Second Timothy encourages pastors to guard, entrust, suffer for, and above all, preach the gospel. Yet it is also full of encouragement for Christians living in a hostile world. Like Timothy, we need reminding that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." We need to "be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" and confident in the Scriptures, which are "given by inspiration of God." And we need to hope in Christ's return, when He will award the crown of righteousness "to all who have loved His appearing." Michael G. Brown's exposition of 2 Timothy is not only Christ-centered, redemptive-historical, and gospel focused, but also packed with pastoral and practical application.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Courageous for the Gospel (1:1-6)
Chapter 2: A Spirit of Power, Love, and Self Control (1:7)
Chapter 3: A Gospel Worth Suffering For (1:8-12)
Chapter 4: Follow the Pattern of Sound Words (1:13-18)
Chapter 5: Wanted: Soldiers, Athletes, and Farmers (2:1-7)
Chapter 6: Your Best Life Later (2:8-13)
Chapter 7: A Workman for the Gospel (2:14-19)
Chapter 8: Vessels of Honor (2:20-26)
Chapter 9: Difficulty in the Last Days (3:1-9)
Chapter 10: Sola Scriptura (3:10-17)
Chapter 11: Preach the Word (4:1-5)
Chapter 12: Finishing Well (4:6-8)
Chapter 13: Safely into His Heavenly Kingdom (4:9-22)
About the Author :
Michael Brown serves as pastor of Chiesa Riformata Filadelfia in Milan, Italy, and an ordained minister in the United Reformed Churches in North America. Before being called as a foreign missionary, he planted Christ United Reformed Church in Santee, California, where he served as pastor for fifteen years. He and his wife Janie have four children and one grandchild. He has written and contributed to several books, including Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored.
Joel R. Beeke (PhD, Westminster Seminary) is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary; a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan; editor of Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth; editorial director of Reformation Heritage Books; and a prolific author.
Jon D. Payne (MTh, New College, University of Edinburgh; DMin, Reformed Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of Christ Church (PCA) in Charleston, South Carolina, executive coordinator of the Gospel Reformation Network, and trustee with the Banner of Truth Trust.
Review :
"Second Timothy is the apostle Paul's last letter, which he wrote to his younger colleague Timothy, and it brims with pastoral advice that finds its foundation and fuel in the grace of the gospel. Pastor Michael Brown immerses the reader in Paul's letter with care, compassion, and conviction as he expertly explains the text. Pastor Brown leads readers to the living waters of grace found only in Christ, which quench thirst and empower believers to embody the gospel in their daily lives." --J. V. Fesko, Harriet Barbour Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi
"As the history of preaching is unfolded, it becomes clear how important the orderly, systematic preaching through the Scriptures has been and why it has been a favorite homiletic approach over the centuries. One is surprised to discover how many of history's great preachers made a regular practice of preaching through one book of the Bible after another. Origen, the first Christian preacher from whom we have any sizable collection of sermons, preached most of his sermons on the lectio continua. We find the same with John Chrysostom, who is usually referred to as the greatest Christian preacher. We find the same true of Augustine as well. At the time of the Protestant Reformation, Zwingli, Calvin, Bucer, and Knox followed this system regularly, and they passed it on to the Puritans. Today, we see a real revival of lectio continua preaching. The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament represents a wonderful opportunity for the church to recover a truly expository pulpit." -- Hughes Oliphant Old, formerly John H. Leith Professor of Reformed Theology and Worship at Erskine Theological Seminary, author of The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church (7 vols., Eerdmans, 2007)
"The concept behind this series is a fascinating one, and, given the list of authors, I am confident that the final product will not disappoint. This promises to be a great resource for churches seeking to know the Word of God more fully." -- Carl R. Trueman, professor of biblical and religious studies, Groves City College
"There are so many fine commentaries available today, but it's great to have a reliable author you can turn to for solid Reformed reflections on Scripture. In this case, there are sixteen of them--friends and fellow shepherds who have given me great insight into God's Word over the years. I'm looking forward eagerly to each one of these sermonic commentaries!" -- Michael S. Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology at Westminster Seminary California, host of the White Horse Inn radio show, editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine
"Those of us who have promoted and practiced lectio continua expository preaching through the years eagerly await the volumes announced in The Lectio Continua Expository Commentary on the New Testament. We are equally eager to read such a series written by pastors who have practiced the method in their churches. The international and interdenominational character of the series will only add to the richness of its insights." -- T. David Gordon, professor of religion and Greek at Grove City College, author of Why Johnny Can't Preach (P&R, 2009)
