<p>4:2 <i>To preach the word. Preach it urgently, whether the occasion seems appropriate or not- </i>Our task of witness may seem hopeless. But we are to be prepared to preach &ldquo;in season and out of season&rdquo; (2 Tim. 4:2 AV). Paul wrote to Timothy at Ephesus, and his language in 2 Timothy has many allusions to his own behaviour whilst at Ephesus. He spoke at Ephesus of how he had preached the word &quot;at all seasons&quot; (Acts 20:18)- and he tells Timothy to do likewise (2 Tim. 4:2 AV); Paul had taught what was profitable to others (Acts 20:20); and this was to be Timothy's pattern (2 Tim. 3:16 RV). &ldquo;Out of season&rdquo; translates a Greek word only elsewhere rendered &lsquo;lacking opportunity&rsquo; (Phil. 4:10). Whether there is apparent opportunity or not, we must still witness- not just wait until someone asks us if we are religious. This is a common fallacy we all fall into at times. By contrast, there is to be a sense of urgency to our witness. Several times the Lord invites us to &ldquo;go&rdquo; and preach- we are all to feel a spirit of outgoing witness, rather than the defensive, tell-them-if-they-ask attitude which has dominated so many of us for so long. We need the same spirit of heroism in our witness which Jeremiah and Ezekiel had, as they reflected the indomitable Spirit of God in this matter of human salvation. Our unbelieving families, our workmates, our neighbours, seem to be stony ground to the point that it just isn&rsquo;t worth bothering. But we need a positive spirit.</p><p><i>Reprove, rebuke, exhort, as you patiently</i><i> teach- </i>The patience or<i> makrothumia</i> which God has is intended to be had by us too (2 Pet. 3:9,15; Rom. 2:4; Eph. 4:2). And especially is the preacher encouraged to have this <i>makrothumia</i> (2 Tim. 4:2; 3:10). God waits / is patient for repentance, amazingly so (we recall His waiting 120 years before the flood came)&hellip; and we are to have it in this same way too.</p>