2 Timothy Bible Study Resources

Study questions, maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study both Paul’s second epistle to Timothy.

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Jump to: Background; ** Maps; ** Key Words; ** Encyclopedias; ** Commentaries; ** Articles; ** GotQuestions ** Next **

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Basics

• 1Timothy, 2Timothy and Titus make up the “pastoral” epistles, letters written to individuals, not churches.
• Timothy’s father was Greek and his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois) where Jews (2 Tim 1:5).
• Paul converted Timothy when he was in Lystra (Acts 16:1-3) during his first missionary journey. Timothy traveled with Paul and was his scribe for 6 of Paul’s letters.
• Date: c. 62-64 AD, Paul wrote 2Timothy during his second Roman imprisonment.
• Purpose: Timothy remained in Ephesus to combat false teachers.

Structure

2 Timothy: Paul puts forth a series of models for Timothy’s learning and encouragement

• 1:1-7 Greeting
• 1:8-15 – Paul’s example
• 1:16-18 – Onesiphorus’s example
• 2:1-7 – Social examples (soldier, athlete, farmer)
• 2:8-13 – Jesus’ example
• 2:14-3:9 – Warnings against false teachers
• 3:10-4:8 – Instructions for Timothy’s future ministry
• 4:9-22 – Final greetings

Key Theme: suffering 1Ti 1:8; 1Ti 1:12; 1Ti 2:9; 1Ti 3:11-12; 1Ti 4:5.

Genre: Understanding Epistles

Section 1: Background

Background & Outlines

• Map of NT Churches
• Chronology of Paul
• Paul’s use of the Old Testament
• Blue Letter Bible: Chronology of Acts/Epistles
• Bible Atlas: Ephesus
• Blue Letter Bible: 2 Timothy Outline
• John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background – 2 Timothy
• NIV: 2 Timothy Introductory Notes
• ESV: Introduction to 2Timothy
• ESV: The Global Message of 2Timothy
• 2 Timothy: Introductory Notes  – Charles Swindoll
• 2 Timothy Introduction – James Van Dine
• Key to 2 Timothy – William Orr
• Second Timothy – James Gray
• 2 Timothy – Myer Pearlman
• Introduction to 2 Timothy: Come Before Winter – Wil Pounds
• 2 Timothy: Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
• Introduction to 2 Timothy – Henry Morris 
• 2 Timothy Outline and Introduction – J Vernon McGee
• 2 Timothy: How Not to Collapse – Ray Stedman

Section 2: Maps

Maps from Bible-History.com

• New Testament World
• Paul’s 1st Journey
• Paul’s 2nd Journey
• Paul’s 3rd Journey
• Israel in NT Times
• Kingdom of Herod the Great
• New Testament Cities – Once there click on specific area

Maps from Studylight.org

• Paul’s First Missionary Journey
• Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
• Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
• Paul’s Arrest and Imprisonment
• Paul’s Voyage to Rome

Indubiblia.org

• Roman Division of Palestine
• Paul’s Missionary Journeys
• Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity
• Israel and the Middle East today 

Section 3: Key Words

Key Words

• Jesus (12x) in 2Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:9; 2Ti 1:10; 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 2:1; 2Ti 2:3; 2Ti 2:8; 2Ti 2:10; 2Ti 3:12; 2Ti 3:15; 2Ti 4:1.
• Lord (14x) – Strong’s G2962 in 2Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:8; 2Ti 1:16; 2Ti 1:18; 2Ti 2:7; 2Ti 2:19; 2Ti 2:22; 2Ti 2:24; 2Ti 3:11; 2Ti 4:8; 2Ti 4:14; 2Ti 4:17; 2Ti 4:18; 2Ti 4:22.
• Christ (12x) – Strong’s G5547 in 2Ti 1:1; 2Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:9; 2Ti 1:10; 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 2:1; 2Ti 2:3; 2Ti 2:8; 2Ti 2:10; 2Ti 3:12; 2Ti 3:15; 2Ti 4:1.
• faith (8x) – Strongs G4102in 2Ti 1:5; 2Ti 1:13; 2Ti 2:18; 2Ti 2:22; 2Ti 3:8; 2Ti 3:10; 2Ti 3:15; 2Ti 4:7.
• endure (4x) – Strong’s G5278 in2Ti 2:10; 2Ti 2:12; Strong’s G430 in 2Ti 4:3; Strong’s G2553 in 2Ti 4:5; endured (1x) – Strong’s G5297 in 2Ti 3:11.
• not ashamed (4x) – Strong’s G1870 in 2Ti 1:8; 2Ti 1:12; 2Ti 1:16; Strong’s G 422 in 2Ti 2:15.
• gospel (3x) – Strong’s 6209 in 2Ti 1:8; 2Ti 1:10; 2Ti 2:8.
• word (3x) – Strong’s 3056 in 2Ti 2:9; 2Ti 2:15; 2Ti 4:2.
• teaching (3x) – Strong’s G1319 in 2Ti 3:10; 2Ti 3:16; Strong’s G3056 in 2Ti 4:15.
• suffer (3x) – Strong’s G3958 in 2Ti 1:12; Strong’s G4777 in 2Ti 2:3; Strong’s G2553 in 2Ti 2:9;  sufferings – Strong’s G3804 in 2Ti 3:11.
• righteousness (3x) – Strong’s G1343 in 2Ti 2:22; 2Ti 3:16; 2Ti 4:8.
• mercy (3x) – Strong’s G1656 in 2Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:16; 2Ti 1:18.
• persecutions (2x) – Strong’s 61375 in 2Ti 3:11.

