The place of 2 Timothy in the epistles of Paul is exhibited in the

articles entitled Chronology of the Acts and Epistles1; Ephesians1; and

Dispensation1.  Let us here consider the epistle as a whole and discover its

literary structure.  In conformity with the writer's practice, the epistle

opens and closes with salutations and personal references.  The introductory

note extends from verse 1 to verse 7, while the salutation follows the Amen

of 4:18.  The subject matter of the epistle proper is therefore contained

between 1:8 and 4:18.  We read through the first chapter and are struck with

the two themes there sounded; a sad one because Paul and his message seem

largely to be forsaken; a jubilant one because, even though all in Asia leave

him (1:15) he was not ashamed for he knew Whom he had believed.  The apostle

also reaffirms his threefold office: `Whereunto I am appointed a preacher,

and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles' (1:11).  We note that the word

`preacher' is actually `herald' (Greek, kerux).

With these few scattered thoughts in mind, we glance

at the close of the epistle.  This seems to commence somewhere about 4:9,

where the apostle leaves the subject of his martyrdom and crown, for more

immediate matters.  We only read one verse before we find again the same sad

theme as in chapter 1: Paul and his message forsaken: `Demas hath forsaken

me' (4:10).  We remember also that two are named in chapter 1 as samples of

those who turned away from Paul: `Phygellus and Hermogenes' (1:15).

So, too, we discover a recurrence of the same jubilant note as is

struck in chapter 1: `not withstanding the Lord stood with me' (4:17), and

that the word `preaching' in verse 17 is kerugma `heralding'.  We also notice

that just as the apostle says concerning Alexander who did him much evil `The

Lord reward him according to his works' (4:14), so in chapter 1 he says,

concerning Onesiphorus, `The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of

the Lord in that day' (1:18).  From these facts it is very evident that 1:8 -

18 balances 4:9 -18.

Let us now turn our attention to the remainder of the epistle.  Chapter

2 opens with a strong insistence upon the distinctive teaching of the

apostle: `the things that thou hast heard of me ... the same commit ...'

(2:2).  Our minds go instinctively to the parallel in the third chapter.

`Thou hast fully followed my doctrine ... afflictions, which came unto me at

Antioch' (3:10,11).  Moreover, we perceive that the outstanding teaching of

chapter 2 has to do with suffering and reigning, a good soldier and a crown.

In chapters 3 and 4 we have the same emphasis.  In both passages we have the

word kakopatheo, suffer evil (2:3,9; 4:5 in the Received Text).  In both the

`crown' (2:5; 4:8) and in both either a `good' (kalos) soldier, or a `good'

(kalos) fight (2:3; 4:7).  There is enough here to make us feel sure that

these correspondences are intentional.  This leaves the second half of

chapter 2, and the opening half of chapter 3, to complete the epistle.  We

note in 2:15 the word `approved' (dokimos), which is found in negative form

in 3:8, `reprobate' (adokimos).  This is encouraging as it forms the first

link between these remaining passages.  We further note that Hymenaeus and

Philetus err concerning the truth, while Jannes and Jambres are given as

examples of those who resisted the truth (2:17,18; 3:8).  The rather alarming

statement: `they will increase unto more ungodliness' (2:16) is tempered by

the words `they shall proceed no further' (3:9).