Rebuke, Reprove, Exhort

Intro

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Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Four

Paul’s final charge to the young pastor, Timothy, the one upon whose shoulders he is now placing the responsibility for the care of all the churches and the leadership in maintaining the Faith once for all delivered to the saints, is given in view of the spiritual declension and departure from true doctrine which had even then already set in, and which in the last days would come to a head.

2 TIMOTHY 4:1

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2 Timothy 4:1 NIV

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

Paul is charging his young pastoral associate with some words of wisdom. Timothy was the young pastor who was trained by Paul.

Paul is giving Timothy words that he and the rest of the apostles had received from God

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Acts 10:42 NIV

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

Words later on use by Peter

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1 Peter 4:5 NIV

5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Therefore, these words are not just for Timothy. There are for us.

Paul’s point to Timothy is a call for faithfulness, he is passing the torch over to Timothy. He’s about to die and he is telling Timothy, that he is do what he begun.

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2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Preach the word

Be prepared

Correct

Rebuke

Encourage

Before we get into the details and unpack this, verse 1 give verse 2 the power, the passion behind it

This is serious Timothy, listen up Timothy, this is important, there is a sense of urgency

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2 Timothy 4:1 NIV

1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

“charge” - to stand as a witness

I say these words as I stand in the presence of God himself, even Jesus Christ - God is my witness

We are called to do all the above because one day God will judge the living and the dead

We are called to do all the above because Jesus is coming again

Judgment day is coming, Jesus is coming again and we have the responsibility to those who God has entrusted us to provide spiritual care

Preach the word - be ready to share

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Wuest’s Word Studies in the Greek New Testament Chapter Four

The English word “preach” brings to our mind at once the picture of the ordained clergyman standing in his pulpit on the Lord’s Day ministering the Word. But the Greek word here (kerusso (????ss?)) left quite a different impression with Timothy. At once it called to his mind the Imperial Herald, spokesman of the Emperor, proclaiming in a formal, grave, and authoritative manner which must be listened to, the message which the Emperor gave him to announce. It brought before him the picture of the town official who would make a proclamation in a public gathering. The word is in a construction which makes it a summary command to be obeyed at once. It is a sharp command as in military language. This should be the pattern for the preacher today. His preaching should be characterized by that dignity which comes from the consciousness of the fact that he is an official herald of the King of kings. It should be accompanied by that note of authority which will command the respect, careful attention, and proper reaction of the listeners. There is no place for clowning in the pulpit of Jesus Christ.

Be prepared - to be available, be present

in season - Opportune; out of season - inopportune

When convenient and when its inconvenient. That may be a personal thing when we think that its an inconvenient time to share the gospel, to share the word of God. It’s probably in those inconvenient times that we will be a greater blessing and be ultimately blessed ourselves.

Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort - the less desirable tasks of correcting other people

You might say, “What right do you have to ‘correct’ me if you yourself are a sinner”?

The answer is that we have been commanded to do so...

with great patience and careful instruction

So you have to have the word of God in you to share, you have to share at any time, but the caveat that many zealous people don’t pay much attention to is the “how”