Second Epistle to Timothy

Definition and Meaning

Second Timothy is the sixteenth book of the New Testament and consists of four chapters. The opening of the letter names Paul as its author and his coworker Timothy as its recipient. Because much of its content instructs a church leader in pastoral ministry (the work of caring for and leading the church), it is called, together with First Timothy and Titus, one of the Pastoral Epistles. More broadly, it belongs to the Pauline Epistles.

Biblical and Historical Background

Within the text, Paul is imprisoned (1:8; 1:16–17) and says that his death is near (4:6). For this reason, the letter has traditionally been understood as Paul's last letter, written shortly before his martyrdom in Rome. Its main contents are as follows:

• It states that Timothy's faith was handed down from his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and it urges him to share in suffering (chapter 1).
• It uses the image of "a good soldier of Jesus Christ" and charges Timothy to pass on what he has learned to others (chapter 2).
• It warns of the turmoil of the last days and declares that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God" (3:16).
• It commands Timothy to preach the word and records the confession, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (4:7).

Scholarly opinion is divided on the question of authorship. Conservative scholars hold that Paul wrote the letter himself. Critical scholarship, by contrast, has widely advanced the view, based on the letter's style and its depiction of church organization, that it was written in Paul's name after his death.

Practice in the Korean Church

In the Korean church, several passages from Second Timothy are frequently associated with particular services and ceremonies.

• 4:2, "Preach the word," is commonly used as the text for the charge at services for the ordination of pastors and at installation services.
• 4:7–8 is often read at ceremonies conferring the title of pastor emeritus, at retirement services, and at funeral services.
• 2:2 is regarded as describing a pattern in which those who have been taught go on to teach others, and it is widely cited as the biblical basis for discipleship training.
• 3:16–17 is a standard text for sermons on Bible Sunday and for teaching on the doctrine of Scripture.

Interpretations of 3:16 vary by denomination and theological tradition. Many evangelical denominations, including conservative Presbyterian bodies, regard this verse as a key basis for biblical inerrancy (the doctrine that Scripture contains no errors) and for verbal inspiration (the view that every word of Scripture was written under the inspiration of God). Some progressive denominations and theologians affirm that the verse speaks of the authority and usefulness of Scripture, while holding that it can be read in conjunction with historical-critical scholarship. In the pulpit, preaching generally assumes Pauline authorship, whereas seminaries treat the question of authorship as a matter of academic debate.