussing the inerrancy of scripture (with different interpretations!) but in their original context have an emphasis on the "all" rather than the "God-breathed". Here, Paul is passing on the metaphorical baton to Timothy. The teaching that Timothy has received will be a solid foundation from which to continue (2 Timothy 3 v. 14). Reading the scriptures, with which Timothy has been acquainted since infancy, will make him "thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3 v. 17). Paul then exhorts Timothy in his God-given work, summed up as:
"But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry" (2 Timothy 4 v. 5).
Finally we learn that Paul has "fought the fight", "completed the race" and is looking forward to a "crown of righteousness" (2 Timothy 4 v. 7-8). It will be down to Timothy to continue Paul's work.

Answer: The Quick and the Dead

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge ..." (2 Timothy 4 v. 1)

The phrase also appears in the first letter of Peter and as part of the Apostles' Creed. Use of the word "quick" is down to the authors of the King James Bible. It is an archaic form of the word "living".

Answer: Correct, rebuke, encourage

"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4 v. 1-2)

"In season and out of season" is another of those phrases that makes its first appearance in the Bible and has entered popular usage. It means "at all times", to do something when it particularly suits and to do it when it doesn't. The command to "correct, rebuke, encourage" may be intended to refer back to Paul's earlier description of scripture as "useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3 v. 16).

Answer: The Jewish system of sacrifice as described in the Old Testament

"For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." (2 Timothy 4 v. 6-8)

Paul is using the phrase as a euphemism for dying. Tradition has it that he was martyred in Rome during the reign of the Roman emperor Nero.

The instructions given in the Old Testament for drink offerings do not mention them being offered on their own but always in conjunction with another sacrifice. Paul probably wants us, therefore, to see his death in tandem with the death of Jesus. He also uses the phrase when writing to the Philippians:
"But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you" (Philippians 2 v. 17).

Answer: Luke

"Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me." (2 Timothy 4 v. 11)

Paul, if he was the author of this letter, comes over as being in downbeat mood. Elsewhere he writes that "everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes" (2 Timothy 1 v. 15); that Hymenaeus and Philetus have "wandered away from the truth" (2 Timothy 2 v. 18); and that "Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm" (2 Timothy 4 v. 14).

Nevertheless, firm in his convictions, he can still rouse himself to close the letter by blessing Timothy and subsequent readers:
"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you" (2 Timothy 4 v. 22).