Paul, in his epistles, typically refers to our Saviour as “Christ Jesus,” to emphasize the glorified, resurrected man whom he first met on the road to Damascus. However, 2 Timothy places a particular emphasis on the Lordship of Christ. On twelve different occasions, Paul references the singular title “Lord.” In this article, we will observe some occurrences of this title and how it ought to affect us.
Recognition as Lord
There were two distinct volumes in Paul’s life, marked out historically at Acts 9. The transition is demonstrated by his Saviour becoming “Lord” from the outset of his new life. Long before he wrote 2 Timothy, Saul of Tarsus’ first words in response to the voice in the blinding bright light were, “Who art thou, Lord?” and, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Act 9:5-6).1 It is possible that he had Stephen’s sermon fresh in his mind and was addressing the “God of glory [who] appeared unto … Abraham” (7:2). He finds out that the God of glory was Jesus, whom he was persecuting (9:4). We are not sure this was the exact moment of Paul’s conversion or whether it was in response to Ananias’ entreaty to him, but when Paul was converted, he determined that all his confidence in pedigree and zeal was “counted loss for Christ” (Php 3:7).
Second Timothy is the final chapter of volume two of Paul’s life. Paul is in the high-security prison of Nero, a man who demanded to be recognized as “lord.” However, in Paul’s condition and position, his repeated emphasis to Timothy was recognizing Jesus Christ as Lord. This recognition of who is Lord continued all the way through Paul’s converted days. Likewise, our recognition of the Lordship of Christ in words and actions should never wane through our days.
He Is Lord and Judge
At the close of chapter 1, Paul introduces us to Onesiphorus, a noble Ephesian who visited Paul in the Roman dungeon. He expects the Lord to be merciful to Onesiphorus at the Judgment Seat for his willingness to visit and refresh him. He is a living example of Hebrews 13:3, remembering Paul in bonds, “as bound with them” and “as being yourselves also in the body.” When Onesiphorus stands before the Lord, he will receive a reward for this good work (2Co 5:10). We likewise will receive a reward for the good done in the body.
In the final chapter of the letter, Paul returns to the idea of the Lord as Judge, referencing both his judgment before Christ and the unbeliever’s future judgment. Paul gives Timothy the famous reflective summary of his life, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2Ti 4:7). His next assertion is that, based on faithfulness, there is a reward in the form of a crown of righteousness waiting for him.
What is the crown of righteousness? Righteousness is not a reward from God. The crown is not righteousness, but a righteously given prize recognizing righteous desires. This righteously giving Judge is Himself righteous, echoing Abraham’s plea, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen 18:25). Paul will receive this crown along with all “who love his appearing.” They all long for the day when Christ will establish His kingdom upon earth, and all the wrongs of this life will be put right, when “a king shall reign in righteousness” (Isa 32:1).
Paul also notes that the righteous Lord will execute judgment on unbelievers. He warns Timothy of the evils of Alexander the coppersmith, compounded with his great resistance to the apostles’ words. Paul, instead of suggesting revenge, says, “The Lord reward him according to his works,” and commands avoidance of this wicked man (2Ti 4:14-15). Paul wrote to the Romans years earlier, “Recompense to no man evil for evil” and “avenge not yourselves” (Rom 12:17,19). Now a prisoner in Rome, Paul lives out his own exhortation. We can have confidence that the Lord, in His time, will repay all wickedness and bring justice to bear on every situation.
The Lord’s Knowledge
Paul takes comfort in two aspects of the Lord’s knowledge: understanding information and knowing people. In 2:7, after charging Timothy to transmit his teaching exactly, his prayer for Timothy is that “the Lord give thee understanding in all things.” It is the Lord who teaches us His Word. We observe this truth in the faithful church at Philadelphia where the Lord states He “hath the key of David” and He “openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” (Rev 3:7). The Lord is alluding to Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who held the key to the treasure house of Judah (Isa 22:22). Likewise, the Lord held the key to the treasure house, providing an open door of local gospel opportunity in coordination with an understanding of the truth of the Scriptures. The Lord by the Holy Spirit, whom He promised would be sent as the Spirit of Truth, teaches “the deep things of God” to all who are willing to hear and obey (Joh 16:13; 1Co 2:9-16).
The Lord doesn’t merely know information but has a keen interest in people. Amid a swirling storm of gospel enemies and those duped by false teaching, Paul can confidently affirm that the Scripture demonstrates that “the Lord knoweth them that are his” (2Ti 2:19). He is quoting from the challenge to the priesthood in Numbers 16. Moses stated that God would identify those “who are his” and those who are “wicked men” (Num 16:5,26). It comforted Paul’s mind to know he did not need to worry about whether certain persons were authentic believers, but rather he could leave this to the Lord. Timothy, likewise, as the servant of the Lord, was to focus on putting forth the Word of God in truth, relying upon God for the recovery of the deceived or salvation of those devoid of life (2Ti 2:23-26).
The Lord and Sovereign
On two occasions in chapter 2, Paul emphasizes the Lord’s sovereignty. Paul tells Timothy to warn those who are interested in quarrels and valueless words that bring ruin to the hearers (v14). He then reminds Timothy that his service is to the Lord and emphasizes the character of the servant (vv22,24). The teacher of God’s Word is accountable to a sovereign Lord and serves those who recognize the same Lord. One who stands in the pulpit or speaks up before the people of God is not above the hearer and must proclaim the Word of the Lord rather than his own message. James gives a solemn warning that there should not be a multitude of teachers within each assembly, while those who speak must understand the greater judgment that one faces (Jas 3:1). Likewise, Peter emphasizes that in this work one must “speak as the oracles of God” (1Pe 4:11). It is the Lord to whom the teacher and preacher must answer, understanding that He is the one they claim to represent.
The Lord and Deliverer
The Lord is in control and is able to bring about deliverance. Paul had every confidence in the Lord to deliver him. He experienced the Lord’s deliverance from death on his missionary journeys, where Luke describes perilous events in Derbe, Lystra and Iconium. These events of which Timothy knew were to make a deep impression upon him (3:10). After Timothy joined Paul, they encountered many hazardous situations on their trips because of the gospel. Paul could boast, “Out of them all the Lord delivered me” (v11).
Paul’s expectation, however, was that his end was near. Paul was already being poured out by the Lord as a drink offering (4:6) and had his preliminary trial hearing with Nero (4:16). The Lord delivered him from a hasty death from “the mouth of the lion” (v17), allowing him to fulfill his purpose of preaching the gospel to every Gentile he could reach. The Lord stood with him and strengthened him. The one who wrote “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Php 4:13) proved the truth of it again.
Paul also expected the Lord to deliver him “from every evil work” and preserve him “unto [the] heavenly kingdom” (2Ti 4:18). Would this mean that no evil could be done to him? Was he misguided in his confidence in his Lord? Paul cannot mean that no evil could be done to him. He has commented on the evil things that Alexander had done to him, and he fully expected that soon the sword of the executioner would fall on his neck. Rather, he is confident that the Lord will keep him from committing any evil work, as evil and temptation pressed in on him from all around. He expects to experience the preserving hand of his Lord unto the heavenly kingdom. Trouble can come to us in various forms, perhaps not exactly like Paul’s, yet we can hold the same confidence in the preserving work of our Lord in our lives to remain faithful to Him in all situations.
Our times are in Thy hand;
We’ll always trust in Thee,
Till we possess the promised crown
And all Thy glory see.2
1 Bible quotations in this article are from the KJV.
2 William Freeman Lloyd (1791–1853)
