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General Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons of the Book

A Will of Being Crucified

1. A perfectly sincere will

a. the will of God (2Tim. 1:1)

b. the ceaseless prayers (2Tim. 1:2-4)

c. the genuine faith (2Tim. 1:5)

d. stirring up again (2Tim. 1:6-7).

e. my sufferings (2Tim. 1:8-12).

f. holding fast (2Tim. 1:13-14).

g. love in loneliness (2Tim. 1:15-18)

2. A completely purified will

a. strong and pure (2Tim. 2:1).

b. committing (2Tim. 2:2)

c. enduring hardship together (2Tim. 2:3-13)

d. rightly dividing the word of truth (2Tim. 2:14-18)

e. being sanctified (2Tim. 2:19-21)

f. a pure heart (2Tim. 2:22)

g. being gentle to all (2Tim. 2:23-26)

3. A fully selfless will

a. lovers of themselves (2Tim. 3:1-4)

b. men who only pay attention to appearance (2Tim. 3:5-7)

c. men who resist the truth (2Tim. 3:8-9)

d. what I endured (2Tim. 3:10-12)

e. but you must continue in (2Tim. 3:13-14)

f. the Holy Scriptures are able to…(2Tim. 3:15-16)

g. being complete (2Tim. 3:16-17)

4. A will of fully loving Christ

a. preaching the word (2Tim. 4:1-4)

b. enduring afflictions (2Tim. 4:5)

c. being poured out as a drink offering (2Tim. 4:6-7)

d. a crown with blood (2Tim. 4:8)

e. being forsaken by men (2Tim. 4:9-13)

f. the Lord stood with me (2Tim. 4:14-17)

g. to Him be glory (2Tim. 4:18-22)

The Knowledge of the Truth of God’s Servants

1. The eager hope and personal feelings that God’s servants should have (2Tim. 1).

a. the eager hope (2Tim. 1:1-14)

1) seizing hold of the promise of life (2Tim. 1:1-2)

2) stirring up the spiritual gift (2Tim. 1:3-7)

b. the personal experience and circumstances (2Tim. 1:8-18)

1) the experience in the salvation (2Tim. 1:8-10)

2) the experience of work (2Tim. 1:11-12)

3) the experience in the faith (2Tim. 1:13-14)

4) the present situation which causes many feelings (2Tim. 1:15-18)

2. The qualities and character of God’s servants (2Tim. 2).

a. the qualities of service (2Tim. 2:1-18)

1) the comprehensive equipment (2Tim. 2:1-6).

2) the practice of the faith (2Tim. 2:7-13)

3) the wisdom of preaching (2Tim. 2:14-18)

b. the spiritual character (2Tim. 2:19-26)

1) the foundation of the faith (2Tim. 2:19-20)

2) the vessels for honor (2Tim. 2:21-22)

3) the gentle temper (2Tim. 2:23-26)

3. God’s servants’ piercing and inheritance (2Tim. 3).

a. they pierce the evil of human nature in the last days (2Tim. 3:1-9)

1) concerning the days in the last days (2Tim. 3:1)

2) concerning the shameful conduct in the last days (2Tim. 3:2-9)

b. they have the precious spiritual inheritance (2Tim. 3:10-17)

1) receiving what has been passed down from teachers (2Tim. 3:10-14)

2) inheriting the riches of the Bible (2Tim. 3:15-17)

4. God’s servants’ victory and tactics (2Tim. 4)

a. the reliance and opportunities of preaching (2Tim. 4:1-2)

b. the challenge and duties of preaching (2Tim. 4:3-5)

c. the victory and glory of preaching (2Tim. 4:6-8)

d. the overall plan and change of personnel (2Tim. 4:9-12)

e. the honest charging and information (2Tim. 4:13-15)

f. the precious sympathy and conviction (2Tim. 4:16-18)

g. the sincere greeting and blessing (2Tim. 4:19-22)

Fight the Good Fight

1. Fighting for the faith

a. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ (2Tim. 1:1).

b. Timothy, a beloved son of Paul (2Tim. 1:2-8).

c. the gospel of God (2Tim. 1:9-10).

d. our responsibility for the gospel (2Tim. 10-18).

2. Suffering for the faith

a. the passing on of the truth (2Tim. 2:1-2).

b. the first metaphor: good soldiers who commit themselves (2Tim. 2:3-4).

c. the second metaphor: competitors who obey the rules (2Tim. 2:5).

d. the third metaphor: the hardworking farmer (2Tim. 2:6).

e. the way to have understanding (2Tim. 2:7).

f. pain brings in blessing (2Tim. 2:8-13).

g. the forth metaphor: a worker who does not need to be ashamed (2Tim. 2:14-19).

h. the fifth metaphor: the cleansed vessels (2Tim. 2:20-22).

i. the sixth metaphor: workers of the Lord (2Tim. 2:23-26).

