2 Timothy 4:1-8, Timothy: Preach the Word (1)

We concluded the imperatives Paul gave Timothy in 1 Tim. 4.  But I thought as long as we were on this path, we might go to 2 Tim. 4:2,5 for a similar passage but with different terms.  If we are interested in what I would call “pastoral ministry” then these are valuable.  In advance I will say that Paul’s instructions to Timothy include a variety of emphases.  In 1 Tim. 4 the key terms are “command and teach.”  You will see in 2 Tim. 4, as Paul was on trial in Rome, and there an atmosphere of “these are my final instructions given the urgency of the times,” that Paul has a more intense word for Timothy.

First, “Preach the word!”  The word refers to a “herald,” one who would make an announcement in a public square perhaps.  In other words, it is not a Bible study discussion but a “monologue,” a declaration which is not intended to be optional for those who hear.  They can deny, ignore or act on the message but they cannot argue the message. 

This is a large subject, more so than what we will do here.  There are books written about what it means to “preach” (verb), the “preacher” and the content of the “preaching” (nouns). 

In the Gospels those who “preached” included John the Baptist (e.g. Mt. 3:1), Jesus (e.g. Mt. 4:17), and those followers of Jesus that He sent out (e.g. Mt. 10:7).  The message in each of these cases was, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  There is a significant reference to the content of the preaching recorded in Mt. 12:41 (Lk. 11:32).  Jesus made a connection between the content of His message (repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand) and the content of Jonah’s message (Jonah 3:4).  The content is therefore not just facts about a situation (the Messiah is on the scene, He is coming to your town) but also the command as to what is the appropriate response to the message (repent).  This passage also tells me that there is a connection between New Testament preachers like Jesus and Paul and Timothy and the preachers of the Old Testament, the prophets of old.  The OT prophets pointed out the sins of the people and called them to repent and worship the LORD God of Israel.  To this day that kind of message is needed in the Church.

Having said that, we also see that “preaching” and “teaching” are often used in the same context.  Jesus was teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Mt. 4:23).  Paul was preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ (Ac. 28:31).  In 2 Tim. 4:2 Paul commanded Timothy to “preach the word … with all teaching.”  My thought is that preaching heralds the announcement while teaching gives explanation from the Scriptures.  Pastor ministry must have both.  The pastor is a teacher (Eph. 4:11) but the teaching must come with the appropriate call to hear and heed.