(2 Timothy 2: 1-15)
As an attorney the two areas of the law I enjoyed the most, regardless of which side I was on, defense or prosecution, was jury trials and appellate work. Most, if not all, jurors think that when they return a verdict of guilty in a criminal case that is the end of it, but in many cases it’s just the beginning of the real battle. One of the things you hear the losing party, the defendant, say at the conclusion of an unsuccessful trial is that they are going to appeal the verdict, which when I was a prosecutor used to scare the victims who feared a reversal and having to do it all over again. One of the ways a defense attorney can win is to build reversible errors into the trial record, and the only way a prosecutor can win is to make sure there is no error for post-conviction review by an appellate court. As we have been doing this jury trial thing for over two hundred years there have been countless cases before other courts arguing the same points of reversible error, which means you are either dead on correct and can point to what some other court did in a similar case, or you can argue that your case can be distinguished and can point to some caselaw that supports your position. What I liked to do when there was such a discrepancy was to dig deeper and go to the legislative intent of the governing body that initially passed the law. There would usually be a preface to the bill that stated what the legislative intent was behind the proposed bill and what it was intended to do. The appellate courts really appreciated an attorney who would dig so deep as it often gave them solid footing in making their rulings. It also helped resolve the legal hair-splitting many attorneys would resort to who hadn’t done their research or just stopped when they found something they liked. Up until recently courts don’t like to engage in hair-splitting issues which is why you see so many split decisions.
And that’s what the Apostle Paul is talking about in our scripture reading this morning. Many of the Followers of the Way of Jesus Christ had turned on Paul and were now turning on Timothy and others who were not playing word games but were continuing to preach the true Word of God. Timothy is being called to dissuade believers in his charge from engaging in battles over words, which appear to involve hair-splitting theological arguments and fruitless speculation, essentially arguing for the sake of winning arguments.
As we discussed last week, Paul had been re-arrested and was now languishing in a Roman prison awaiting a sham trial and certain death for speaking truth to power, both to the conservative religious right, the Pharisees, Teachers of the Law, and to Rome. Emperor Nero needed a scapegoat to divert attention away from himself as many wanted to blame him for the great fire that destroyed much of Rome. He saw a growing split within the early Christian church and sought to exploit it for his own benefit, so he started a whisper campaign that this new Christian sect was responsible for the fire which some, like Paul denied, while others wanted to distance themselves from the persecution so they gladly engaged in playing word games to take the heat off themselves.
Paul knows that Timothy and other followers are crucial to the survival of the church God intended so he starts out by telling Timothy to draw his strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus and to take the things he has heard Paul say in front of many other witnesses and pass them on to the faithful who are also capable of teaching others the true Word of God. He tells Timothy to: Accept your share of suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. Nobody who serves in the military gets tied up with civilian matters, so that they can please the one who recruited them. Roman soldiers were taught to think and live outside of their own personal desires, that is, to put the company before themselves and to put the honor and sovereignty of the emperor first. Paul is using the profile of the “good soldier” to illustrate a disciplined faithfulness that cultivates personal virtue. His message is that as Soldiers of Christ, “Soldiers” of the Way of Jesus Christ, cannot afford to be distracted by civilian concerns, the things of this world. Rather, they fit into a rank and serve their superiors, knowing that the greater good must be accomplished, sometimes an end they may never see for themselves. Again, the similarities between what Paul experienced and what we’re seeing unfold today in our country are eerily striking. As soldiers of Jesus Christ, we must not get distracted or divided, drawn into these word games. We must pledge our fealty and loyalty to the true Commander-in-Chief who, by his oath, his promise, and his sacrifice, pledged to be a servant to all and not bend the knee to any earthly power.
Paul continues by telling Timothy, and us, to think about what he is saying; that the Lord will give us understanding about everything. He tells Timothy to remember Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead and descended from David. This, he says, is my good news. This is the reason I’m suffering to the point that I’m in prison like a common criminal. But God’s word cannot be imprisoned. The point the Apostle is making is that the Good News of Jesus Christ cannot be imprisoned or locked up. It can only be silenced by those who feel threatened by the truth if we choose not to speak up and speak out, to speak truth to any corrupt power. Paul explains that this is why he endures everything for the sake of those who are chosen by God so that they too may experience salvation in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Paul knows just how much is at stake. Paul is boldly proclaiming how he has been willing to suffer and face deep shame for this gospel, but therein the power of God is found because it cannot be stopped by any human means no matter how hard they try.
Paul then offers up a saying he says is reliable: If we have died together, we will also live together. If we endure, we will also rule together. If we deny him, he will also deny us. If we are disloyal, he stays faithful because he can’t be anything else than what he is. He’s saying that those who repudiate this gospel of suffering will never see that eternal glory. Of that I don’t think there is any question. What may be disconcerting is being labeled as disloyal to Christ. None of us who follow Christ ever want to be thought of as disloyal. Fortunately, my Study Bible explains being disloyal as a temporary weakness of spirit, incidental cowardice in the face of persecution. It said that there is grace for the weak, no doubt as there was, for example, for a weak-hearted Peter who denied his Lord three times. God knows we are human and will have human reactions when the going gets tough, and he knows it, but by his grace we are lifted back up. That’s a relief and I’m sure Timothy may have been experiencing doubts.
Paul appreciates the position Timothy is in and he also knows Timothy is the right person for the opposition he is facing in Ephesus. Paul instructs him to: Remind them of these things and warn them in the sight of God not to engage in battles over words that aren’t helpful and only destroy those who hear them. Make an effort to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker, who doesn’t need to be ashamed but is one who interprets the message of truth correctly. Avoid their godless discussions, because they will lead many people into ungodly behavior, and their ideas will spread like an infection. Wow! It’s as if Paul could see into the future and see the discord and turmoil in which we are embroiled today, the battle between good and evil. He would be blown away with all that is being said on social media, or should I say the not-so-social media. We have to follow Paul’s warning not to engage in battles over words that aren’t helpful and only destroy those who hear them. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t speak up when the truth of Christ and His teachings are being distorted. That, for us and Timothy alike, is difficult because we too fear the threat of persecution, being ostracized, and held up to ridicule. As difficult as it may seem, we need to take our cue from Paul and take pride in our suffering for the gospel.
Jesus is faithful. He will stay by our side even when we have endured so much that we seem to have no faith left. We may be faithless at times, but Jesus is faithful to his promise to be with us to the very end of the age. And because God will examine what kind of workers we have been for him, we should build our lives on his Word into our lives. It alone tells us how to live for him and serve him.
The good news is that the truth of God’s Word is being believed by people everyday and changing their lives for eternity. Despite the opposition, continue to proclaim Christ and the true legislative intent of God’s laws. Some will listen and believe.
Let us pray.
Gracious and loving Father, make us channels of your peace. Where there is hatred let us bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord, and where there is doubt, let us bring true faith in you. Oh Lord, how we pray for the strength and resolve to stand firm in your Word, and we pray that during those times when we become weak and fearful that you will lift us up by your Spirit showing us the way to go, giving us the words to say, and the strength to continue. Keep us mindful that the truth about your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, is no more popular in our day than in Paul’s, but that by your work through us it still reaches receptive hearts. This we pray, in Jesus’ name, Amen.