"Is Paul Having a Pharisee Relapse?" (Sermon on 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18)

Today we come to the end of our series of readings from Paul’s letters to Timothy, and with that, to the end of Paul’s letters. For almost certainly, 2 Timothy is the last letter that Paul writes in his life--at least of the ones we have in the Bible. Paul is writing from his prison cell in Rome, during the persecution under Emperor Nero, and he is awaiting execution. Paul writes to his assistant Timothy, and as he comes to the end of this letter--and to the end of his life--Paul does a little reflecting, a little looking back. And a little looking forward, to what awaits him beyond this life.

But as we read what Paul writes, which we’ll get to in a moment, the question that comes to my mind, especially when reading this alongside today’s Gospel reading about the Pharisee and the Publican--the question I have to ask is, “Is Paul”--the former Pharisee, after all--“Is Paul Having a Pharisee Relapse?”

Let me explain. In the story of the Pharisee and the Publican, a parable Jesus told “to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous,” the Pharisee says: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” And of course Jesus means that this is not a good way to pray, that this would be a case of someone who does, wrongly, trust in his own righteousness. “I thank you that I am not like other men. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.”

Now compare that to what Paul says here in our text: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Sounds somewhat similar, doesn’t it? Citing a string of one’s own good works? Could it even be that Paul is citing his works as a basis for his salvation, because Paul does go on to say: “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day.”

So is Paul having a Pharisee relapse? And how should we regard this for our own lives? Is a little bit of Pharisaism alright to throw into the mix?

You know, Paul was a Pharisee as a young man. A very brilliant and zealous one, at that. Saul of Tarsus, top of his class, a Pharisee of Pharisees! Now, as an old man, is he reverting to his former ways, putting confidence in his own works? “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.”

Now I’m thinking you’re already anticipating the answer. No, of course not, Paul is not having a Pharisaic flashback. He’s not doing any boasting here. As Paul said in Galatians, “God forbid that I should boast in anything save the cross of Christ!” And now, at this late date, he is not suddenly changing his tune.

No, there is no Pharisaic self-righteousness here in this text. When Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” he follows that up by saying, “The Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed.” You see, it was the Lord who gave Paul the strength to do all that he did, and Paul rightly gives all glory to God.

And when Paul says, “Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day,” he is saying nothing more than what is the hope of every Christian: that we have waiting for us the victor’s crown of life that Christ won for us by his bloody crown of thorns. The righteousness of Christ, his perfect righteousness, given to us as a gift--this is our only hope on the Day of Judgment.

Listen, Paul says this very plainly. He says, “The Lord will rescue me--the Lord . . . will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” Again, it is the Lord who does the work and receives the glory. No Pharisaism here.

Nope, no way is Paul having a Pharisee relapse when he says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” So if that is the case, then how do we take these words of his? Friends, take them as an encouragement. That’s why Paul is writing these words to Timothy--and to us--to encourage us, to give us courage to carry on, in spite of whatever difficulties or persecution might lie ahead.

Paul is in prison. He’s about to be executed, martyred for the faith. But he wants Timothy to know that there is no need to fear such things. Don’t let fear stop you from fighting the good fight. Don’t let danger stop you from finishing the race. Don’t let persecution shake your grip on keeping the faith.

Instead, look at all the Lord will do for you: The Lord will stand by you and strengthen you to carry out your calling. The Lord will rescue you from every evil deed and bring you safely into his heavenly kingdom. The Lord will award to you the crown of righteousness he has laid up for you. All that the Lord has done, is doing, and will do for you far outweighs whatever the world can do to you.

Do you believe this? Yes. If there was any doubt, just look at what Christ Jesus did for you when he went to the cross, willingly suffering and dying in your place, to take away your sins. If God loves you that much, don’t you think he will do the rest? Of course he will. He will see you through the hard times, the trials and afflictions you will face. He will give you the strength and the endurance you need to reach the finish line.

