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7 Epistles of John with the same Revelation
~ A.D. 95 – from Patmos:

John, Pastor and Elder of the Church at Ephesus

As we observed in our chronology of ACTS of the Apostles, the Disciple John was a young man when he followed Jesus.

The Elder John and Leadership of the Church

Now, the Apostle has outlived the other Eleven, Paul, beloved family and many other first generation Christians.

The Elder John wrote the three short Epistles we are studying about ten years ago, but today we are looking ahead at John’s brief revelation to seven churches.
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I suppose you may not have thought of the introduction to 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John' as — SEVEN pointed epistles to 7 different churches. 
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~ A.D. 80’s – 90’s – a Cultural context for JOHN’s 10 Epistles

The Greco-Roman world at the close of the first century A.D. was in a state of cultural, philosophical, and religious ferment. Religious syncretism and inclusivism.. ‘the combination of various ideas and beliefs from different sources to form new or aberrant religions. This was the age of developing mystery religions, the age of the occult, the age of the proliferation of Gnostic sects.’

The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1-3 John

Throughout Italy and the broader empire, new challenges arose: major earthquakes in Campania, famine and pestilence in Rome, and volcanic eruptions ranging from Mount Etna to the cataclysmic destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum by Vesuvius in AD 79.

The Julio-Claudian dynasty—embodied by Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—witnessed both grand construction projects (like the amphitheater at Alba Fucens) and notorious episodes of tyranny and scandal. .. After Nero’s fall in AD 68, civil war engulfed the empire until Vespasian founded the Flavian line, ushering in reconstruction efforts (such as the Colosseum) and culminating in the more stable governance of Nerva and Trajan by century’s end.

source: RomanHistory.net

an A.D. First Century culture of 7 Asian churches

Do you remember from back in Acts of the Apostles how the Spirit, at first, had instructed Paul NOT to preach in Asia?

Acts on Mission to Macedonia

And do you recall that Ephesus (in Asia) became a major city for Christian worship where later Paul had appointed Timothy as Pastor of the Ephesian Church?

PLACE AND TIME OF WRITING.

–The best authorities among the Fathers state that John was exiled under Domitian (IRENAEUS [Against Heresies, 5; 30]; CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA; EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 3.20]). VICTORINUS says that he had to labor in the mines of Patmos. At Domitian’s death, A.D. 95, he returned to Ephesus under the Emperor Nerva. Probably it was immediately after his return that he wrote, under divine inspiration, the account of the visions vouchsafed to him in Patmos ( Rev 1:2, 9 ). However, Rev 10:4 seems to imply that he wrote the visions immediately after seeing them.

source: Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Introduction to Revelation
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Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεός δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει καὶ ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ

which God gave Him
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The Disciple who knew the Lord best refers to GOD THE FATHER simply, as God.
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to show His servants

that is, the saints or followers of JESUS, bond-servants redeemed by His blood on the Cross

—things which must shortly take place.

The Elder writes this same introduction to ALL seven churches who John has shepherded in the Way of Christ Jesus.

What he means by ‘shortly‘ is much debated in the immediacy of what these beloved saints have endured through the end of this A.D. first century. — Or perhaps God intends this epistle of revelation more millennially for all saints of every age.

Christ makes certain that Christians know the cost of faith until the unknown Day of His return.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1b-2 NIV

The risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ sends an apokalypsis via and angelic messenger to John on Patmos — and the Elder to these seven churches consequently, by his apostolic duty, sends out this same ‘disclosure of divine things formerly unknown’ and testifies to the truthfulness of what is to follow.
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It makes little difference if John had opportunity to send it from Patmos with a human messenger much in the way the Apostle Paul sent epistles to his churches OR if the Elder would have written it later upon John's return to Ephesus. 
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“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” – Question of the angel messenger in Revelation 5:2

a Book Sealed within: Addressed to 7 mortal Elders

What does John’s epistle enjoin each Elder to do?
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Set aside for a moment the imagery of the apocalypse with its angels, seven stars and seven candlesticks — the Elder John is FIRST to address issues of his own current church. 
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Most Christians know both exhortation and encouragement offered to the seven churches.

