“preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV).
Two sources offer several compelling insights on the subject of “preaching the word” from this passage…
“Timothy is to preach the Word. The word ‘Word’ here refers to the whole body of revealed truth, as will be seen by comparing this passage with 1Th_1:6 and Gal_6:6. The preacher must present, not book reviews, not politics, not economics, not current topics of the day, not a philosophy of life denying the Bible and based upon unproven theories of science, but the Word. The preacher as a herald cannot choose his message. He is given a message to proclaim by his Sovereign. If he will not proclaim that, let him step down from his exalted position.” (1)
“Where are those who today declare the whole counsel of God? Paul warned that in the last days, people would not endure sound doctrine, but look for teachers who would tell them what they want to hear – teachers who will scratch their itching ears (2 Timothy 4:3) Many preachers today simply use a Bible text as a launching pad, and then get on to say what they want to say – what the people want to hear. Others throw in Bible quotations to illustrate their points, or to illustrate their stories! But who will simply let the Bible speak for itself and let it declare its own power?
…The preacher who preaches what his audience wants to hear, and not the whole counsel of God, hurts both his audience and himself! We also must demand that we are being taught the whole counsel of God; not just interesting topics, not just what we want to hear, not just the things that will grab people, but what God says to all of our lives.” (2)
The following Biblical verses also serve to reinforce these admonitions…
“Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are your servants for his sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5 GW).
“We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28 HCSB).
Because of this, we should be wary of sermons that revolve around a speaker’s opinion or preferred doctrine. While every sermon reflects the minister to some extent, we should be alert to those who promote their views or interests at the expense of the Scriptures. Those who do so neglect to “preach the word“ as we read here in 2 Timothy 4:2.
(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [note on 2 Timothy 4:2] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
(2) Guzik, Dave, Acts 20 – Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders, https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/archives/guzik_david/StudyGuide_Act/Act_20.cfm