That’s what Paul is saying here. He’s saying: What the Lord has done for me, he will do for you too. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns, he will award that crown of righteousness to me, but “not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”

So we see that Paul is by no means having a Pharisaic flashback. Far from trusting in his own righteousness, Paul would be the first to confess his utter unworthiness. “There dwelleth in me, that is, in my flesh, no good thing,” he says in Romans. And in 1 Timothy, Paul calls himself the “chief of sinners.” When it comes to salvation, righteousness, justification, Paul would beat his breast and say nothing more than the tax collector in the parable, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Yes, it is purely by the grace of God in Christ, his pure, unmerited favor, that any of us are saved. But that grace of God will then have its effect in our lives. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.” So it is for us. On the one hand, no matter how long we have been a Christian or how much good we’ve privileged to accomplished, our humble plea must always be, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” On the other hand, though, we don’t want to use that sinfulness as an excuse for not pressing on and working hard as a Christian. Paul didn’t do that, and neither should we. God does give us grace and strength for living the Christian life, so let us use it.

Is Paul having a Pharisee relapse? No, he’s having a fair and balanced realism. He’s realistic about our own righteousness: We have none. But he’s also realistic about the righteousness that God gives us in Christ: He has it all, Christ does, more than enough righteousness. Not only does he cover and cancel all your sins, the Lord will also stand by you in your trials, he will strengthen you for your calling, rescue you from all evil, bring you safely into his heavenly kingdom, and award to you the crown of righteousness. “To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 (ESV)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

You pose re Paul: “written by the greatest human who ever lived...”

ummm - There's room for some doubt on that one. Always has been - right from the beginning with the 12 Apostles Jesus handpicked and spent 3 years training. Paul had great disdain for them - and they, in turn, suspicion ed he was ‘the False Prophet’ Jesus warned of.

http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/maccoby2.htm

http://www.justgivemethetruth.com/paul_was_a_deceiver.htm

http://www.sullivan-county.com/id4/qumran.htm

In the ancient painting below, done when painters hid their message in symbols in their paintings, (to stay clear of burning) this painting tells the story of who was the real leader of the church after the cruxifiction - and is used as the cover of a book that every library should have, if they are searching for the truth.
http://www.nga.gov/fcgi-bin/timage_f?object=2.0&oimage=200&c=

book: the Brother of Jesus. by Butz

Thankfully, the Book of James, by a hairs breath, made the cut and was included in the Bible. It's a masterpiece - and as the leaderof the church after Jesus - NOT Peter - (Peter and John were James' counselors) he followed what Jesus taught...at odds with what Paul taught.

There is a plethora of books, treatises and articles written about the truth of Paul - for the past 2,000 yrs - and another one coming out in the spring - by Dr. James TAbor.
Those who are not afraid of the truth can read these writings too. If they are false, well, Jesus gives us the power of discernment - and the truth shall set you free.

May God Bless, in Jesus’ Name. - bye

hmmm - you claim that Paul is “the greatest human that ever lived...”

and in response to my remarks concerning James, one of the 12 men chosen as Apostles - personally - by Jesus who lived with and taught them “The Way” for at least 3 years - and who (James) was Jesus’s blood brother and became the leader of the church in Jerusalem until his death in 62 AD. - and I mention the book of James as having, fortunately and narrowly made the cut into the Bible, you say: “James was a sweetheart. However, by your faith you shall be known, not by your good works.”

Let's see. James says:
14] What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
[15] If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
[16] And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
[17] Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[18] Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
[19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
[20] But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”

Totally opposite from what Paul - not one of the original 12 Apostles, nor did he live with, travel with or get taught personally by Jesus - indeed - never set eyes on Jesus, well,
I tend to wonder if James might have had a better understanding of what Jesus taught.

Sorry, but there while there is agreement on who most of the twelve Apostles were, there is not total agreement in the synoptic gospels. As for Paul, he himself called his role Apostle to the Gentiles and gave Barnabas that title. Mark, though never included in the twelve is called the Apostle to Egypt. As for James, had the apostolic tradition been left in his hands it is likely that Christianity would never have moved very far from Jerusalem, and the movement would have died. Thanks to Paul, it would thrive. Finally, with faith comes good works, but the opposite is not necessarily true. If most often leads to self-righteousness.

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