Which ones speak to YOU with some urgency (and hopefully, perhaps, to any Elder of your local church? (So which church looks like yours?)

Ἐφεσῖνος – Ephesus
- “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
- and that you cannot tolerate evil people.
Of course, John knows all this personally.

And does the Elder imply that the Ephesians will not be inclusive of those who insist on evil works opposed to Christ’s love?

You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

Revelation 2:2 CSB

And do your Elders test the theology and witness of your church leaders and members?
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And the pattern of this pointed epistle for each church now turns to exhortation and rebuke demanding repentance. 
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“But I have this against you:

You have abandoned the love [agapē] you had at first.
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Look it up.. IF you don't quite remember what agape love is.
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“Remember then how far you have fallen;

repent, and do the works you did at first.

Do YOU? Do christians ever repent more than once (that time we claim to have come to Christ)?

OR will He return to say, “I never knew you…?’

“Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the *Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

*Revelation 2:6 CSB

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one who conquers,
I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:7 CSB

Σμύρνῃ – Smyrna
- “I know your affliction and poverty,
- but you are rich.
- I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do YOU know any who avoid the Name of Christ? Do some swear to be Jew or Christian while afflicting others? Who then, do they truly worship?

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.

Does your prosperity preacher dare suggest suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ? OR REMIND of the Lord’s Judgment of all?

The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

Πέργαμος – Pergamum

“I know where you live — where Satan’s throne is.

.. where Satan lives. [Another mention of the nearby Nicolaitans]

But I have a few things against you.

You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
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Again, the common issue *even of this era is worship of idols and fornication. 
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In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the *Nicolaitans. So repent!

Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:15-16

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
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Doesn't this even sound like the preaching of JESUS? 
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I AM the Bread of Life

To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna…

Revelation 2:27b

Θυάτειρα – Thyatira
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Just a REMINDER of Who Is speaking:
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Thus says the Son of God,

the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:

Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:18b CSB
- “I know your works —
- your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance.
- I know that your last works are greater than the first.
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Quite an encouragement and blessing to believers.
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“But I have this against you:
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This one thing of importance to the Lord Jesus Christ
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Jezebel

You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:20-21 CSB

WHY is this issue of idolatry so important (in addition to God’s prohibition in the Ten Commandments of worshiping other gods)?

Ἰεζάβελ – Jezebel – the symbolic name of a woman who pretended to be a prophetess, and who, addicted to antinomianism, claimed Christian liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols.

Of Hebrew origin אִיזֶבֶל (H348) (used as a synonym of a termagant or false teacher):—Jezabel.

אִיזֶבֶל

Jezebel recalls the opposition to the LORD’s prophet Elijah.

Jezebel = “Baal exalts” or “Baal is husband to” or “unchaste”

queen of Israel, wife of Ahab, daughter of Ethbaal (King of Tyre)

It’s a contest of serious consequence between the LORD God and the false gods, false prophetesses, false priestesses — brash and shameless sinners claiming sin as worship of their gods.

This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods.

They abandoned all the commands of the LORD their God. They made cast images for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served Baal.

2 Kings 17:7,16 CSB

And it all goes back to Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings.

Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to anger the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
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Just one last application from Revelation, the mention of Jezebel, the Nicolaitans and (from a theological definition {above}) - antinomianism.
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Antinomianism is the belief or teaching that since believers are saved by grace through faith, there is no further obligation to follow any moral law or command.