3. Holding fast to the faith

a. facing the perilous days (2Tim. 3:1-2a).

b. the description of wicked ones (2Tim. 3:2b-9).

c. standing fast in the faith (2Tim. 3:10-15a).

d. the source and purpose of the Holy Scriptures (2Tim. 3:15b-17).

4. Preaching the word

a. the nature of the charging (2Tim. 4:2).

b. the basis of the charging (2Tim. 4:1, 3-8).

c. an explanation of the charging (2Tim. 9-22).

The Source of the Spiritual Power of Believers

1. The genuine faith (2Tim. 1:5).

2. The gift of the Holy Spirit (2Tim. 1:6).

3. The word of God (2Tim. 1:13; 3:17; 4:3-4).

4. The grace that is in Christ Jesus (2Tim. 2:1).

5. The separated life (2Tim. 2:4, 20-21).

6. The reliance upon the Lord’s faithfulness and power (2Tim. 2:13, 19).

7. Being assured of the Lord’s reward (2Tim. 4:7-8).

The Four Levels of the Falling of Believers Who Warped

1. Being ashamed of the testimony of our Lord (2Tim. 1:8).

2. Having strayed concerning the truth (2Tim. 2:18).

3. Resisting the truth (2Tim. 3:8).

4. Turning their ears away from the truth (2Tim. 4:4).

How to Deal with Heresies

1. Knowing and resisting those who preach heresies

a. charge them that they teach no other doctrine (1Tim. 1:3-4).

b. they depart from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith (1Tim. 1:5-10)

c. they have rejected a good conscience, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck (1Tim. 1:19-20).

d. they give heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons (1Tim. 4:1-3).

e. they suppose that godliness is a means of gain (1Tim. 6:3-10).

2. Avoiding and guarding against those who preach heresies

a. avoid contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge (1Tim. 6:20-21).

b. shun profane and idle babblings (2Tim. 2:16-18).

c. turn away from such people who have a form of godliness but denying its power (2Tim. 3:5-9).

d. beware of those who resist the faith (2Tim. 4:15).

3. Refuting and reproach those who preach heresies

a. teach others the sound doctrine and convict those who contradict (Tit. 1:9).

b. stop their mouth and rebuke them sharply (Tit. 1:10-14).

c. exhort and rebuke with all authority (Tit. 2:15).

d. admonish and reject division men (Tit. 3:9-11).

Those Who Stray from the Faith

1. Some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk (1Tim. 1:6).

2. Of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim. 1:20).

3. For some have already turned aside after Satan (1Tim. 5:15).

4. Some men's sins are clearly evident, but those of some men follow later (1Tim. 5:24).

5. Some have strayed from the faith in their greediness (1Tim. 6:10).

6. By professing it (contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge) some have strayed concerning the faith (1Tim. 6:21).

7. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth (2Tim. 2:17-18).

8. They subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not (Tit. 1:10-14).

9. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him (Tit. 1:16).

10. They who are opponents (Tit. 2:8).

11. They are divisive men who are self-condemned (Tit. 3:10-11).

The Qualifications for the Elders (the Overseers) and Deacons in the Church

1. Blameless: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6,7); deacons (1Tim. 3:10).

2. The husband of one wife: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6); deacons (1Tim. 3:12).

3. Temperate: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:7); deacons (1Tim. 3:8, 11).

4. Sober-minded: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8),

5. Of good behavior: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8); deacons (1Tim. 3:8, 11).

6. Hospitable: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).

7. Able to teach: the elders (1Tim. 3:2; 5:17; Tit. 1:9).

8. Not violent, but gentle: the elders (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).

9. Not quarrelsome: the elders (1Tim. 3:3).

10. Not greedy for money, not covetous: the elders (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 3:7); deacons (1Tim. 3:8).

11. Not given to wine: the elders (1Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7); deacons (1Tim. 3:8).

12. Ruling their own houses well: the elders (1Tim. 3:4); deacons (1Tim. 3:12).

13. Not a novice: the elders (1Tim. 3:6).

14. Having a good testimony among those who are outside: the elders (1Tim. 3:7).

15. Not double-tongued: deacons (1Tim. 3:8).

16. A pure conscience: deacons (1Tim. 3:9).

17. Be tested: deacons (1Tim. 3:10).

18. Not slanderers: deacons (1Tim. 3:11).

19. Faithful in all things: deacons (1Tim. 3:11).

20. Not self-willed: the elders (Tit. 1:7).

21. Not quick-tempered: the elders (Tit. 1:7).

22. A lover of what is good: the elders (Tit. 1:8).

23. Just, holy: the elders (Tit. 1:8).

24. Holding fast the faith: the elders (Tit. 1:9); deacons (1Tim. 3:9).

── Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible Commentary Series》

Translated by Sharon Ren