TIMOTHY'S MINISTRY. 2nd Timothy 4 As Paul concludes this letter and shares his final instructions, he gives Timothy a crucial charge to fulfill his duty in view of the dark days predicted. The three charges Paul gave Timothy must be upheld by believers today due to the increasing evil in the last days. "I charge you... observe these things" [1 Tim. 5:21] serves as a warning for us in these late days. "I charge you... keep this commandment" [1 Tim. 6:13-14] is our safeguard in these last days, just as it was for Timothy in his time. "I charge you... preach the word" [2 Tim. 4:1-2] outlines our responsibility in these final days. The entire life of a servant of God is summarized in these serious charges.
There will be opposition to individuals living godly lives and resistance against the assemblies of God's people committed to preserving the truth of God as revealed in the holy scriptures. We must stay faithful, even though many will not listen to sound doctrine. Many will internally acknowledge what is right but choose not to obey because of inconvenience or interference with their chosen lifestyle.
The previous verses described the authority and influence of God's word on His servant. Now, with the highest authority, he is to proclaim it. Before preaching, we must "hold" it firmly [1:13]. Then, we must "rightly divide" it to ensure we understand what we hold. That word serves as our guide and teacher [3:15-17] in every situation and leads us to maturity, so we can speak for God when we "preach the word" to others. What we pass on is so essential that the charge is given in the presence of Deity to communicate the truth of Deity in the sight of Deity under the authority of Deity, the universal Judge of the "living and the dead." When our Lord Jesus Christ comes to establish His kingdom on earth, all the suffering, rejection, difficulties, and opposition we have faced will be worthwhile because our Lord will be revealed in His glory and power.