Section 5: Commentaries

Commentaries & Study Bibles

• Top 5 Commentaries on Pastoral Epistles (1&2 Timothy, Titus) – Ligonier.org
• Best Commentaries on Pastoral Epistles – Tim Challies
• Commentary Reviews: Pastoral Epistles
• Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: 2 Timothy
• Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: 2 Timothy
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: 2 Timothy
• Alfords Exegetical Commentary: 2 Timothy
• Geneva Study Bible: 2 Timothy
• Reformation Study Bible Notes 2 Timothy
• Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: 2 Timothy

Section 4: Encyclopedias

Dictionaries & Encyclopedias

Paul

• Paul, the Apostle – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
• Paul – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Paul, the Apostle – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Paul – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Paul, the Apostle – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Paul- Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Timothy

• Timothy – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Timothy – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Timothy – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Timothy – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Timothy in Acts: Acts 16:1-3; Acts 17:14-15; Acts 18:5; Acts 19:22; Acts 20:4
• American Tract Society Timothy
• Bridgeway Bible Dictionary Timothy
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary Timothy
• Fausset Bible Dictionary Timothy
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the NT Timothy
• Morrish Bible Dictionary Timotheus, Timothy
• Hawker’s Poor Man’s Dictionary Timothy
• People’s Dictionary of the Bible Timothy
• Whyte’s Bible Characters Timothy as a child Timothy as a young minister
• Webster Dictionary Timothy
• Bob Utley – Timothy

Letters

• 1&2 Timothy, Theology of – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
• Timothy & Titus, Epistles to – Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament
• Timothy,  1st Epistle to – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Timothy,  2nd Epistle to – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Timothy, Epistles to – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Pastoral Epistles to – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Timothy, Epistles to – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Fausset Bible Dictionary Timothy, the Second Epistle to
• Holman Bible Dictionary – 2 Timothy
• Easton’s Bible Dictionary Timothy, Second Epistle to
• Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible Timothy, Epistles to
• Morrish Bible Dictionary Timothy, Epistles to
• Smith Bible Dictionary Timothy, Epistles of Paul to
• International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Timothy, Epistles to
• McClintock and Strong’s Bible Encyclopedia Timothy, Second Epistle

City of Ephesus

• Ephesus – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Ephesus – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Ephesus – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
• Ephesus – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Ephesus – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

Rome

• Rome – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
• Rome and the Roman Empire – Holman Bible Dictionary

Tychicus

• Tychicus – Holman Bible Dictionary
• Tychicus – Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
• Tychicus – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
• Tychicus – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
• Tychicus in NT: Acts 20:4, Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 4:7; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12

Section 6: Articles

Articles

• Dwight Edwards: 2Timothy – Call to Completion (scroll down)
• Donald Guthrie: The Pastoral Epistles and the Mind of Paul
• P Harding: The Word of God in 2 Timothy
• EK Simpson: The Pastoral Epistles

Section 7: Got Questions

GotQuestions.org

•  Book of 2 Timothy – Bible Survey
• Who were Lois and Eunice in the Bible?
• What does the Bible say about fear?
• Why is sound doctrine so important?
• Who was Onesiphorus in the Bible?
• What is the proper way to study the Bible?
• What is the seal of God?
• Who were Jannes and Jambres?
• What does it mean to have a reprobate mind?
• What does the Bible say about perseverance?
• How should a Christian respond to persecution?
• What does the Bible say about self-deception?
• What does it mean that the Bible is inspired?
• What does it mean that the Bible is God-breathed?
• What are the different theories of biblical inspiration?
• What does it mean to preach the Word?
• What does it mean to endure hardship?
• What does 2 Timothy 4:3 mean by itching ears?
• What is a drink offering?
• What did Paul mean when he said he had fought the good fight?
• What did Paul mean when he said he had finished the race?
• What did Paul mean when he said he had kept the faith?
• Who was Demas in the Bible?
• Who was John Mark in the Bible?
• Who was Tychicus in the Bible? 
• Who was Alexander the coppersmith in the Bible?

Bible Study Helps

• Bible Study 101
• Interpreting Epistles
• Study Software & websites
• More Maps & Charts
• Greek Word Studies by Precepts Austin
• Books on how to study the Bible

Section 8: Next

Next: Titus

Previous: 1Timothy

Series: Resources by Book

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