1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:1-8 KJV)
Paul’s Valedictory
Observe how solemnly this charge is introduced (2 Timothy 4:1): “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom.” The best of men need to be awed into faithfully discharging their duty, for the work of a minister is not optional but absolutely necessary. “Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
To encourage Timothy’s faithfulness, Paul reminds him first that the eye of God and of Christ is upon him: “I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,” meaning, as you desire the favor of God and Christ, and as you hope to approve yourself to them, remember your accountability to both the Creator who made you and the Redeemer who saved you. Second, he reminds him of the coming judgment: Christ will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. This concerns all ministers and believers, for everyone must soon give an account to Christ. The living will be those found alive at His coming, and the dead those raised from their graves.
- The Lord Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42).
- He will appear again in glory.
- His kingdom will then appear in full splendor, for He will sit upon His throne to judge the world.
He is charged (2 Timothy 4:2-5), first, to preach the Word. This is the minister’s duty—a sacred trust committed to them. They must not preach their own ideas but the pure Word of God, “not corrupting the word of God, but as of sincerity, as from God, in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 2:17).
He must press what he preaches upon his hearers: “Be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort.” Let him call upon his people to avoid sin, repent, believe, and live holy lives—when convenient and when not. Ministers must not neglect their duty, claiming it is “out of season,” for we never know when the Spirit of God may work (Ecclesiastes 11:6; John 3:8).
He must reprove and rebuke: Convince sinners of the evil and danger of their ways, speaking plainly and gravely, in Christ’s name, that they may see God’s displeasure through the minister’s correction. He must also exhort—encouraging those who have begun well to continue to the end—with all patience and sound teaching. If results are not immediate, he must not give up, but patiently persist, teaching sound doctrine that leads to right living (Ephesians 4:14-15).
Thus, a minister’s work is varied—he must preach, reprove, rebuke, and exhort—and he must be diligent, urgent, and faithful, sparing no effort for the salvation of souls.
He must watch in all things, being alert to opportunities for good, vigilant against Satan’s temptations, and watchful over the souls under his care (Hebrews 13:17). He must endure afflictions patiently, bearing hardships with a steady spirit. He must remember his calling and do the work of an evangelist, watering and strengthening the churches as the apostles’ deputies (Ephesians 4:11). And he must fulfill his ministry, performing every part of it with diligence and care.
A faithful minister must expect afflictions, endure them patiently, and not be discouraged by them. The best way to make full proof of our ministry is to fulfill it completely and faithfully.
Paul enforces this charge for two reasons.
First, errors and false teachings will enter the church and corrupt many minds (2 Timothy 4:3-4). “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.” Therefore, Timothy must make use of the present opportunity while people are still willing to hear. A time will come when they will choose teachers who please their own desires and turn away from the truth to fables. Those who refuse sound doctrine will prefer flattering lies. God will allow them to be deceived because they refused to love the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).
Such teachers are self-appointed, not sent by God. People choose them to satisfy their itching ears. When they can no longer endure plain, searching truth, they gather teachers who suit their tastes. Thus, they turn their ears from truth to fiction—and God allows those who despise the truth to be deluded by lies.
Second, Paul himself had almost finished his work: “Do your work thoroughly, for I am already being poured out like a drink offering” (2 Timothy 4:6). When laborers are removed, those remaining must double their diligence. Paul had completed the work of his generation; Timothy must now do the same.
Paul’s courage in the face of death should inspire Timothy. Paul, an old soldier of Christ, could look back on his service with satisfaction: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). His confidence in Christ’s kindness and the certainty of his reward should encourage every believer to endure hardships and fulfill their calling.
The steadfastness of dying saints, especially martyrs, confirms the truth of Christianity and strengthens those still laboring. Paul, aware that death was near, wrote calmly: “I am already being poured out.” His martyrdom was, as it were, an offering to the honor of God’s truth.
He viewed death as his departure—a release from this world and entrance into another. For the believer, death is not destruction but transition.
Paul looked back with peace: he had fought a good fight, completed his race, and kept the faith. His conscience testified that, by God’s grace, he had fulfilled his purpose as a Christian and as a minister. The Christian life is both a warfare and a race. It is a good fight because the cause is good and the victory is certain for those who remain faithful (Romans 8:37). Near the end of life, it is a great comfort to be able to say, “I have kept the faith.” Let us therefore strive, by God’s grace, to finish our course with joy (Acts 20:24).
Finally, Paul looked forward with joy: “Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:8). Though he had lost much for Christ, he knew he would not lose by Him (Philippians 3:8). This hope should encourage all Christians to endure hardships, for a crown of life awaits those who persevere (James 1:12).
This crown is called a crown of righteousness because it is the reward of faithful service and the perfection of holiness in glory. The righteous Judge will give it to all who love His appearing. All true believers love the appearing of Christ—both His first appearing, when He came to take away sin (Hebrews 9:26), and His second, when He comes in glory (Hebrews 9:28).
Thus, the Lord, the righteous Judge, will bestow the crown of righteousness upon all who long for His coming. The crown is laid up for believers—not yet possessed, but securely reserved in heaven for them (1 Peter 1:4). Therefore, let every Christian echo the apostle’s words: “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).