By John MacArthur
If we judged success by worldly standards, some might be inclined to assess Paul’s leadership career as an abject failure and a bitter disappointment.
In the closing days of his life, when Paul wrote 2 Timothy, Luke was virtually his only contact with the outside world (4:11). Paul was confined in a Roman dungeon, dreading the savage cold of coming winter (vv. 13, 21), and without any hope of deliverance from the death sentence that had been imposed on him. He suffered because of the sadistic contempt of his enemies. He was even abandoned or disavowed by some of his closest friends. He wrote, “This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me” (2 Timothy 1:15). “Asia” refers to Asia Minor, where Paul had focused his missionary work. Ephesus, where Timothy pastored, was the capital of that region. So Paul wasn’t telling Timothy anything Timothy didn’t already know firsthand. In that time of fierce persecution, association with Paul had become so costly that all but a few of the apostle’s own spiritual children had in effect disowned and abandoned him.
That’s why people who see things superficially might think the end of Paul’s life was tragic. At first glance, it might even seem as if his enemies had finally defeated him.
A failure? Actually, the apostle Paul was not a failure as a leader by any measure. His influence continues worldwide even today. By contrast, Nero, the corrupt but powerful Roman emperor who ordered Paul’s death, is one of history’s most despised figures. This is yet another reminder that influence is the true test of a person’s leadership, not power or position per se. In fact, a careful look at how Paul’s life and ministry came to an end can teach us a lot about how to gauge the success or failure of a leader.
Paul’s first long imprisonment and trial before Nero apparently ended in the apostle’s release sometime before AD 64, because he wrote the epistles of 1 Timothy and Titus as a free man (1 Timothy 3:14-15; 4:13; Titus 3:12). But that liberty was short-lived. In July of the year 64, seven of Rome’s fourteen districts burned. When the original fire was nearly extinguished, another fire, fanned by fierce winds, broke out in another district. Rumors circulated that Nero himself had ordered the burning of the city to make room for some ambitious building projects, including a golden palace for himself.
Trying desperately to deflect suspicion, Nero blamed Christians for starting the fires. That began the first of several major, aggressive campaigns by the Roman government to destroy the church. Christians in Rome were rounded up and executed in unspeakably cruel ways. Some were sewn into animal skins and ripped to death by dogs. Others were impaled on stakes, covered with pitch, and burned as human torches to light Nero’s garden parties. Many were beheaded, fed to lions, or otherwise disposed of at Nero’s command in equally ruthless ways.
During that persecution, Paul was again taken prisoner by the Roman authorities, brought to Rome, subjected to persecution and torment (2 Timothy 4:17), and finally executed as a traitor because of his relentless devotion to the lordship of Christ.
Throughout his first imprisonment at Rome, Paul had been kept under house arrest (Acts 28:16, 30). He was allowed freedom to preach and teach those who visited him (v. 23). He was under the constant guard of a Roman soldier but was treated with respect. The influence of his ministry had therefore reached right into the household of Caesar (Philippians 4:22).
Paul measured his own success as a leader, as an apostle, and as a Christian by a single criterion: He had kept the faithPaul’s second imprisonment, however, was markedly different. He was virtually cut off from all outside contact and kept chained in a dungeon (2 Timothy 1:16). He was probably held underground in the Mamertine Prison, adjacent to the Roman forum, in a small, dark, bare stone dungeon whose only entrance was a hole in the ceiling scarcely large enough for one person to pass through. The dungeon itself is not large; about half the size of a small one-car garage. Yet it was sometimes used to hold as many as forty prisoners. The discomfort, the dark, the stench, and the misery were almost unbearable.
That dungeon still exists, and I have been in it. The stifling, claustrophobic confines of that dark hole are eerie and depressing even today. It was there (or in a dungeon just like it) that Paul spent the final days of his life.
There is no reliable record of Paul’s execution, but he obviously knew the end of his life was imminent when he wrote his second epistle to Timothy. Evidently he had already been tried, convicted, and condemned for preaching Christ, and perhaps the day of his execution was already scheduled. He wrote to Timothy, “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand” (2 Timothy 4:6).
