The Yale expositor., 1909-12-10
PAUL'S LAST
WORDS
Sunday School Lesson for Dec. II, 1909
Specially Arranged for This Paper


PauI's battlefields. victories and
crown.
/. A Picture of One OF Paul's Battle
fields-Vs. 1-5. The advice which Paul
urges upon the younger Timothy was
counsel he himself had often acted
upon. He knew 1t was good, for he
had tried it. So that in the evils and
difficlties which Paul knew were con-
fronting Timothy, we may see enc
mics which Paul had been compelled
to meet. And in the weapons and
methods Of warfare Paul charged Tim
othy to use, we see the means by
which Paul gained the victory.
The Three Kinds of Enemies. /.
Paul, like other men, had to fight enc
mics within himself. When we see a
good man we are apt to think that he
has natural qualities of goodness, or
favoring circumstances that make II
easy for him to be good
2. Paul had many outward enemies
and difficulties with which to contend.
Many of them were brought before us
in Lesson VIII. where we studied his
account of his life. His wrestling
was against the principalities, against
the powers, against the world rulers
of this darkness, against the spiritual
hosts OF wickedness."
3. In the lesson to-day we find a
series of dangers and enemies within
the company of disciples which must
be overcome.
3. For the time win come when
they will not endure the sound,
healthful, saving doctrine" teaching
which Paul had preached, and all the
apostles.
4. They shall turn away their ears
from the truth" They are well pic
tured in Southey's poem, THE Inch
cape Rock" The holy abbot of Aber-
brothock' had placed bell over this
rock, in such way that it was rung
by the motion of the waves.
II. How Paul Overcame These Enc
mics to- the Truth-Vs. I, 2, 5. Paul
gave t0 Timothy the most solemn
charge, using the motives which had
Influenced his own life.
/. Before God, that is, In the sight
of Cod" r. ", who, was always with
him and watching to see If he did his
duty" watching, not TO find fault, but
to encourage and help.
And the Lord Jesus Christ His Mas
ter and Teacher and Friend. Who
shall Judge the quick, the living and
the dead. This was more than the
consciousness that he himself must be
Judged according to what he was and
what he did; but it added the even
stronger motive that the fate of those
to whom he preached depended on his
faithfulness.
The coming again of Christ At his,
appearing and his kingdom Christs
glorious second coming, possible at
any time. should spur Timothy to be a
faithful steward, and he should de his
work well because 1t would help to-
establish Chrfst's rule on earth, hts
kingdom of peace and righteousness
Preach, proclaim like a herald, the
word, the gospel message, the Word of
God, embodied I'm the life and teach
ings of the Word who was made flesh.
Be instant, urgent, importunate,
pressing on against all obstacles. In
season, in the regular course of work.
when the opportunity is favorable.
and people wish to hear the gospel,
III. Paul's Victory in the Conflict
VS.. 6, Z, 8. For am now ready to
be offered" r. VS. margin, Il am
already being poured out as a drink
Offering" His life was wearing away
in a foul dungeon, the infirmities of
age after life of great toll and ex-
posture were upon him, and at any
time the sword of Nero might end
his life by martyrs death. But this
was merely death; his dying was a
libation in honor of God. a willing
sacrifice of sweet SAVIOR, holy and ac-
ceptable. 1t was the giving to God
the choicest and most precious of all
his possession. 1t was the fitting
close of life which had been for
years living sacrifice. Paul's very
death was victory.
w. Pauls Crown.-v. 8. Hence
forth" Paul's life struggles were
over; there remained only to receive
the reward. There Is laid up for
me-" Deposited, reserved, put by in
store out of the reach of all enemies
and sorrows. bishop Wilson. A
r. v. "the" Grown of righteousness. %
The leaf garland of the Grecian games.
taken by Paul as a symbol of his
eternal reward In heaven. OF right
eousness is the name of the race for
which the crown is awarded, just as
Pindar wrote: "Pytheas, broad-shoul-
dered son of Lampo. won the crown
of the double contest wrestling and
boxing) at the Nemean games" IL
is crown that marks the wearer
as righteous before God" (Hervey). II
is a crown that a righteous God be.
slows on one who has become worthy
of It.
A crown Is a symbol, sign, an en-
blem. Men seek a crown not for its
value in gold and jewels, but for the
things for which II stands. 1t means
worthines to wear It. It means sue