Pastoral Epistles
2 Timothy 2 - Passing on the baton
I don't know about you, but I'm generally not very interested in sports. I know that it borders on heresy to say that but it's true. However, even I get fired up by the Olympics - and this year I saw one of the most dramatic races I remember watching - the men's 4 x 100m relay. The Americans were sure-fire favourites and the pundits said that the race was going to be for second place, to see who got the silver. But it didn't work out that way. Our guys got off to a great start and stormed round the track, the handovers of the batons went as smoothly as silk and ????? was meters clear as they hurtled into the final straight. His face was a mask of desperation as he ran the race of his life, the American sprinter closing on him with every step. Jo and I were on our feet urging him on - and he won! A photo finish, but he won! Amazing!
Why did the Americans lose, why did they not fulfil their potential? They messed up the baton handover. In a relay it doesn't matter how good you are individually, you've got to pass on the baton well, otherwise your team isn't going to succeed.
True in churches too.
Paul is not only handing the baton on to Timothy, he is concerned that Timothy passes it on well to those that follow after him too, and in this chapter we see some specific instructions surrounding this.
Let's remind ourselves of the situation in which this letter is being written, as Mike introduced it last week. This is probably the last of Paul's letters. Unlike others written when he was under house arrest this is written from a prison cell, Paul himself in chains. He seems to be lonely as so many of his friends have deserted him. He knows that his death is coming soon and he longs to see his old friend Timothy again (4v9).
So Paul is writing a very personal letter, he wants Timothy to come and see him, but is also concerned that the church there is left in good hands - which takes us to v2
"the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others". Pass the baton on well , Timothy. Do your best for those that come after you. Pass the baton on well .
I'd like to tackle this passage in two main sections, dividing after v13.
An approved workman keeps on going
The first paragraph introduces three illustrations - the soldier, the athlete and the farmer.
The soldier v3-4 - endure hardship. A Christian is in a war, not on a holiday. Our commanding officer, Jesus Christ expects us to keep going, to endure, not to get entangled in civilian pursuits. The theme of endurance and suffering for believers is one that comes up again and again in this letter - born of Paul's experience.
The Athlete v5 - If an Olympic competitor tests positive for drugs, he will be stripped of his medals. It has always been the case that an athlete discovered cheating will lose out. The athlete has to train long and hard to compete - and he does so because he wants to win the crown, he aims high and endures agonies in training because he thinks the reward is worth it. Paul is bringing in another favourite metaphor here, one that brings together endurance with the hope of a reward - and the Christian life for some of us will be an endurance race - a marathon, not a sprint - and we have the hope of eternal rewards waiting for us in heaven.
The Farmer v6 - I hope nobody is under any illusions about how hard farmers work, from before dawn to after dusk, often well past the age where us desk jockeys are thinking about retirement. Paul says that it is reasonable for the farmer to be rewarded for his hard work. Keep on going, it will be worth it in the end.
In all three illustrations we have people who have to grit their teeth and get on with it; enduring hardship and pressing on because the prize is worth it. God wants us to understand that if we are to be "approved workers" then we are not to be spectators in this life, we are to be soldiers, athletes, farmers. We are to join in the race, do the tasks set before us, and when the time is right pass the baton on well .
Do we need encouragement to do this? Check out v8 where our attention is directed to Jesus Christ. Risen from the dead, descended from David. In a nutshell it is Jesus Christ the Risen Messiah. This is the fundamental of the gospel. Paul has been preaching this gospel all over the world and as a direct result he is in prison. Even though an innocent roman citizen he is chained up like a common criminal. But the word of God is not chained!
I wonder whether we sometimes act as though we think it is? I wonder whether sometimes we doubt the power of Gods word, the Bible, to speak to someone? I remember that at one time I used to avoid memorising parts of the Bible and telling people what the Bible said if I thought they were too intellectual or too resistant to Gods word; I was making the mistake of treating the Bible like a philosophy instead of what it is - the unchained word of God. It doesn't really matter with John Smith or Mary Jones believes it is Gods word or not - the fact of the matter is that God is prepared to bring his word to life in remarkable ways. The Gideons regularly circulate stories of the most unlikely people who have been changed by the power of God working through his written word.
Then we have some words which are probably set out like poetry in your bible. Scholars think it may represent part of an early hymn used by the Church. The first line reminds us of our entry into the Christian life, as pictured by baptism - dieing with Christ to the things of this world, and we shall live with him. Then in the second part we come back to the theme from our earlier illustrations - endure and we shall receive a reward. Then there is a warning - it is not universal salvation for all at no cost. Those who deny Jesus will not find salvation (like in Matthew 7 when Jesus says "I will say on that day 'I never knew you, begone'") And finally (especially in the light of all those who have deserted Paul), even if some are faithless it doesn't diminish Gods faithfulness one iota.
