The Sunday School

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 25, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 46.

The Sunday School

International Series.

1897. LESSON XI.—SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1897.

PAUL'S LAST WORDS.

NOTE.—This epistle to Timothy is supposed to have been written four or more years later than the Acts. It seems evident that the epistle was written during Paul's second imprisonment in Rome, while he was awaiting sentence and expecting death. These last words of the great apostle to the Gentiles thus become of added interest to us. They were written while the shadow of death was hanging over him, and yet self is forced into the background to give place for that instruction, encouragement, and exhortation for the followers of Christ which the apostle deemed of so great importance.

Lesson Scripture, 2 Tim. 4: 1-8, 16-18, R. V.

1 "I charge thee in the sight of God, and of Christ Jesus, who shall judge the quick and the dead, and by his appearing and 2 his kingdom; preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and 3 teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to them-4 selves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their 5 ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. But be thou sober in all things, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangel-6 ist, fulfil thy ministry. For I am already being offered, and 7 the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good 8 fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; hence-forth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not only to me, but also to all them that have loved his appearing." 16 "At my first defense no one took my part, but all forsook me; 17 may it not be laid to their account. But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and 18 was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Golden Text: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Tim. 4:7.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What charge does Paul give to Timothy? Verse 2. Note 1. (2) Before whom does he thus charge Timothy? Verse 1. (3) What important event does the apostle bring in, in connection with his charge to Timothy? Same verse. (4) Who will be included in that judgment? Same verse. (5) When will that event take place? Same verse, common version. Note 2. (6) What reason does Paul give for his exhortation to Timothy? Verse 3. (7) What will they do? Same verse. Note 3. (8) What will be their attitude toward the truth? Verse 4. (9) Toward that which is not truth? Same verse. (10) At such a time what should the minister of God do? Verse 5. (11) Why does Paul give these special charges to Timothy? Verse 6. (12) What does he say of his work? Verse 7. (13) In view of this what reward did he expect? Verse 8. Note 4. (14) At whose hands would he receive this reward? Same verse. (15) Who else is numbered among those who will receive the crown of righteousness? Same verse. Note 5. (16) What discouraging part of his experience does the apostle mention? Verse 16. (17) What is his prayer concerning them? Same verse. (18) But in what fact could he take comfort and courage? Verse 17. (19) What was the purpose of Paul's testimony? Same verse. Note 6. (20) In what trust did Paul rest? Verse 18. Note the similarity between this verse and the latter portion of the Lord's prayer.

NOTES.

1. Preach the Word.—It is not the latest sensation that is to be preached, or preached about, nor the latest fad, nor the politics of the day, nor the wonderful achievements of those whom the world calls great; but it is the Word, the unchangeable Word, the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. This admonition is not for Timothy alone, but for all the followers of Christ, especially to those who have been called to the work which Timothy was set to do. The "in season" and "out of season" take in every moment of the Christian's life.

2. At his appearing.—The common version is evidently the better rendering, both from the original words and from the sense of the text, and is in perfect accord with other portions of God's Word touching upon the judgment work. All cases will have been decided at the time of his appearing "in the clouds of heaven," but the judgment work will be carried out in fact by the separation of the righteous and the wicked, both the living and the dead. The righteous dead will be raised incorruptible at Christ's appearing, and, together with the righteous living, will be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air. See 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; 1 Cor. 15:51-53; Rev. 20:4-6.

3. Having itching ears.—The "time" referred to in this verse had already begun in the apostle's day; and out of it came the great apostasy. It is true in Protestantism to-day. In how many churches at the present time stands out the unvarnished fact that "sound doctrine" is not endured, and that they have employed the teacher who can preach the most pleasing things to tickle the "itching ears" of the congregation. The philosophy of the ancients, the traditions of the church, the progress of mankind, learned dissertations and essays on evolution, in many a pulpit take the place of the sound doctrine which the apostle recommends—and the "people love to have it so." This prophecy of the apostle has met its fulfilment.

4. A crown of righteousness.—Not "the crown awarded to righteousness," as one has said; but this is the crown of Christ's righteousness, which he bestows upon those who overcome through the blood of the Lamb. "Not having mine own righteousness, . . . but the righteousness which is of God by faith." Phil. 3:9. The crowning event in the experience of the Christian is when, character perfected, the diadem of righteousness is placed upon his brow at Christ's coming. Better than the perishable crowns of the ancients, or the crown of kings, is this crown of righteousness, the passport to the joys of the eternal world.

5. But also to all them that have loved his appearing.—He is not considered our friend whom we do not gladly welcome into our presence. Christ calls his followers friends. Those who truly are his friends will love the thought of his appearing. Do we dread to meet him? Do we wish that his coming would be postponed?—Then we are not his friends; and his coming, which will not be postponed, will find us unprepared to meet him. Those who love Christ will love his appearing.

6. That all the Gentiles might hear.—Even the opposition of Alexander the coppersmith was not without its good. It gave occasion for the proclamation of the truth. The Gentiles and others heard, and had an opportunity to turn to God if they would. If they would not, it stood as a witness against them. Paul's deliverance out of the mouth of the lion seemingly refers to his ultimate victory over those who withstood him in his defense of the Gospel.