.. At its core, antinomianism proposes that under the New Covenant, Christians are completely exempt from all moral guidelines because divine grace supersedes any need for abiding by commandments.

source: Biblehub.com

Σάρδεις – Sardis

I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 3:1b CSB
- “Be alert
- and strengthen [guard] what remains, which is about to die,
- for I have not found your works complete before my God.
- “Remember, then, what you have received and heard;
- keep it, and repent.
- If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.
“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

Revelation 3:4-5

And the Lord Jesus again seals His warning to the Sardinian church calling on the MANY to follow the example of the FEW.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:5 CSB

Φιλαδέλφεια – To the Church in Philadelphia

Permit me first to remind you that simply as the name, Christian, witnesses the Name of Christ; Philadelphia or Philedelphos φιλάδελφος witnesses [From φίλος (G5384) and ἀδελφός (G80)]as a FRIEND and BROTHER.

“I know your works.

Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Quite a compliment of Christian LOVE of these saintly brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.

A.D. first century followers of the Messiah Jesus considered themselves to be true Jews, who have now been redeemed. And the love they hold in Christ will include Romans (like much of the population of this city of Philadelphia) and Hellenists, Greeks or gentiles as they worship God in truth side by side.

“Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Revelation 3:10 CSB

Λαοδίκεια – Laodicea

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:14 NKJV
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an urgent CAUTION, perhaps, for many a 21st century Common Era christian church claiming Jesus in some lesser way than in Truth.
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“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Revelation 3:15 NKJV

“So then, because you are lukewarm,

and neither cold nor hot,

I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Laodicea: Lukewarm Prosperity
- Banking hub, black-wool trade, renowned medical school with eye powder.
- Water arrived by aqueduct, lukewarm by the time it reached town.
- After the AD 60 quake, the city rebuilt itself without Rome’s help—boastful self-sufficiency reflected in the church.
Source: BibleHub.com commentary
Because you say…

“I am rich

and have acquired great wealth,

and need nothing,”

but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,

take my advice

and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich!

Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed,

and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see!

Revelation 3:17-18 New English Translation

Do you know of a Common Era Church like this — so in need of taking this advice from the risen and returning Christ Jesus ?

LISTEN! Hear His Voice. Open the door of your lukewarm heart. Allow the Lord to give you manna and living water of eternal life.

Sit on His Throne with Him.. just as He too conquered and sat down with His Father on His throne.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:22 CSB

Next: INTRO — 3 Letters (10 yrs earlier) from the Apostle John
April 3, 2026
2 Timothy 2 – Strong Teachers Charge them before God
More than thirty years earlier the Apostle Peter preaching on Pentecost had charged all Israel to accept JESUS as both God and Christ:

“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses…

And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying,

“Save yourselves from this crooked generation.”

Acts of the Apostles 2:32,40 ESV – Peter preaching on Pentecost ~AD 30

You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses,

commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

Second Letter of Paul to Timothy 2:1-2 Christian Standard Bible

The Elected Saints (among the Gentiles)

By the grace of God, Paul — that is, Saul of Tarsus — was commissioned by Christ on a road to Damascus to fulfill his election as the Apostle to the Gentiles.

It had been some thirty years ago and Timothy, who had first met Paul in Lystra and followed the Apostle is now a pastor to the church at Ephesus.

Be Strong in the Lord

Paul points to Christ, writing:

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:3 CSB

The Apostle had enlisted Timothy in the service of Christ back in Lystra.

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.

2 Tim 2:4 CSB

In his humility and citing other witnesses Paul has pointed to Christ whom he serves as well. Certainly a soldier of Jesus Christ, risen from death, will be strong in the word given directly to the Apostle who enlisted his service.

Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.

2 Tim 2:5

If ever there was a zealous follower of the rules it would be Paul, that is, Saul. And the Apostle had even insisted on circumcising Timothy (though not other gentiles) to fulfill the Lord’s purposes among the Jews.

Remember that Timothy’s absent biological father was Greek, but his grandmother had been a faithful Jew and his mother a Christ-follower.

Why does the Apostle use these two illustrations and the work of the farmer which follows?

