"but You" Series

Introduction

According to John MacArthur, “Paul had three overriding priorities in his life: to know Christ, to defend Christ’s truth (Scripture), and to minister in Christ’s name.” In Paul’s two letters to Timothy, defending Christ’s truth was dominant.

In our study last time in 2 Timothy 3:1-9, we examined Paul’s instruction to Timothy about how to identify false teachers. In our study today in 2 Timothy 3:10-17, we are going to see how Paul urged Timothy to continue serving God.

In today’s text, 2 Timothy 3:10-17, Paul twice addressed Timothy with the same two Greek monosyllables su de. It is translated literally as “you but.” However, to smooth it out, in verse 10 it is translated as “You, however.” And in verse 14 it is translated as “But as for you.” Paul used these two words (su de, “But you”) in verses 10 and 14 to call Timothy to be different. In contrast to the false teachers and their false teaching, Timothy was to serve God faithfully and continually.

Scripture

Let’s read 2 Timothy 3:10-17:

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:10-17)

Lesson

2 Timothy 3:10-17shows us how to serve God.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. Serve God by Continuing in the Work of God (3:10-13)

2. Serve God by Continuing in the Word of God (3:14-17)

I. Serve God by Continuing in the Work of God (3:10-13)

First, serve God by continuing in the work of God.

Paul wrote in verses 10-11, “You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.” In verses 1-9 of chapter 3, Paul described the unfaithfulness of the false teachers. Now, in verse 10, Paul turned to exhort Timothy to live a life of faithfulness—in contrast to that of the false teachers. It is as if Paul was giving final advice to Timothy as he approached the end of his letter to him. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to faithfulness is set first in terms of the example that Paul (and also Timothy’s mother and grandmother) had set before him, and then in terms of confidence and obedience to Scripture.

In verse 10, the “You, however,” (su de) is emphatic and it shows the contrast between the false teachers and the right way. Paul set down his own example with nine qualities. “Teaching” (“doctrine”) is first. This is a major theme of both letters to Timothy. “Conduct” (agoge) means “manner, or way of life” and denotes Paul’s general behavior. “Aim in life” (prothesei) means “purpose, chief aim.” “Faith” (pistei) is the body of truth that constitutes the gospel. “Patience” (makrothumia) denotes “long-suffering,” especially patience with people. “Love” (agape) refers to a love that seeks the best for others. “Steadfastness” (hupomone) is better translated as “endurance.” This is not passive patience but active mastery of the ups and downs of life.

The “persecutions” and “sufferings” are those that Paul received in his missionary work in Antioch (Acts 13:50), Iconium (Acts 14:5-6), and Lystra (Acts 14:19-20). Paul visited these three cities in Galatia on his first and second missionary journeys. Lystra was Timothy’s hometown (Acts 16:1). Paul then declared, “Yet from them all the Lord rescued me.” This deliverance included a premature death by stoning (Acts 14:19-20). These triumphant words reflect the Psalmist’s words in Psalm 34:17 (“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles”). Though in prison when he wrote, Paul was constantly aware of the hand of God in his life. Paul urged Timothy to serve God by continuing the work of God, using his own life as an example for Timothy to imitate.

When I was a preschooler, my Dad was involved with a local soccer team in our town. Dad had grown up playing soccer in Austria and so enjoyed scrimmaging with the local team. My favorite player on the team was the goalkeeper. I decided that I wanted to play goalkeeper when I got old enough to play. Our team’s goalkeeper had a slight limp. Years later, my parents told me that I so admired that goalkeeper that I started walking with a limp too—just like he did! An example is a powerful motivator. The supreme example for Christians is, of course, Jesus. However, Jesus is no longer with us. But other godly Christians are with us. We can see them and learn from them and imitate their example in following Jesus—just as Paul exhorted Timothy to follow his example in following Jesus.