Read 2 Timothy at Bible Gateway.
Before we go on to Titus, the entire book of 2 Timothy forms an amazing chiastic structures (the teaching tools of scripture explains chiastic structures for those who are unfamiliar with them):
2 Tim 1:1-4:22 chiastic structure:
1a) 2 Tim 1:1-2, Salutation + grace, mercy, peace in Jesus Christ our Lord;
1b) 2 Tim 1:3-4, Paul greatly desiring to see Timothy;
1c) 2 Tim 1:5-2:26, Stir up/ hold fast what you received/ heard + exhortation to faithful ministry;
1d) 2 Tim 3:1-13, Evil men and imposters in the last days:
1a) 2 Tim 3:1-9, Evil men and imposters in the last days;
1a) 2 Tim 3:1, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come;
1b) 2 Tim 3:2-4, The ungodly men of the last days;
1a) 2 Tim 3:2a, For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money;
1b) 2 Tim 3:2b, Boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents;
1c) 2 Tim 3:2c-3a, Unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving;
central axis) 2 Tim 3:3b, Slanderers;
2c) 2 Tim 3:3c, Without self-control, brutal, despisers of good;
2b) 2 Tim 3:4a, Traitors, headstrong, haughty;
2a) 2 Tim 3:4b, Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;
1c) 2 Tim 3:5, Having a form of godliness but denying its power + from such turn away;
1d) 2 Tim 3:6a, They creep into households + make captives of gullible women;
central axis) 2 Tim 3:6b, Who are loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts;
2d) 2 Tim 3:7, Always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth;
2c) 2 Tim 3:8a, Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth;
2b) 2 Tim 3:8b, Men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith;
2a) 2 Tim 3:9, They will progress no further, their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was;
1b) 2 Tim 3:10-11, You have carefully followed me and know what persecutions I endured;
central axis) 2 Tim 3:11b, And out of them all the Lord delivered me;
2b) 2 Tim 3:12, Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution;
2a) 2 Tim 3:13, But evil men + impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived;
1e) 2 Tim 3:14-16, Continue in Scriptures known from childhood, profitable to reprove, correct, instruct;
central axis) 2 Tim 3:17, That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work;
2e) 2 Tim 4:1-2, Preach the Scriptures in + out of season, by them convince, rebuke, exhort;
2d) 2 Tim 4:3-4, Ungodly and deceived hearers in the last days;
2c) 2 Tim 4:5-8, Watch/ fulfill your ministry + Paul’s ministry completed in faithfulness;
2b) 2 Tim 4:9-21, Paul’s longing to see Timothy;
1a) 2 Tim 4:9, Be diligent to come to me quickly;
1b) 2 Tim 4:10-13, Instructions + news of fellow ministers;
1c) 2 Tim 4:14, Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him;
1d) 2 Tim 4:15, Beware him also for he has greatly resisted our words;
1e) 2 Tim 4:16a, At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me;
central axis) 2 Tim 4:16b, May it not be charged against them;
2e) 2 Tim 4:17, But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me;
2d) 2 Tim 4:17b, So that the message might be preached fully + that all the Gentiles might hear;
2c) 2 Tim 4:17c-18, I was delivered from the lion + the Lord will deliver me from every evil;
2b) 2 Tim 4:19-20, Instructions + news of fellow ministers;
2a) 2 Tim 4:21a, Try to come before winter;
2a) 2 Tim 4:21b-22, Benediction + Lord Jesus Christ/ grace be with you. Amen.
The central axis of the entire book is that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. The Holy Scripture is the wrapping that surrounds this central point. Knowing them, being immersed in them, and receiving their instruction, reproof, rebuke, correction, and exhortation is necessary to grow up into completeness. Wrapping the Holy Scripture are the ungoldly imposters, who present themselves as men of God but are not, and their counterpart, the ungodly hearers. Neither of these know the Holy Scripture, even if they claim to, nor receive its instruction, reproof, rebuke, correction, and exhortation in godliness.
Proverbs assures us in many places all men need to be instructed and corrected by the truth and by wisdom through the course of their lives, but only wise men receive that instruction and correction (Pro 8:33, 9:9, 13:1, 19:20). May all we be also wise, and come to the Holy Scripture with a submitted heart, ready to receive the truth and act on it!
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