The Testimony of Paul’s Life

GOLDEN TEXT: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” —II Timothy 4:7,8

II TIMOTHY 3:10-15; 4:1-8,17,18

PAUL and Timothy had been closely associated in the ministry, so the apostle could truthfully write to his son in the faith that he had fully known his “doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience.” Timothy also was aware of the many persecutions which had come upon his beloved Paul on account of his faithful activity in the ministry. Paul reminded Timothy that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

Paul’s doctrine was “the Gospel of Christ” in all its various ramifications. (Rom. 15:29; Gal. 1:7; I Thess. 3:2) His manner of life was one of devotion to the Lord’s cause, regardless of the sacrifices involved. His purpose in life was to glorify God, and to make his own calling and election sure to a place in the messianic kingdom which he knew was destined to bless all the families of the earth. His faith in the Lord was unwavering, enabling him to endure patiently all the hardships that came upon him as a result of his faithfulness in the ministry. Paul’s love for the Lord, for the truth, and for the brethren was the motive which prompted him to press forward in the Lord’s cause.

Paul knew that his active ministry of the truth had come to an end, and that soon his earthly course would be finished in death, so he exhorted Timothy to “preach the Word,” and to “be instant in season, and out of season.” He wanted Timothy to continue his pattern in the ministry, to “reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

“The time will come,” said Paul, “when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” This was a prophecy of the great falling away from the faith which would occur after the apostles fell asleep in death. Jesus foretold it in his parable of The Wheat and the Tares.—Matt. 13:24-30; 36-43

Timothy was cautioned to watch this developing situation, and to be ready to endure whatever afflictions it might involve for him. He was to continue doing the work of an evangelist, and to make full proof of his ministry.

Paul continued with the words in our Golden Text, saying that he had fought this good fight of faith, and had now come to the end of his earthly ministry. He believed that while he had given up all earthly advantages and comforts, he had laid up treasure in heaven. To Paul this heavenly treasure was “a crown of righteousness,” a reward which would be given to him by “the Lord, the righteous Judge.” Paul had been condemned to death by an unrighteous Roman judge, but he had confidence that the Lord was righteous, and that he would receive the promised crown of life.—Rev. 2:10

However, Paul knew that he would not receive his reward the moment he died. He spoke of the crown as being laid up for him, and explains that he did not expect to receive it until “that day.” The “day” referred to is the time of Christ’s appearance to his glorified church. This statement by Paul clearly refutes the notion that Christians of his day or before Christ’s second presence would at once go to heaven when they died.

In another epistle Paul speaks of Christians falling asleep in Christ. (I Cor. 15:17,18) The Bible uses sleep as an illustration of death. Those who are asleep are unconscious, but will awaken from sleep in due course. Just so, those who are asleep in death are unconscious, but by divine power will be awakened to life in the resurrection.

It seems from verse 16 that Paul had been deserted in prison, particularly at the time of his trial. There was no one to stand with him and for him. But this had not disturbed him, for he had a keen sense of the fact that the Lord stood with him. The Lord did not deliver Paul from the death sentence, but only from being destroyed by lions. He did, however, deliver him in a much fuller sense. He delivered him from this present evil world, from the machinations of the Devil, and from the weaknesses of his own fallen flesh. The Lord would deliver him, as Paul put it, “from every evil work,” meaning labor, toil.

But as we have seen, Paul did not at once receive his reward. As he states it, the Lord would “preserve” him unto the heavenly kingdom, or, until the heavenly kingdom would be established. Paul had full confidence in this outcome of his good fight of faith.

QUESTIONS

How did Paul describe his life as a Christian?

Did Paul expect to go heaven immediately upon his death?

How did the Lord “deliver” Paul?

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