When we say “this is God’s Word” we are saying: 1) God is the source of it all; 2) What the human author means is what God means. 3) It is written for the benefit of all of God’s people, though it is written to particular people. 4) All of Scripture is the Word of Christ!
So, let us use the Word of God with humility, confidence and faith, and with great expectation…we don’t come to the scriptures only to be informed, but to be transformed!
The church in Ephesus, where Timothy was serving when Paul wrote this letter, was threatened from the outside and from within. Paul himself was arrested and imprisoned and facing death, and it looked like his gospel had failed—even Paul’s friends were jumping ship. Timothy was dealing with a church filled with quarreling and false teaching.
Into this situation, Paul wrote this letter to affirm Timothy…and encourage him to fulfill the ministry God gave him ——he sends this letter to say: boldly take up what you were given, guard it, pass it on, and keep going until your ministry is fulfilled!
