THE OPPOSITION
Read 2 Timothy 4:14-15.
There are some who reject the gospel. If you’ve shared Christ with people often, you know that it is not uncommon. But there are some who more than reject the gospel. There are some who oppose the gospel, some even vigorously (NAS). In Paul’s day, city riots took place in opposition to the gospel. When Paul was in Ephesus (where Timothy currently was when he received this letter), the metal workers (whom Alexander was no doubt a part of, and not to be confused with the Alexander of Acts 19:23) convinced a large number of people to riot against Paul’s traveling companions. The account says the whole city was in an uproar (see Acts 19:23-41). Why such vigorous opposition? The metalworkers made a business of creating and selling idols of the prominent Greek god Artemis. According to the account in Acts 19:
A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are not gods at all.” (Acts 19:24-26)
It is one thing to reject the gospel, but quite another to fiercely oppose it. When people actively attack the gospel and its messengers, there is usually a reason. In this case – and I will go out on a limb and say in nearly every case – it is because they are threatened of losing something in some way. For the metalworkers, their jobs depended on it. For others, perhaps their way of life is threatened. For still others, it may drive a wedge in a relationship. The gospel for some is such a threat that they must fight back or else lose what they have.
What is Paul’s advice to Timothy? He says to be on your guard. Protect yourself. Watch out. The command begs the question: What does it look like to protect oneself from the dangers of opposition? What would you do if someone told you to watch out for a particular person who was out to do you harm? How would you react if you saw this person? I think I might run away. Indeed, that is what Paul did when it came to the riot in Ephesus. But that may not be the only way to react. How would you react? Better yet, how will you react when you see opposition coming your way? As proclaimers of the gospel, that situation is inevitable.