I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
As children we would “pinky swear” to do something or keep a secret. It was as good as a covenant. You did not dare violate it. Paul here double dog dares Timothy to pinky swear to follow this command. Preach the word. In this instance and in most other references to the word, the word means the gospel, which had not yet been set down in Scripture. Timothy was not to get a pulpit and be ordained and call himself Reverend. This was an appeal to tell people about Jesus Christ, whether in the church, in the street or person to person. Of course, Scripture would be used. The Old Testament would be used to show where it spoke of Jesus Christ from Genesis to Malachi.
Now we preach the word in the church, in the street, or person to person and we use Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. There are many who ignore the Old Testament and preach the word from Matthew to Revelation. This is unfortunate. To ignore the Old Testament is to reject 77% of the Bible and many prophecies that reinforce the veracity of Jesus as Messiah and Lord. Most churches long to get back to the first century church and then ignore the Bible the first century church used! Preach the word, using the word of God; all of it. Wherever you are today, you have an opportunity to preach. Be ready in season and out of season.
Don’t keep it a secret!
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church