PREACH THE WORD

Passage: 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Key verse: 2

NIV

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead,(A) and in view of his appearing(B) and his kingdom, I give you this charge:(C) 2 Preach(D) the word;(E) be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke(F) and encourage(G)—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.(H) Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.(I) 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.(J) 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship,(K) do the work of an evangelist,(L) discharge all the duties of your ministry.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Preach the Word

4 (A)I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, (B)who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (C)his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; (D)reprove, rebuke, and (E)exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 (F)For the time is coming when people will not endure (G)sound[a] teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and (H)will turn away from listening to the truth and (I)wander off into myths. 5 As for you, (J)always be sober-minded, (K)endure suffering, do the work of (L)an evangelist, (M)fulfill your ministry.

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Footnotes
  1. 2 Timothy 4:3 Or healthy
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Scholars believe that this was Paul’s last letter before his martyrdom in Rome. He wrote to Timothy, whom he called his “true son in the faith” (1Ti 1:2). Timothy was a pastor of the church in Ephesus. As in any church, Timothy faced false teaching, discouragement, rebellion and opposition to the gospel. In view of Jesus’ return as Judge, Paul charged Timothy: Preach the word, in and out of season. What is the word? The gospel. Jesus. The Bible. Christians must preach the word. That means we must believe it and share it with others, both believers and unbelievers. Preaching involves correcting, rebuking and encouraging, with great patience and careful instruction.

Why is the word of the gospel so important? Because people naturally prefer to believe other things, especially teachings that require no repentance or sacrifice or struggle to obey God. False teachers oppose sound doctrine and teach only what people like and want to hear. We must not be influenced by false teacher, but hold to the gospel and endure hardship for the sake of Christ.

Prayer: Lord, let me not be deceived by false teachings. I pray to hold to the gospel of Jesus. Help me also to share it with others, patiently and prayerfully. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

One Word: Hold and preach the gospel, with patience and care