Paul has written to the saints in Corinth:

To the Jews.. I became as one under the law–though not being myself under the law–that I might win those under the law.

To those outside the law (that is, Gentiles) I became as one outside the law.. but under the law of Christ–that I might win those outside the law. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

1 Corinthians 9 excerpt CSB

The Apostle with whom Timothy also traveled to Corinth also writes words likely recalled now in Ephesus:

I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.

Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize?

So run to win. Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NET

Paul will return to this before the close of this final pastoral epistle.

The Gospel for the Elect

Remember that Jesus Christ,

of the seed of David,

was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains;

but the word of God is not chained.

Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy 2:8-9 NKJV

As the Apostle nears the finish line of his race into the gentile world of the Roman Empire, Paul’s encouragement of Timothy as pastor of the elect Ephesian saints builds up a key church in a city of a quarter-million people, the third largest in the Empire.

Clement of Alexandria, second largest city in the Empire, would be an important convert in the second century of our Lord Jesus Christ and of course Rome remained the Empire’s largest metropolitan area.

For the Sake of Salvation of the Elect

WHY do all these early Christian saints endure persecution, martyrdom and rejection by the vast majority of those in the cities in which they preach?

Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:10 NKJV

Among the millions of souls surrounding the Apostles and martyred saints in Rome, Ephesus, Corinth and throughout the Empire, Paul encourages pastors in what Christ Himself has promised in the salvation of the elect — believing Jew or pagan Gentile.

The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. – Gospel of John 14:19

if we endure, we will also reign with him;

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. – Gospel of Matthew 19:28 NKJV

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 10:33

if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven… – Matthew 24:35-36a

Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy 2:12-14 ESV – quoting the Gospels and other Scripture

Choose this day who you will follow

24:15 וְאִם רַע בְּעֵינֵיכֶם לַעֲבֹד אֶת־יְהוָה בַּחֲרוּ לָכֶם הַיּוֹם אֶת־מִי תַעֲבֹדוּן אִם אֶת־אֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר־עָבְדוּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר מֵעֵבֶר הַנָּהָר וְאִם אֶת־אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם יֹשְׁבִים בְּאַרְצָם וְאָנֹכִי וּבֵיתִי נַעֲבֹד אֶת־יְהוָה׃ פ
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You may recognize my Heading from Joshua's challenge to the Elect to remember the LORD of their Salvation. 

(Remember that this successor[יְהוֹשׁוּעַ] of Moses has a name [yᵊhôšûaʿ] meaning: "Jehovah is salvation" — iēsous, the Greek name for Jesus having the same Hebrew root.)
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Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

.. “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ..

“Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served…

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, …

But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Joshua 24 excerpt NKJV

PAUL now encourages young Timothy — the Apostle builds up pastors and saints to follow until the Day of Jesus Christ.

Remind them of these things, solemnly charging them in the presence of God..
Second Letter of Paul to Timothy 2:14a LSB

Many commentators cite the importance and difficulty of these key verses in 2 Timothy 2:10-13. We will close this section with these observations for your consideration (IF you are among the remnant elect saints of this Common Era):

God must be sovereign in our salvation precisely because we are neither willing nor able to choose salvation for ourselves.

John MacArthur – THE DOCTRINES OF GRACE

Why did the world hate Christ?

.. Earlier in John’s gospel, Jesus explained,

“The world … hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil” (7:7)

Fallen man does not want to be confronted with the true nature of his heart, he doesn’t want to face his inherent wickedness.

He has to find a way to tolerate and excuse himself from the guild he naturally faces each day.

So he falls back on his most dominant sin, pride, and imagines a version of himself that can escape condemnation. He spins a web of delusions, convincing himself that he is truly good and noble—anything to distract from the fact that his deeds are evil.

ibid. pp 7-8

It was true in Ephesus and Rome in the first century AD; it is true in this twenty-first century of the Common Era in Rome and in every other city.

