2 Timothy 2:1-26 Pictures of a Christian Minister

2 Timothy 2:1-26 Pictures of a Christian Minister

EIGHT PICTURES OF A CHRISTIAN MINISTER

1. The Manager (2 Tim. 2:1–2)

“You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:1–2, HCSB)

The ministry is not something we get for ourselves and keep to ourselves. We are stewards of the spiritual treasure God has given us. It is our responsibility to guard the deposit and then invest it in the lives of others. They, in turn, are to share the Word with the next generation of believers.

2. The Soldier (2 Tim. 2:3–4, 8–13)

“Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the recruiter.” (2 Timothy 2:3–4, HCSB)

Paul often used military illustrations in his letters. This is not surprising since he lived in a military state and was in prison himself. He described in these verses the characteristics of a “good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

3. The Athlete (2 Tim. 2:5)

“Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” (2 Timothy 2:5, HCSB)

Paul sometimes used athletic illustrations in his writings—wrestling, boxing, running, and exercising. The Greeks and the Romans were enthusiastic about sports, and the Olympic and Isthmian games were important events to them. Paul had already urged Timothy to exercise like an athlete (1 Timothy 4:7–8). Now Paul admonished him to obey the rules.

4. The Farmer (2 Tim. 2:6–7)

“The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” (2 Timothy 2:6–7, HCSB)

This is another favorite image found in Paul’s letters. Paul once compared the local church to a cultivated field in which all the believers worked together (1 Corinthians 3:5–9). Each Christian has his particular task to perform—plowing, sowing, watering, or harvesting—but it is God alone who gives the increase.

The three illustrations (soldier, athlete, and farmer) have in common the point that success is achieved through discipline (cf. 1:7), hard work, and single-mindedness.¹

Real ministry is hard work, and a pastor (and church members) ought to work in their spiritual field as diligently as a farmer works in his field. Pastors do not punch clocks, but they ought to be up in the morning and at their work just as if God blew a whistle for them.

Something else is true in this image of the farmer: The spiritual leaders who share the Word with the people are the first ones to enjoy its blessings. The preacher and the teacher always get more out of the sermon or lesson than do the hearers because they put much more into it. They also get great joy out of seeing planted seeds bear fruit in the lives of others. Farming is hard work, and it can have many disappointments; but the rewards are worth it.

5. The Cross-Bearer (2 Timothy 2:8-13)

“Keep your attention on Jesus Christ as risen from the dead and descended from David. This is according to my gospel. I suffer for it to the point of being bound like a criminal, but God’s message is not bound. This is why I endure all things for the elect: so that they also may obtain salvation, which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. This saying is trustworthy: For if we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:8–13, HCSB)

“But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”” (Acts 9:15–16, HCSB)

Pastor Lloyd Olgive made a very clear and important observation about our Christian faith. He said:

There’s little question in my mind that, in the community in which I live, we have been much more concerned with making the gospel relevant to our lifestyle than we have with making our lives relevant to the gospel.

How do we respond to the Jesus who said: “I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matt. 5:39). “If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also” (Matt. 5:40). “Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away” (Matt. 5:42). “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you” (Matt. 5:44). “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth … but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven” (Matt. 6:19–20). “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on” (Matt. 6:25). “Woe to you who are rich… . Woe to you who are full… . Woe to you when all men speak well of you” (Luke 6:24–26). “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

The least effort to be obedient to Jesus in such matters as these will create difficulties and hardship. Instead, we develop elaborate rationalizations to support our disobedience. And out of this emerges “cultural Christianity,” applications of Jesus which undergird and support our basic greed and lust for comfort. The accumulation of wealth, mostly for our own security, becomes a sacred creed. We spend an overwhelming proportion of our time, energy, and money mostly satisfying our own needs and desires, and praise God for His preferential treatment of us. We lead the world in the production and sale of weapons of destruction throughout the world, and call ourselves a nation under God. These are the marks of “cultural Christianity,” the adaptation of the gospel to our way of life.

If we dare to try to break out of these patterns of thinking and living because of our obedience to Jesus, we will experience great difficulties, and we will be called upon to “endure hardness.”

Paul now uses three dramatic metaphors, portraying the qualities required in those called to endure hardness. The soldier portrays a sense of priority. The athlete models discipline. The farmer is the pattern of perseverance.

Christian discipleship and ministry require all three. As the soldier must leave all other pursuits, so the disciple must place his or her self at complete disposal to the kingdom of God. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).

As the athlete must keep all feelings, instincts, and reactions under control in order to compete according to the rules, so the disciple must live life under orders and within boundaries.

As the farmer must work long and hard, often under adverse conditions, so the disciple must persevere, perhaps for long times with little reward for the sake of being faithful to Jesus as Lord.²

Each of these three pictures lead to an unspoken image: the cross-bearer. We are called to share Christianity with the world, not to make Christianity fit our world. When we do that, we are going to encounter hardship. We are going to suffer.

The reason I mention the image of a cross-bearer is because Paul was told very clearly in his calling that he would suffer as a minister. Jesus said to take up your cross and follow me. Following Jesus means suffering.

“Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23, HCSB)

It is directed chiefly against the heretics, at the same time to encourage Timothy, by showing the advantage of sufferings, since Christ, our Master, Himself overcame death by suffering. Remember this, he says, and thou wilt have sufficient comfort.³

Paul apparently quotes a hymn or series of familiar sayings among the Christians (vv. 11–13). They emphasize God’s faithfulness in all circumstances.⁴

The early church fathers looked at suffering as a way to overcome death. Suffering was part of the way to share the Gospel. You need to suffer to share the Gospel. The reason it is hard work is because you will suffer when you share.

6. The Workman (2 Tim. 2:14–18)

“Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them. They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:14–18, HCSB)

The word study (2 Timothy 2:15) has nothing to do with books and teachers. It means “to be diligent, be zealous.” It is translated in this way in 2 Timothy 4:9, 21, and also in Titus 3:12. The emphasis in this paragraph is that the workman needs to be diligent in his labors so that he will not be ashamed when his work is inspected. “Rightly dividing” means “cutting straight” and can be applied to many different tasks: plowing a straight furrow, cutting a straight board, sewing a straight seam.

7. The Vessel (2 Tim. 2:19–22)

“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription: The Lord knows those who are His, and Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from unrighteousness. Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:19–22, HCSB)

We are used by God as a vessel. Paul compares ministers to vessels which are marked for a certain use. Special instruments are used for a special purpose.

8. The Servant (2 Tim. 2:23–26)

“But reject foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they breed quarrels. The Lord’s slave must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth. Then they may come to their senses and escape the Devil’s trap, having been captured by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:23–26, HCSB)

Church members need to pray for their pastors and encourage them in the work of the Lord. Church officers should faithfully do their work so that the pastors can devote themselves to their own ministry (see Acts 6:1–7). Churches should provide enough financial support for the ministers so that they can fully devote themselves to the work of the ministry.

In other words, ministers and members should labor together in the work of the Lord.⁵