Paul charges Timothy before twowitnesses(II Timothy 4:1) - the SAME twoPersons from Whom
he always sent greetings at the outset of his letters to Timothy (I Timothy 1:2;II Timothy 1:2)
His appearing will be "in the air" at the FIRST
trump for the dead in Christ and then at the LAST trump for those believers who are alive at His appearing (I Thessalonians 4:15-17
cf.I Corinthians 15:50-52)
His judgment will be of the attendee's service and NOT
of the attendee's salvation (I Corinthians 3:13-15)
Paul's charge to Timothy was
"preach the Word" (II Timothy 4:2)
Faith comes through the hearing of the "Word of God"
(Romans 10:17), which requires God's people to go and preach it (Romans 10:14-15)
It's the "preaching of the Cross" that is the
"power of God" to save (I Corinthians 1:18), which reveals God's righteousness as the "power of God unto salvation"
(Romans 1:16-17) "without (apart from) the Law" (Romans 3:21)
It's the "testimony of God" and NOT that of
man, which is the demonstration of spiritual power and upon which the believer's faith stands - it ALONE is the
"power of God" (I Corinthians 2:1-5)
It's the "Word of Life" held forth by the saints,
which makes them "shine as lights" in the world (Philippians 2:15-16)
It's the "Word of His Grace" that is able to
build up and sanctify the believer (Acts 20:32)
Paul admonished Timothy to be "instant" ("alert") at ALL times (when it's convenient and when its not) concerning
doctrine(II Timothy 4:2)
The Scriptures ALONE are what is able to make one wise
concerning salvation (II Timothy 3:14-15) and with which each pastor should take care to "feed the flock"
(Acts 20:28) - both for his edification as well as theirs (I Timothy 4:13,16)
The Scriptures ALONE are what is able to make the "man
of God" completely furnished for ALL works of the ministry - whether it be doctrine (teaching), reproof, correction,
or instruction in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16-17)
Paul warned Timothy that the day of "itching ears" would come and that sound doctrine would be replaced with the lust for teachers of stories rather than of truth (II Timothy 4:3-4 cf.I Timothy 4:7-8)
Paul exhorted Timothy from the beginning NOT to pay any
attention to people's stories or people'spedigrees (always the source
of contention), BUT to take heed to "godly edifying" ("the dispensation") (I Timothy 1:4),
i.e. "the dispensation of the grace of God" given to him for the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-2)
ONLY BY the GRACE of God have we been made acceptable
in the "Beloved (One)" (Ephesians 1:6)
ONLY BY the GRACE of God have we been redeemed (Ephesians 1:7)
ONLY BY the GRACE of God are we saved having been "quickened"
who were before "dead" (Ephesians 2:5 cf.Ephesians 2:1)
ONLY BY the GRACE of God are we saved (Ephesians 2:5)
through the receiving of His gift by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9)
ONLY BY the GRACE of God has Paul been uniquely qualified
to be BOTH the revelator of His grace (Ephesians 3:7-8) as well as the living demonstration of it (I Timothy 1:12-16)
ONLY BY the GRACE of God have gifted leaders been distributed
for the edification (building up) of the Church (Ephesians 4:7,11-12)
Paul's PROPHECY about the "perilous times" of
the "LAST DAYS" (II Timothy 3:1) concerned people "EVERlearning andNEVERable to come to the knowledge of the truth" (II Timothy 3:7)
Paul's PROPHECY about the "LATTER TIMES" concerned
those who would "depart from the faith" through the seduction of demonic doctrines of legalism, which
would result in their having a "seared conccience" (I Timothy 4:1-5)
Paul exhorted Timothy to endure the afflictions attendant upon the ministry (II Timothy 4:5)
FAITHFULNESS to the ministry will bring afflictions through
which the POWER of God may be manifested (II Timothy 1:8 cf.II Corinthians 4:8-10)
Paul exhorted Timothy to do the "work of an evangelist", so as to make "full proof of his ministry"
(II Timothy 4:5)
It is every believer's responsibility to be an "ambassador
for Christ" with the "ministry of reconciliation" to those who are at enmity with God (II Corinthians 5:17-21)