2 Timothy 4:1

2 Timothy 4:1

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

a. NLT: I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom:

b. NIV: In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:

c. Young’s Literal Translation: I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign --

d. Amplified Bible: I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom:

1. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ…”

a. charge [1263 * diamarturomai] [Zodhiates: To bear witness, testify earnestly or repeatedly, or to charge as it were before witnesses, to affirm.

1). The word “charge” is used many times in the Old Testament in connection with the commandments of God. It is never used lightly. One can do a word search of it and be struck by the heaviness associated with it.

a). 1 Kings 2:1-3 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying,

2:2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thy self a man;

2:3 And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whitherso ever thou turnest thyself.

b). Numbers 27:18-23 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, an man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

27:19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.

27:20 And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.

27:21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of the Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

27:22 And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:

27:23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

b. therefore [3767 * oun][Thayer: a conjunction indicating that something follows from another necessarily; [al. regard the primary force of the particle as confirmatory and continuative…] [Strong:  apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.]

1). The charge is being given to Timothy by Paul in light of what Paul wrote in the previous verses, in particular what he wrote concerning the inspiration and authority of the Scripture. It is paramount for the true and faithful believer to position the word of God as the final authority in his life. God and the Lord Jesus Christ are witnesses to Paul’s charge of Timothy.

2. “…who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.”

a.       There are two general judgments mentioned here, that incorporate all the judgments. The first at his appearing, i.e., the second coming, and the second during his Kingdom.

1). Matthew 25:14-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Jude 15; Revelation 20:4-6;

b.      2 Timothy 4:1 is a lead up to verse 2. Paul is saying here that in light of the charge or commandment of God, and the fact that Jesus Christ will be the judge of our obedience to that charge, then he speaks verse 2. “Preach the word!”