Preach the Word

A Pauline Theology of Preaching Based on 2 Timothy 4:1–5

Stephen Oliver Stout

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN:
  9781625648990
• eBook ISBN:
  9781498270861
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

At some time or another, every preacher has entered the pulpit wondering "What shall I preach?" This study finds the answer in the preaching charge of 2 Timothy 4:1-5 summarized in the command, "Preach the Word!" In this careful examination of the preaching ministry of Paul as recorded in his letters and sermons in the book of Acts, a Pauline theology of preaching emerges. What this work discovers is that the governing activity of the ministry of the Apostle Paul is the verbal proclamation of the gospel of Christ. All other activities in his ministry are subservient to this overriding concern, and they find meaning only if preaching is primary. That being the case, this book takes seriously the words of Paul when he encourages future preachers to follow his teaching, conduct, and purpose (2 Tim 3:10), offering Paul as the model for the Christian preacher. As readers will discover, anyone who desires to preach biblically should seek to preach like Paul, and the way to do that is to "Preach the Word!"

chapter 1

The Preacher’s Commission: “I Solemnly Charge You”

Who Commissioned You to Preach?

“I solemnly charge you: . . . Preach!” So reads Paul’s terse commission to Timothy in the closing chapter of what has traditionally been considered the last epistle of the apostle (2 Tim 4:1–2),1 as the aging evangelist impresses upon his disciple Timothy what is most important in the gospel ministry—preaching. This commission is emphasized not only by the imperative mode of the following verbs telling Timothy how to preach (“Be ready! Reprove! Rebuke! Exhort!”), but also by the solemn adjuration implied in the verb, diamarturomai.2

Paul’s commission to Timothy raises the immediate question of the authority of preaching, which is perhaps the most important consideration pertaining to the public proclamation of the gospel. Who or what gives the preacher the right to tell others what to believe and how to think? Is it not the height of presumption for a mortal man to explain the immortal God to another?3 No preacher can be effective unless he is assured of a legitimate commission to preach, that his authority comes from one who is empowered to delegate it.

For example, who is Paul to commission Timothy, or any other believer, for that matter? This command to preach is not isolated; the Pastoral Epistles are replete with examples of Paul commanding other preachers to teach various doctrines,4 even adjuring his readers by using the same verb diamarturomai.5 Luke also uses this same verb to show the solemn authority that marked the preaching of the early church.6 Clearly, the gospel is intended to be a message of authority, but who gives the preacher the authoritative right to the message?

Commission from Jesus

The answer is found in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who by virtue of His death and resurrection has been granted the Name above every name, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil 2:9–11). Only by coming under the sovereignty of Jesus over all is a person enabled to speak by the authority of His Lordship. Thus, surrender to Jesus as Lord is the beginning point of the commissioning of the preacher.

It is quite evident that Jesus intended to extend His authority to delegated spokesmen; in fact, He gives His preachers His very own authority when He states, “He who hears you, hears me” (Luke 10:16). This promise is astounding, because it displays the fact that when the gospel is faithfully preached, the Lord Himself speaks through His messenger, as Paul notes in 2 Cor 5:20, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us.”

Thus, the preacher derives his authority to preach on the basis that the Lord Jesus orders the propagation of His message. Peter states, “Jesus ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify (diamarturomai) that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead” (Acts 10:42). The parallel between this statement and Paul’s charge in 2 Tim 4:1 is unmistakable, as both verses show the delegation of authority that has been passed from Jesus to His apostles and then on to the next generation of preachers. Likewise, the chain of command continues as the Lord appoints other men to preach the Word by apostolic commissioning under the supervision of the Word and the eldership (presbuteroi; 1 Tim 4:14).

Commission of Paul

It is important to note that Paul’s authority is apostolic, meaning that he speaks as one sent by another authority to deliver the message verbatim.7 Paul never tires of reminding his readers of his own commission to preach the gospel: the appearance of the risen Christ to him on the Damascus Road was not only a call to salvation, but also a call to preach. For that matter, one is hard pressed to find Paul making a distinction between saving grace and appointing grace.8 Paul was approved to be entrusted (episteuthen) with the gospel (1 Tim 1:11) by divine appointment (tithēmi, 1 Tim 2:7), and it is from this personal commissioning by the resurrected Lord that Paul derives his commission as one legitimately sent as an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Commission by Appointment

Paul’s apostolic call illustrates the principle stated in Heb 5:4, “No one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.” The concept of a divine call is not only biblical—it is essential, as Christ called the Twelve “as He desired” (Mark 3:13), and as the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). Such a call comes by the sovereign summons of the Triune God.

Paul expresses his belief in this divine call repeatedly, stating that it was “God who set (ethetō) in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers” (1 Cor 12:28). Paul also claims that it was God (the Father) who “gave (didōmi) us the ministry of reconciliation and . . . has committed (tithēi) to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18–19), and he reminds the Ephesian elders that it was “the Holy Spirit who made (tithēi) overseers” (Acts 20:28). In addition, Paul is ever mindful of his own divine appointment, for he gives thanks to “Christ Jesus our Lord who . . . considered me faithful, putting (tithēmi) me into service” (1 Tim 1:12).9

Another interesting concept used to convey divine appointment is found in the risen Lord’s explanation to Paul at his conversion, “For this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint (procheirizō) you a minister and a witness” (Acts 26:16). This verb procheirizō etymologically means “to lay hands on beforehand,” thus showing the personal apprehension of Paul by the risen Lord in order to place him into a specific ministry.10 In like manner, a minister ought to have such a strong conviction that his vocation (or “calling,” as the word means11) has been appointed by God. No one should cavalierly presume he has been appointed to the ministry without this deep sense of divine appointment.

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Table of contents

• Title Page
• Note on Style
• Dedication and Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Foreword
• Introduction
• Chapter 1: The Preacher’s Commission: “I Solemnly Charge You”
• Chapter 2: The Preacher’s Reason: “The Presence of God and of Christ Jesus”
• Chapter 3: The Preacher’s Content: “The Word”
• Chapter 4: The Preacher’s Activity: “Preach, . . . Reprove, Rebuke, Exhort!”
• Chapter 5: The Preacher’s Motives: “Be Ready!”
• Chapter 6: The Preacher’s Setting: “In Season, Out Of Season”
• Chapter 7: The Preacher’s Delivery: “Exhort in All Patience”
• Chapter 8: The Preacher’s Structure: “Exhort . . . In All Doctrine”
• Chapter 9: The Preacher’s Audience
• Chapter 10: The Preacher’s Character: “But As For You”
• Chapter 11: The Preacher’s Manner: “Be Sober In All”
• Chapter 12: The Preacher’s Hardship: “Endure Hardship”
• Chapter 13: The Preacher’s Work: “Do Work”
• Chapter 14: The Preacher’s Offices: “Do the Work of an Evangelist”
• Chapter 15: The Preacher’s Dynamic: “Fulfill Your Ministry!”
• Chapter 16: The Preacher’s Ministry: “Your Ministry”
• Chapter 17: Conclusions and Applications
• Bibliography