Cled E. Wallace
Paul charged Timothy to “preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching” (2 Tim. 4:2 ASV). The fact that some would “not endure sound doctrine” and would crave teachers who would tickle their “itching ears” must not deter him from doing his duty.
It is clearly inferred that he would have to “suffer hardship” because of so many who “will turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside unto fables.” Paul was putting fight into Timothy.
On another occasion Paul craved the prayers of the brethren “that utterance may be given unto me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Eph. 6:19-20 ASV). Paul knew he “ought” to speak boldly. He was under strong temptation to speak softly.
Soft preaching is not what the world or the church needs. Both need bold preaching. Some of us are so afraid that we will run somebody off that we do not run anybody in. It is on order for brethren to pray for us as they did Paul that we “may speak boldly” as we “ought to speak.”
