What does the Bible say?

Questions to help you grow in your familiarity with the book of 2nd Timothy

This second letter to Timothy, like the first, and his letter to Titus, is known as a Pastoral
Epistle. These letters are exhortations to pastors and leaders in churches then and now on how to
conduct and expand ministry to the flocks under them and how to conduct themselves in a godly
manner.
Sadly this is the last letter Paul would write as he was imprisoned in Rome and soon after
would be executed under Nero’s rule. Take note of his impassioned writing. He knew his time
was short.

Day One: Read 2nd Timothy chapter 1

1. a. What is the parallel between what God said Abraham would do in Genesis 18:17-19;
and what Timothy’s grandmother Lois did in verse 5?

b. What lesson should you take from this?

2. a. What has God done in order that we would not have a spirit of fear (verse 7)? See also
Deuteronomy 31:6-8 and Joshua 1:8-9.

b. What should we do to overcome our fears? See Psalm 46:1-2, 10 and Proverbs 3:5-7.

3. Why would Paul tell Timothy to share in his suffering for Christ in verse 8? See also
John 15:18-25, 2nd Corinthians 1:3-6.

4. What motivated Paul to say what he said in verse 12? See Acts 16:16-28.

Day Two: Read 2nd Timothy chapter 2

1. In verses 1-5 it calls us to be soldiers of Christ. What are we to do and not do?
 What does the Bible say? Questions to help you grow in your familiarity with the book of 2nd Timothy

2. In verse 7 it says that we may gain understanding in all things. Where can we go to gain
understanding? See Ps 32:8, Ps 119:115 and Jn 16:13.

3. What does it mean to you personally that Jesus remains faithful even when you are
faithless, verse 13?

4. What do we have to do in order to show ourselves to be approved before God, verse 15?
See Psalm 1:1-3 or Romans 12:1-2.

5. How does what Paul said in verses 19-22 relate to what God said in Jeremiah 18:8?

6. Christians are to avoid pointless arguing over worthless issues. In verses 24-26 how
should Christians behave and what good result may we see from such an attitude?

Day Three: Read 2nd Timothy chapter 3

1. After reading what Paul said in verses 1-5: How do you believe what he said is relevant
to the world we live in today?

2. How is it possible for someone to continue to learn but never come to the knowledge of
the truth (verse 7)? See 1 Cor 1:17-23 & Hebrews 4:1-7.

3. How can the declaration that Paul made in verse 12 be reconciled in a Christian’s life if
we serve a God that loves us? See Heb 12:4-7, Jn 16:33, 2 Cor 4:11 and Lk 6:22-23.

4. From verses 16-17, what is the point in reading and growing in understanding of the
Bible if we are going to suffer tribulation as we grow godlier?
 What does the Bible say? Questions to help you grow in your familiarity with the book of 2nd Timothy

5. Have you seen the truths from verses 12, 16-17 evident in your own life? Write down
your own experiences or thoughts.

Day Four: Read 2nd Timothy chapter four

1. a. How does Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in verses 1-2 apply to those who are not in
full-time ministry?

b. Do you see any way this might apply differently to full time pastors?

2. In verse 3-5 we see a warning and exhortation from Paul. What are some practical ways
that you can “be watchful” in your own life?

We see in 2Tim 4:6-7 that Paul is well aware that his time is short and that he will soon be with
the Lord. He had gone through so many near death experiences through his life, see 2Cor 11:24-
27.

3. a. How do you think Paul felt at this point compared to his writing in Phil 1:21-23?

b. Where are you in your own life? Do you share Paul’s same peace, hope and joy?

There are two main words for crown in the New Testament. One refers to a royal crown and the other to
the victor's crown (the stephanos). Here ( in verse 8) Paul referred to the victor's crown - the crown that
was essentially a trophy, recognizing that one had competed according to the rules and had won the
victory. Before Paul was a Christian he supervised the execution of the first martyr and then began to kill
as many other Christians as he could. But now at the end of his life he was ready to receive a crown - a
stephanos. It is likely that he remembered the name of the first martyr, who died at Paul's own hands:
Stephanos (Stephen). ( Guzik)
 What does the Bible say? Questions to help you grow in your familiarity with the book of 2nd Timothy

4. Write out what else might those who die in Christ expect on that great day when they go
to be with Him.

Jn 14:1-3-

1Pet 1:4-5, 9-

1 Cor 15:52-54-

1 Jn 3:2-

Rev 21:3-7-

Day Five: Re-read the 2nd letter to Timothy chapter 4

In this last half of this chapter Paul calls out a few people by name, some for commendation
and some for condemnation of sorts. Let’s look at two in particular Demas and Mark. These two
men had served alongside of Paul prior to the writing of this letter.

We see that Paul was not afraid to point out opponents of the truth by name, as he said to do in
Romans 16:17. This was not a contradiction of Jesus' command not to judge (Matthew 7:1-5)
"While Christians are not to judge one another's motives or ministries, we are certainly expected
to be honest about each other's conduct." (Wiersbe)

1. We see Demas mentioned in Col 4:14 and in Philemon 1:24 as a fellow laborer.
Considering Paul’s condition and impending fate, what temptation may have overcome
him causing his departure in verse 10? See Mt 13:20-22 for a possibility.

2. In contrast Mark had stumbled at one point and left the mission field before the work
was complete. See Acts 15:36-38. But then in the same verse in Phm 1:24 and in verse
11of chapter 4 we see Paul commending Mark. What may have renewed Mark’s
commitment? See Acts 15:37-39, Gal 6:1 and Acts 9:26-27. Barnabas’s name means “son
of consolation”.
 What does the Bible say? Questions to help you grow in your familiarity with the book of 2nd Timothy

3. What do you learn from 14-15 regarding certain people who may be very aggressively
opposed to your ministry? Beware Def: phylássō, foo-las'-so; through the idea of
isolation; to watch, i.e. be on guard .

4. Compare Paul’s warning in 2Tim 4:1-415 to those in Mt 5:44. As Christians how can we
do both?

Day Six-Review

1. How are we to stir up the gift(s) that God has given to us 2Tim 1:6? (Acts 13:1-4)

2. What did Paul mean when he said that the word of God is not chained 2Tim 2:9? See
Psalm 119:89, Isaiah 55:11, Jeremiah 1:12

3. What did Paul mean when he said that he was delivered out of the mouth of the lion
2Tim 4:17? See 2Tim 3:10-11, 1Peter 5:8-9 and James 4:7.

4. In your own words what was Paul’s main message to his protégé Timothy and by
extension to you and those you may minister to?