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John piper sermons thessa6/13/2023 But how should the pastors go about doing this? Pastoral qualifications are primarily character based, with one gift excepted (that of teaching). This text takes for granted the fact that elders made elders. Timothy, as seen in the Pastoral Epistles, was actively engaged in this work of discipleship. In this context, Christian leaders like Paul and Timothy trained pastors informally during the rigors of ministry, or no one did. The first thing is to recognize that this is a command to pastors there was no institutionalized training available for Christian leaders as the apostles busied themselves, preaching daily from house to house and engrossing themselves in ministry. Without the grace of God operating in the minister, he will lack the strength necessary to fulfill all subsequent commands presented in this section.īut how do we entrust these things, the content of the gospel message and direct implications of living consistently with that message, to faithful men? First Things First The minister must constantly be strengthened by the grace of Christ. With these things being identified as the words which Timothy has heard concerning the gospel in Paul’s presence (2:8), the section begins with an imperative to Timothy to be strengthened ( present passive imperative), by the grace which is in Christ Jesus. 2:1-2 to “entrust these things to faithful men”? Chapter 2 begins with a series of imperatives to conduct this ministry through the grace of God, and entrusting this ministry to faithful men.Īssuming that this command is normative for pastors today, the question becomes how can pastors fulfill the clear command given to Timothy in 2 Tim. The book of 2 Timothy self attests to being written by the Apostle Paul at the end of his life to encourage Timothy to continue Gospel ministry in the face of hardship by joining fearlessly in Paul’s suffering (1 Tim 1:1-18).
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