Bible Journaling: 2 Timothy

In this final letter from Paul, we find a more personal glimpse into who he was a person. What can you identify about Paul from this letter that we have not seen in the others?

For a broader view of this book of the Bible, we encourage you to watch this video:

Bible journaling tip: 

Most people say Bible journaling as a solo sport, yet there is very few things that God created that is meant to be enjoyed alone. God created people to exist within community, and He also desired to be worshiped in community. How can you invite someone into your Bible journaling this week? How can you share what you have created with someone you know to bless them?

LOOK UP(information): encounter God through the Scripture 

Author:

If you have a hard time grasping Paul’s letters, you are not alone. In 2 Peter 3:16, even Peter says Paul is hard to understand! Name some of the controversial topics that Paul speaks about in his letters. Why do you think it is important that the Bible speaks about these things?

Audience:

Timothy is the intended recipient of this personal letter. Can you list the letters to the churches and distinguish them from the personal letters in the New Testament? How should we read these differently?

History:

Imagine this: You have a good friend who is imprisoned and it is all over the media. You believe your friend is innocent, but you feel helpless about what you could do to help - still you pray for them and think about them a lot. One day, you receive a letter from your friend. They are asking you to visit them at the prison. You can imagine how dangerous that will be, what people will think, and who might hurt you when they find out about it…  

That is what Timothy was feeling as he was reading this letter! 

Genre:

This is Paul’s final letter and it was written from a Roman prison. It is sad to see in this letter that Paul is inviting Timothy to come quickly so that he can see him before his trial is over since he says “I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.” Notice the eternal perspective that Paul has and how he fixes his eyes on Jesus, even when faced with death.

LOOK IN(revelation): contemplate / reflect on our own lives

Key verse:

2 Timothy 4:2 NIV

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.

Inspiration:

If you wonder how you can preach the word if you are not a preacher, the answer is simple: it’s your lifestyle! We are preaching something to the world through what we do, what we say, what we wear, where we go, where we live, who we spend time with, and so much more. How can you correct with patience? How can you rebuke carefully? How can you encourage, but with instruction?

LOOK OUT(transformation): respond with creative worship action  

Drawing prompt:

In chapter 2, Paul gives 3 examples of what it’s like to follow Jesus: a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Draw or paint a picture of each example and write next to it how Paul describes this type of work as similar to being a follower of Jesus. Can you think of more ways that these roles have the same challenges that you have faced in your personal walk with Jesus?

Bible Journey with HolyJot:

Here are some questions / prompts provided by the HolyJot community. 

• Can you describe the great principle of teaching stated in verse two? (II Timothy 2:2)
• Those who serve God are to avoid what type of entanglements? (II Timothy 2:4)
• What is awarded to the one who keeps the rules of the contest? (II Timothy 2:5)

Follow this link to dive into this book with an online Bible Study group.

Writing prompt:

For today’s writing prompt, we are going to think back on when we first found faith. Were you a child when you first heard the Good News? Or, who is the person who told you about Jesus? Do you still have a way to contact or find the people who taught you about the Gospel?

In 2 Timothy, Paul starts off by thanking Timothy’s mother and grandmother for teaching Timothy the way of the Lord. Today we are going to write a letter to a person who strengthened or encouraged our faith in Jesus when it was in seed form, thanking them for this important role that they played in our lives. Try to remember a specific thing that they taught you - a song or a story or a prayer and talk about that in the letter.

Prayer:

God, I want to thank you for the book of 2 Timothy. Thank you for all of Paul’s letters that I have access to and that all of Scripture is breathed over by the Holy Spirit. Let my response to this text be worship unto you!