Naturally, there are notes of profound sadness in Paul’s final epistle. But its dominant theme is triumph, not defeat. Paul wrote that last letter to Timothy to encourage the young pastor to be bold and courageous and to continue following the example he had learned from his apostolic mentor. Far from writing a concession of failure, Paul sounds a clarion note of victory: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Facing his own imminent martyrdom, Paul had no fear, no despondency, and no desire to stay in this world. He longed to be with Christ and eagerly anticipated the reward He would receive in the next world. Therefore, as he reviewed the course of his life, he expressed no regret, no sense of unfulfillment, and no feeling of incompleteness. There was not the smallest duty left undone. He had finished the work the Lord gave him to do, just as in Acts 20:24 he had hoped and prayed he would do: “so that I may finish my race with joy.”
Paul measured his own success as a leader, as an apostle, and as a Christian by a single criterion: He had “kept the faith”—meaning both that he had remained faithful to Christ and that he had kept the message of Christ’s gospel intact, just as he had received it. He had proclaimed the Word of God faithfully and fearlessly. And now he was passing the baton to Timothy and to others, who would be “able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Therefore, Paul faced his own death with a triumphant spirit and with a deep sense of joy. He had seen the grace of God accomplish all that God designed in him and through him, and now he was ready to meet Christ face-to-face.
Excerpted from The Book on Leadership, 181-84.
© 2004 by John MacArthur.
Any spiritual leader who refuses to answer your questions about their doctrine is not a person you should be learning from. Don't allow your pastor to give you some lame excuse. 1 Peter 3: 15 says we are to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope that is in us. The English word apologetics comes from the Greek word translated as defense in that verse. Peter is insisting that believers must understand what we believe, why we are Christians, and then be able to articulate one's beliefs humbly, thoughtfully, reasonably, and biblically. If your pastor tells you that he is teaching the full gospel but avoids the scriptures that contradict the prosperity gospel you should be concerned. I know you who are in the prosperity gospel have read scriptures that contradict the teaching that God wants you healthy, wealthy, and ful of life. If you haven't I can show you some.
When a pastor can't and refuses to answer questions regarding what he is teaching this should raise some flags. A lot of you take what these false teachers say as being the gospel truth just because they claim to be called by God and have the title "Dr" or "Bishop" at the beginning of their names.....do some research people! Some of these pastors are lying about their degrees and some of them get these questionable degrees from degree mills or diploma mills (look at links below). You must ask yourself why would a pastor or anyone want to get a degree from a university that is not accredited? Some of these false teachers will also claim to have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university but then claim to have a graduate degree from a non-accredited university but does that make any sense? You be the judge.
Now I am not saying that you must have a degree in order to understand the bible. I am saying that if you are going to spend money on a degree it would be wise to make sure the educational institution is regionally accredited. I am also encouraging you to ask questions about the degrees your pastor or these televangelists are claiming to have. I am close to finishing up my bachelor's degree and with all the work I am putting in for this degree you had better believe I will be more than happy to show it someone should they ask....transcripts and all. Could we say the same for some of the pastors claiming to have all of these degrees? of course not, because they probably aren't telling the truth about their educational backgrounds.
Now I know someone might say well what does that have to do with anything? It is very important when you consider that these false teachers will go to the degree of lying about their educational backgrounds just to deceive you into believing that they know what they are taking about. These false teachers want to give you the impression that they are spirit lead and have studied biblical theology extensively making them more than qualified to teach you. But are they?
Stay tuned for part two..........
Here are some links for those of you interested!
List of Unaccredited Institutions of Higher Learning:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unaccredited_institutions_of_higher_learning
Wikipedia Definition of "Diploma Mill":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diploma_mill
Wikipedia Definition of "Honorary Degree":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree
Friends International Christian University -
http://www.ficu.edu/
Life Christian University-
http://www.lcus.edu/