Salvation in God alone

“It’s a well established reality that the doctrine of election is disturbing to many people,” observes MacArthur.

He continues, “Numerous ministry leaders, pastors, and major authors harbor animosity toward the doctrine of election.”

ibid. pp 55,56

Note a later idolatry and heresies which crept quickly into the churches with false teaching seeking to include men as only interpreters of Scripture and intercessors for active sin through memories of saints gone before.

MacArthur cites numerous Scriptures besides those here [2 Timothy 2:10]

ibid. 68-

Before we return to a brief MacArthur outline from this section from his commentary on 2 Timothy, note his QUOTE of Martin Luther introducing this section on:

DIVINE ELECTION:

NO MAN CAN BE THOROUGHLY HUMBLED UNTIL HE KNOWS THAT HIS SALVATION IS UTTERLY BEYOND HIS OWN POWERS, DEVICES, ENDEAVORS, WILL, AND WORKS, AND DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE CHOICE, WILL, AND WORK OF ANOTHER, NAMELY, OF GOD ALONE.

MARTIN LUTHER

2 Timothy – NEXT in our outline

An overview Outline of 2 Timothy [Kress Biblical Resources] follows Paul’s brief prologue (2 Tim 1:1-2) with an extended section we have just completed:

Persevere in the ministry and be unashamed to suffer for the gospel (1:3-2:13)

The following extended section we will follow next pivots on 2:14.

Proclaim the truth and be unashamed to confront error (2:14-4-8)

John MacArthur in his NEW TESTAMENT COMMENTARY OF 2 TIMOTHY outlines this section of Paul’s second letter to Timothy:
- The Elements of a Strong Spiritual Life [2 Tim 2:1-7]
- Motives for a Sacrificial Ministry [2 Tim 2:8-13]
- The Danger of False Teaching [2 Tim 2:14-19]
- and completing 2 Tim 2 – An Honorable Vessel
Remember

Paul’s pivotal imperatives of this section of the Apostle’s second pastoral epistle.
- BE STRONG – v.1
- CONSIDER – v.7
- REMIND – v. 14 (our pivotal hinge today)
- AVOID, ABSTAIN, FLEE, PURSUE, REFUSE
  - ALL next in Paul’s commands to Timothy.
MACARTHUR NT COMMENTARY 2 TIMOTHY, p. 55

Looking for some more Apostolic controvery?

NEXT – We’ll address these warnings against false doctrine.

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
January 19, 2026
II Timothy i beloved son of Paul
Τιμοθέῳ ἀγαπητῷ τέκνῳ

χάρις ἔλεος εἰρήνη ἀπὸ θεοῦ πατρὸς καὶ Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν

To Timothy, my dearly beloved son:

Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2 Timothy 1:2 KJV

Timothy, beloved son of an Apostle

Paul is about to send Timothy out as his continued Apostolic voice to a next generation of faithful believers.

Paul’s final Epistle from Rome is little different from that of Peter, also sent from prison prior to their forthcoming executions.

“Dearly BELOVED..”
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Do any recognize the greeting of such intimately connected believers so joined in Christ Jesus? 
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This is how Paulos, a Jew of Cilicia, addresses his Galatian gentile protege Timotheus —

Greek by heritage of his father (apparently deceased or absent) and raised Jewish by the faith of his Grandmother Lois and convert mother, Eunice (as we detailed in our Introduction) —

as his SON, a beloved and chosen adoptive son — not just an exceptional student and faithful follower.

