As I opened my Tecarta Bible, today’s verse can be found in 2 Timothy 4:2-3. I’m going to quote from 2 Timothy 4:1-5 to give a bigger context. Paul was writing this letter from prison, the time when he was on death row during the reign of Emperor Nero. Paul was written in verses 6-8 that he was more than ready to die, he has fought the good fight, he has finished the face, and he has kept the faith. Paul was now encouraging Timothy to hold fast, especially with the crown of righteousness will give to those who love His appearance.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His Kingdom, 2 preach the world; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions. 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, enduring suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (ESV)
Referring to the KJV Concordance, the Greek word for ready is ephistemi, which is to be ready for use, to stand by, be present. This is the ministry with the application of the full armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-17. Ephesians 6:15 says to have the feet equipped with the readiness given by the Gospel of Peace. The KJV uses shod (equipped) with the preparation of the gospel of peace. The Greek word is hetoimasia which is getting ready or prepared.
This would be a reflection of the ministry of the prophets. One prophet that can come to mind is Jeremiah. What Paul was saying to Timothy is a reflection of Jeremiah 5:31. The prophets prophesy falsely and the priests rule in their own direction, the people even love to have it so. What’s seen today is nothing new. It’s almost an exact repetition. You have false prophets and pastors who rule in their own direction. Natural sinful humanity would like to have anything that will suit their passions, they would ignore the facts, and wander off into myths believing them to be facts. Jeremiah had to be very patient. Jeremiah 20:5 has Jeremiah almost giving up yet we never have a record of him quarreling with the people or taunting them when the day of disaster came. Jeremiah was a very patient weeping prophet.
1 Timothy 3:1-7 requires pastors to be also sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, not violent but gentle, and not quarrelsome. The job of the priests in the Old Testament was tremendous. The New Testament pastorate is also tremendous now that every believer is part of a spiritual priesthood (1 Peter 2:5). There will always be hardheaded people and it’s easy to lose patience. Pastoring is never an easy job, especially in handling children. Children aren’t born smart, they’re bound with foolishness. It’s required to use the rod of correction or spank them but not to the point of injury. Discipline is needed but becoming a tyrannical pastor is a no-no. It a’s requires compassion to handle the tremendous job of the pastor.
Mockers are already predicted. Paul already gave Timothy a list of what to expect. Many times, it’s very easy to still act surprised when somebody mocks the preaching of the Gospel. People will start calling names, gloat about their worldly prosperity, and say something like, “How can you Christians be so stupid? See? Your Christianity isn’t helping you. We have no Christ and look at us! We’re living comfortably!”, “Seek God? Ha! I’m here to expose how stupid you Christians are!” For some, they brag about their religion’s popularity. A Catholic fake defender lady I met online even said, “You’re just jealous the Pope gets adulations of the masses while you born-again Christians don’t.” Many times I just feel like assaulting such people so they will open up to the truth. However, unnecessary acts of violence solve nothing. It will only harden people some more.
Yet, Paul told Timothy to have complete patience. The KJV uses longsuffering which is to have makrothumia, or forbearance, endurance, perseverance, and slowness in avenging wrongs. Paul says to Timothy to just endure it. It takes really a lot of patience to deal with people lost in sin. The call is for compassion. Praying for these people is what’s needed. Only God knows who will respond and who will not respond. As I was told, “Don’t let such people get into you. Satan will be pleased if you do. Just do your job and Jesus is the reason for living.”
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