Despite his certain execution, Paul knows that he has been faithful to his calling from God. Paul describes himself as already “being poured out like a drink offering.” This is a particularly vivid image that anyone in the ancient world would understand.
The verb is a single word (σπένδω) usually translated as the phrase “poured out like a drink offering.” This refers to pouring wine (or water) onto the altar as the main sacrifice was being burned. In Num 15:24, for example, a sacrifice is a “pleasing aroma to the Lord” and is accompanied by an offering of wine and grain as well. A drink offering is never the main sacrifice, it is one that is given along with the main sacrifice.
Paul used this same word in Phil 2:17 in a similar context, he refers to his life as a kind of sacrifice that accompanies the “main sacrifice.” In Philippians 2:17, the main sacrifice is the faith of the Philippian church. Here in 2 Tim 4:6 Paul does not specify the main offering. Perhaps he is thinking of Jesus as the main sacrifice for sin, and the martyrdom of the believer as that which accompanies the main sacrifice.
He uses three metaphors to describe his faithfulness to his commission. In each of these three lines Paul emphasizes the object, “the fight, I fought, the race, I finished, the faith, I kept.”
The phrase “fought the good fight” is common in contemporary English, but usually it refers to making a very good effort. But the adjective “good” modifies the noun, so it is a “good fight.” Paul’s point is that is life was like a long boxing match, but the reason for the fight was good and anyone who takes up that fight after he departs will also be “fighting a good fight.” It is the task to which Paul was called was good, as opposed to the false teachers who also fight (about words, etc.). They are “fighting the pointless fight.”
The second metaphor is also sports-related. Paul has “finished the race.” Looking ahead at the end of this section, Paul knows that he has competed well and will have his reward when he stands before the judge.
Third, looking back on his ministry, Paul can say he has “kept the faith.” This ought to understood of what the “faith” means in 2 Timothy. He has not qualified or compromised his doctrine in the face of persecution.
Paul was prepared to preach his gospel whenever and wherever he was called, he was ultimately committed to “discharge the duties of a minister of the gospel.” Even in his death, Paul is setting himself up for Timothy as an example. Being faithful to the Gospel is dangerous and may very well put Timothy in same sort of imprisonment Paul is facing at this moment.
In fact, Paul has already been “rescued from the lion’s mouth,” despite no one coming to his defense (vv. 16-17). The “earlier defense” could refer to the end of the book of Acts, Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome. But Paul seems to be referring to more recent events, so it is likely that he has in mind a preliminary trial after his second arrest in Rome, perhaps just after the Fire of Rome.
The reference to being saved from the “mouth of the lions” could be literal, but if it is it means that he was not thrown to the lions when he might have been. It is not the case that he was in the arena about to be killed and somehow he was rescued. Think of this as someone who is acquitted from a capital offense “escaping the hangman’s noose.” The important fact is that God rescued him despite the fact that no human came to his defense.
Finally, Paul looks forward to standing before his Lord “in that Day. ”The “day” refers to the moment when Paul stands before the judgment seat of Christ and receives a victor’s crown. That he is “in Christ” qualifies him to stand there, not the fact that he ran the race well or that he finished the race to which he was called
Paul will receive a “crown of righteousness.” This is the natural metaphor that follows from the use of a race or a boxing match a few lines before. But is this righteousness a description of the crown, or is righteousness itself the reward? Typically we focus on justification as righteousness given to the believer in Christ at the moment of salvation, in other texts Paul looks at our ultimate justification (being made righteous) at the resurrection (Gal 5:5).
Paul’s final words to Timothy focus on the Gospel. Like Timothy, we must continue being faithful to our calling and stand on the foundation of Scripture, clearly proclaiming the gospel. This is the “good fight” to which we have all been called.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
The wine offering was poured out on the side of the altar not on the burning sacrifices. There were gutters that carried the poured out offering away for the sake of tidiness. The wine would have compromised the burning wood in the altar or may have caused an unsafe condition by the side of the altar if it wasn’t channeled away. The Tabernacle with its ground floor wasn’t equipped as such since the soil would soak up the wine for the most part.
Good word. I hadn’t considered the drink offering as “secondary” before.
2 Timothy is clearly Paul’s last words and potential will to Timothy specifically. Paul specifically mentions, at least in 2 Timothy 1:5 and 1 2 Tim. 1:9 that Paul is explicitly calling Timothy to take up his legacy and his mantle. There are various mentions through 2 Timothy that essentially describe the various incidents that have happened to Paul (he mentions Antioch, Iconium and Lystra in 2 Tim. 3:11), and they should live a life worth of God, even if they will be persecuted upon (2 Tim. 3:12).
It is interesting on the drink offering verse before. Reading it, I had a hard time figuring out what it was about, but now reading this blog post it makes sense. In any case, 2 Timothy is specifically speaking to Timothy on the final instructions, and what to do after Paul has been executed. It is clear that Paul has always trusted Timothy, and thus gives him assignments to do so. Paul clearly wants Timothy to follow in his footsteps and to preach the Gospel wherever he goes. This, then is what Paul is calling Timothy to do, and Timothy, while it is not said in the Bible if he follows him, there is other evidence that he does do so.
In second timothy 4:6-8 Paul acknowledges that this is the last time he will write to Him and is instructing him how he ought to live the rest of his life. Paul states that he is “already being poured out like a drink offering” (2 Tim 4:6, NIV). In our 21-century western society we don’t often think of drink offerings were used regularly as form of offering sacrifices to God and used in in Old Testament as way to worship the Lord (num 15: 24). In Philippines 2:17 Paul says that he is being poured out “like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith” Continuing to say that he is glad and rejoices with them (NIV). Since sacrifices are no longer necessary according to what Jesus has done through the cross and his resurrection, the form of worship that Christians ought to have now, according to Paul, is that there very lives are to be the new sacrifice in which they give. Later in Romans 12 Paul says they are to be a living sacrifice and that is their true and proper worship of the Lord. So, the way in which one ought to worship the Lord is through being poured out or emptying oneself, just as Christ emptied himself for the world through his life and death on the cross( Phil 2:17). in the same way too should Christians empty themselves in serving one another and in doing so, serving the Lord. Just as Christ the Lord did for them.