Proclaimer Blog
Through all the changing scenes of life
I'm just working on editing Teaching 2 Timothy written by Jonathan Griffiths and have just enjoyed reading his chapter on Paul's famous exhortation to "preach the Word." Interestingly, the 1984 NIV capitalised Word here (unlike, say 2 Tim 2.15). It only does this – as far as I can tell – when it explicitly refers to the divine logos. I think that capitalisation is probably a mistake here, given the context which immediately follows. And – indeed – the 2011 NIV removes the capitalisation. However, that is all by the by.
I'm struck by Paul's qualifying comments. Preach the word….
In season and out of season. Commentators slightly worry about the ambiguity of these words:
- are these in seasons and out seasons for Timothy himself? Is Timothy to keep preaching, even when Sunday seems a real burden?
- are these in seasons and out seasons for the Ephesian church? Is Timothy to keep preaching even when the church seems less receptive?
- are these in seasons and out seasons for the society and culture into which Timothy preaches? Is Timothy to keep preaching even when the message of the gospel is unpopular and profoundly counter-cultural?
It's difficult to reach a conclusion from the passage, and personally I am comfortable with the ambiguity. In the wider context of 2 Tim, all are possible, (2) and (3) are likely. There's no issue, I can't think, with presenting to congregations the whole depth of application that flow out of this little phrase.
Through all the changing scenes of life,
in trouble and in joy,
the praises of my God shall still
my heart and tongue employ.