In 2 Timothy, Paul gives Timothy more than 30 imperatives to guide his ministry to the church at Ephesus—highlighting just how comprehensive the work of pastoral ministry truly is. An overview of some of these imperatives demonstrates this:
- Share in suffering for the gospel (1:8; 2:3; 2:5)
- Guard the good deposit entrusted to you (1:14)
- Entrust what you’ve heard to faithful men (2:2)
- Think over what I say (2:7)
- Remind them of these things (2:14)
- Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved (2:15)
- Avoid irreverent babble (2:16)
- Depart from iniquity (2:19)
- Flee youthful passions (2:22)
- Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (2:22)
- Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies (2:23)
- Continue in what you have learned (3:14)
- Preach the word (4:2)
- Be ready in season and out of season (4:2)
- Reprove, rebuke, exhort with complete patience and teaching (4:2)
- Be sober-minded (4:5)
- Endure suffering (4:5)
- Do the work of an evangelist (4:5)
- Fulfill your ministry (4:5)
Faithful oversight of the church—seeking to model these imperatives—is hard, good, and all-encompassing work. Paul’s commands cover the task (guard, think, entrust, preach, evangelize), promote endurance (share in suffering, be ready in season and out of season, continue in what you have learned, fulfill your ministry), instruct discipleship (remind, reprove, rebuke, exhort), and requires integrity (present yourself approved, flee youthful lusts, pursue righteousness, be sober-minded, avoid irreverent babble, and have nothing to do with foolish controversies).
Paul’s heavy list of imperatives presents a high calling for pastors. How should a pastor “fan into flame the gift” (2 Tim 1:6) so that he can do what it takes to fulfill this ministry and to conclude at the end that—“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7)?
Empowered by Grace
It’s interesting to note that all the imperatives carry an active sense to them, except one: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2:1). This is the only passive imperative in the entire letter.
Pastors can only meet Paul’s commands by being strengthened by grace through Jesus Christ.
Paul describes the grace in detail:
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God who saved us and called us to a holy calling not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Tim. 1:8–10)
What will keep pastors from being ashamed of the gospel during a hard season? What will keep them from deserting Paul like Demas who was “in love with this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10)? It will not come from merely affirming that death has been abolished and that life and immortality have been brought to light—but they must be strengthened by such grace, deriving strength, faith, and conviction to carry out the work of ministry. This is a supernatural work of God through the Spirit. It’s experienced—not just affirmed—and the experience comes from outside as we meditate on the reality of grace—“remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead” (2 Tim. 2:8).
Paul concludes the letter with his testimony of God doing this in his ministry:
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Tim 4:16–18)