Letter 11 of 14 · Overview available
2 Timothy
Do not be ashamed; suffer for the gospel, preach the word, and finish the race.
This is presented as Paul's farewell. Imprisoned and largely deserted (4:16), he urges Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God (1:6), entrust teaching to faithful people (2:2), and continue in the Scriptures, which are "breathed out by God" (3:16).
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (4:7).
- Date
- c. AD 66–67
- Written from
- Rome (in prison)
- Recipients
- Timothy
- Chapters
- 4
- Stage
- Final imprisonment (tradition)
- Author
- Paul the Apostle
Paul's final letter, written from his second Roman imprisonment shortly before his martyrdom under Nero (2 Tim 1:17; 4:6–8).
Scholarly note: See the note on 1 Timothy. Sources
Why Paul wrote it
Paul's expected death and Timothy's need for courage.
Why it matters today
It models faithful endurance to the end.
Related Acts passages
- Acts 16:1–3
- Acts 28:30–31
The World Behind the Letter
Persecution under Nero followed the fire of Rome (AD 64).
Purpose and Problems
Literary Structure
- 1
Not ashamed · 1:1–18
- 2
Strong in grace · 2:1–26
- 3
Difficult times; Scripture · 3:1–17
- 4
Preach the word; farewell · 4:1–22
Key passages
Passage-by-Passage
Theological Themes
Explore across letters
My Notes
Sources
- Philip H. Towner, The Letters to Timothy and Titus (NICNT, 2006)
- I. Howard Marshall, The Pastoral Epistles (ICC, 1999)