Proclaimer Blog
Teaching 2 Timothy
Tom Forryan (Watford) has written a brief but kind review of Teaching 2 Timothy in this month’s EN. He’s perfectly understood what we’re trying to do with our Teaching books and, whatever your level of preaching or teaching, you should find them both accessible and useful.
“Jonathan Griffiths, a tutor on the Cornhill Training Course, has contributed a particularly helpful title. In a short and readable book, he does most of the things a good commentary would do, and more besides. As well as tackling questions such as authorship and date, there are brief notes on each verse and in addition the theme and aim of each passage is identified. There are thoughts on links to contemporary issues and, most usefully, on the message for us today. Griffiths suggests that Paul originally wrote with two readerships in mind, Timothy and the church. So for most of the sections he suggests two different applications β for the church leader and for the believer. Then there are sermon outlines and discussion questions. Anyone wanting to preach through 2 Timothy or lead a study group would find excellent help here.
“Why tackle 2 Timothy? Griffiths gives us nine good reasons and here is one of them: βIt reminds us why the gospel (and gospel ministry) matters. Paul has a consistently eternal perspective throughout the letter and he casts all his teaching about ministry in the light of eternity. How we and our church families need to be reminded that the gospel really is a matter of life and death!β”