τέκνον – teknon – child or son
- Strong’s G5043 – teknon – “a child” (akin to tikto, “to beget, bear”), is used in both the natural and the figurative senses. In contrast to huios, “son” (see below), it gives prominence to the fact of birth, whereas huios stresses the dignity and character of the relationship. Figuratively, teknon is used of “children” of
- (a) God, Jhn 1:12;
- (b) light, Eph 5:8;
- (c) obedience, 1Pe 1:14;
- (d) a promise, Rom 9:8; Gal 4:28;
- (e) the Devil, 1Jo 3:10;
- (f) wrath, Eph 2:3;
- (g) cursing, 2Pe 2:14;
- (h) spiritual relationship, 2Ti 2:1; Phm 1:10.
  - (2X from the Pastoral Epistles of Paul)
- See DAUGHTER, SON.
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

As mentioned in our introduction to Timothy, the Apostle Paul has adopted this young man of Galatia and mentored him along with others as trusted servants, sons and companions in his apostolic mission to the Gentiles.

Historical Context:

2 Timothy was likely written around AD 67, during Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome, shortly before his martyrdom. This period was marked by intense persecution of Christians under Emperor Nero. Paul, aware of his impending death, writes with a sense of urgency and finality.

Audience and Purpose:

Paul’s second letter to Timothy, left in Ephesus to oversee the church, guides both him and the broader Christian community. It encourages church leaders and believers in the face of persecution. Paul urges Timothy to protect the gospel, endure hardships, and teach sound doctrine.

source: BibleHub.org

As to the role of Timothy to the Church, we might in a later era address this esteemed son of the Apostle to the Gentiles as Bishop Timothy of Ephesus,

or possibly Arch-Bishop Timotheus of Asia.

But regardless of Timothy’s personal importance to Paul as a fellow servant of Christ and the Gospel, you can see from the definition of son above that his spiritual relationship to the Apostle and Christ’s Church stand foremost to any role of administrative authority (which he had, as did the Apostle Paul) or imaginative royal-like religious title.

and he set sail from Ephesus.

From Personal Sonship to Apostolic Responsibility for the Gospel

In the fifteen or so years since Timothy as a young man had first followed and served Paul, he has proven himself faithful, and a capable pastor (or shepherd trusted with local flocks of followers of The Way, loyal to Paul and true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Hence I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands;

2 Timothy 1:6 RSV

“.. rekindle the gift of God that is within you..” – the word Paul uses here in this introduction of his pastoral epistle is: anazōpyreō

– stir up that by which the fire is kindled anew or lighted up, a pair of bellows);

Don’t you love Paul’s imagery of a fire of holiness, perhaps neglected and cooling to Christ as its last embers of your faith — REKINDLING through the Holy Spirit (received by the Apostle’s laying on of hands)?

Of course you know Paul’s word for ‘the gift of God’ – the charisma of Theos.
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Paul reminds by building up in the power of the faith already well-known in and to Timothy: 
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for God did not give us a spirit of timidity
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that is, fearfulness of cowardice 
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but a spirit of power and love and self-control.

THREE gifts of the Spirit required of pastors and the faithful of the flock of every church.
- dynamis – strength power and ability
- agapē – (not just any love, but agapē love) – affection, benevolence, good will, charity, love for the brothers and sisters of the church
- sōphronismos – The KJV translates as sound mind (1x).
  - (this you may not know and in this the saints so often find ourselves lacking)
  - an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind, to moderation and self-control
Power in the Spirit, Agape Love and a yielding of the mind to God

Paul could have easily been forgotten in his prison cell in Rome, even more distant in Europe across the Aegean — than Derbe and Antioch from Ephesus, all in Asia where Timothy remains pastoring the church.

Therefore, be not ashamed

So the Apostle writes:

Do not be ashamed then of testifying to our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel in the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling,

not in virtue of our works but in virtue of his own purpose and the grace which he gave us in Christ Jesus ages ago, and now has manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

2 Timothy 1:8-10 RSV

The faithful and unfaithful to Paul and Apostolic faith
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Paul is about to begin an important point and reason for this second epistle (which we will study more next time), but here he lists some remembered for their works. 
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This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me,

among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;

but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.

The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.

2 Timothy 1:15-18 NKJV

NEXT: For this Gospel I was appointed

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
January 10, 2026