An approved worker will press on, enduring hardship, with her eye on the ultimate prize - and when the moment comes, will pass the baton on well .
An approved workman pursues spiritual goals
In v14 we see "keep reminding them of these things" -which them? The reliable men from v2. Paul isn't just giving instruction to Timothy, he is reminding him of the things which Tim must pass on to those who come after him.
This second half of the chapter is less about internal motivation and more about our relationship with others. The church there has a problem with disputes and quarrelling and the way to deal with it is not to get sucked into the quarrels which does nobody any good. It won't help those who are arguing and it won't help those who look on either.
The line in v16 which warns us to avoid godless chatter is an interesting one - not only because it is right that spending a lot of time talking about ungodly things tends to lead us away from God, but because the converse is true - spiritual chatter actually helps us to become more and more spiritually minded. That's why it is good to talk about some spiritual things in the coffee time after church (as well as all the other stuff we talk about, of course). So often we find it difficult to talk to non-Christians about Jesus because we are so unused to talking with one another about spiritual matters! I'd like to challenge you today, to try and remember one thing (no matter how small) from today's talk and tell somebody else about it during coffee - and ask them what they specially remember. Nothing heavy, just "spiritual chatting".
Hymenaeus has been mentioned before, in 1 Tim 1 we learn that Paul had excommunicated him. Unfortunately he is still causing problems in the church with his false doctrine, still trying to destroy the faith of some. We don't have anybody of that name or nature with us here, but there will be many churches which are in danger from this kind of person - especially in places like Africa , which is why the work of Veritas there is so important.
Nevertheless, v19 says, Gods solid foundation stands firm. The church will not be brought down by such men. Everyone who follows Jesus must turn away from wickedness.
That is what the illustration in v20-21 is about <read>. Whether vessels are silver cream jugs or clay chamber pots, it is not their material which marks them out as noble or ignoble but the use to which they are put (who here knows what a chamber pot is? Who has used a chamber pot? I remember staying overnight at my Grandma's house in the 1970's.). Verse 21 is saying 'if a man cleanses himself from ignoble purposes, he will be an instrument for noble purposes. useful to the Master'.
Hymenaeus and his ilk were using their lives for ignoble purposes. They are chamber pots in Gods house and their foolish and stupid arguments are less useful than the contents of a chamber pot. By 'turning away from wickedness' as it says in v19 that is our part in cleansing ourselves and making ourselves fit for Gods purposes.
The chapter closes with instruction about how the Lord's servant should deal with these kinds of people. Don't quarrel. Be kind. Browbeat them so that they see sense. No! Gently instruct them, in the hope that God will grant them repentance and restore them.
Conclusion
I am convinced that we all want to press on with God. We want to fight the good fight, run the race well, endure hardship, press on towards our final reward, turning away from wickedness or foolishness and living godly lives that will be a blessing in this life and for the next.
But it isn't just about us. We do not run alone, we are part of a relay team. It isn't just about how well we run, it is whether we will pass the baton on well .
In our church we always need to be considering how we are going to pass the baton on - people change, some will grow older and can't do as much as they used to, some will move away, others will move in, some will grow up and can take on new responsibilities. Historically the church tends to make a pigs ear of passing on the baton to the next generation well.
Being a Christian is a team event and there is a role for each one of us to play. Do you know what role you have in the church at the present time?
Where are you at the moment?
- Have you been running the race well and you need to hand on to the next runner?
- Are you waiting in position, keyed up and ready to go and you're just waiting to receive the baton and be off, taking a more active role in the life of the church?
- Perhaps like me you have children and you want to pass the faith on well to them. How shall we do that?
- Or maybe you feel a little like a spectator at the games and you don't know how to get involved.
In a recent survey we found that the leadership team currently spends about 270 hours a month on church-related activities. On top of that there are things like crèche, Sunday school leaders and helpers, opening up the church and setting out chairs, music, leading, preaching, hospitality, crusaders - and many other things too.
Is there something that God has put on your heart? Is there something that you'd like to get involved with (or something that Crabtree Church isn't doing and you'd love to see it happening?)
Think about it, and then come and have a chat with me, your housegroup leader or any of the leadership team if you want to make a difference. You see, a good relay transition depends upon the one who is passing and the one who is receiving.
So what are you going to do to make sure that you pass the baton on well ?
Alex White
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