1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
The first five verses of chapter 4 are a charge to Timothy to “preach the word.” If he followed this challenge, he would receive an eternal reward. The nature of biblical inspiration (2 Tim 3:14-17) should challenge preachers to “preach the Word” (2 Tim 4:2).
1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
With his charge, Paul motivated Timothy to prioritize his most crucial role as a minister. This charge was more than good advice. He must give account for his ministry at the Judgment Seat of Christ. He will give account in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The seriousness of this charge is apparent because Paul invoked the presence of God, His future judgment, whether the preacher preached the Word, and the Lord’s coming and establishing His kingdom.
who will judge the living and the dead
There will come a future day when God evaluates those who serve Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Co 5:10). No one will escape the penetrating examination of an all-knowing God.
at His appearing and His kingdom:
The “appearing” of Christ is His coming at the Rapture. The “kingdom” is His millennial reign for one thousand years on earth.
PRINCIPLE:
A preacher’s ultimate accountability is to God.
APPLICATION:
One day, every preacher will stand in God’s presence to evaluate whether he was faithful to the written Word of God. His ultimate evaluation is not by his congregation but by God. Every pastor should live his life with his ultimate assessment in view.
