As a young leader in the church, Timothy would be under stress from older people who might think they knew better than him and by false teachers who might want to take advantage of his youth and suggest that he didn't know what he was talking about.  He needed to stand firm in what he knew to be right and remember that the people who taught him were respected in the church and known to teach the right things.

Anyone in leadership in the church is likely to have pressure put on them from time to time to go against what they know to be right.  It is important, like Timothy, to remember what we have been taught and where we learned it from, so we can make right decisions.

V 15.
remember that from early childhood you have been familiar with the sacred writings which have power to make you wise and lead you to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
NLT.  You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes from trusting in Christ Jesus.

New Bible Commentary, p 1309.  Naturally the source of teh imparted knowledge is important - Timothy had not only had the advantage of learning much about the Christian gospel from the apostles, but he had been taught the Scriptures since his earliest years.  This emphasis on teh Scriptures is important here because Paul himself based so much on the testimony of Scripture.  He is not expecting that Timothy will rely simply on what he has learned from Paul, without backing it up from Scriptures.

Vs 16, 17
Every inspired scripture has its use for teaching the truth and refuting error, or for reformation of manners and discipline in right living, so that the man who belongs to God may be efficient and equipped for good work of every kind.
NIV.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
NLT. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives.  It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.  It is God's way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.

Paul had no doubts about the part God played in producing the Scriptures and he stressed their importance in preparing people for doing God's work.  Of course, the Scriptures Paul wrote about were those that were available at the time - the Old Testament - but we believe the New Teatament to be equally as inspired by God.  (I sometimes wonder whether Paul had any idea that the letters he wrote so lovingly to the young churches and to his Christian friends would be included in the collection of inspired Scriptures!) 

Through the Scriptures we learn to know God - his personality, his character, his actions, the things he likes and dislikes.  It is only when we understand these things that we can have any hope of making decisions about the work we do for him.  Of course, there are times when we make mistakes and think that what we are doing fits in with what God wants.  That's where prayer and Christian fellowship are important too.

Although Paul's writing tells us of the importance of Scripture for all those things, there is no suggestion that it is the only means of teaching, rebuking, correcting and training (NIV).  In his great wisdom, God has provided us with many other people who are gifted visionaries and teachers whose ideas and understanding of God's will are available to us through contemporary writings, and other modern media.

New Bible Commentary, p 1309.  The four functions of Scripture cover a wide range from imparting doctrine to challenging behaviour and training in righteousness.  These functions are still the valid purpose of Scripture and are vital in equipping the man of God (NIV), a term which stands particularly for all Christian teachers, but is applicable to every Christian worker.

V 1.
Before God, and before Christ Jesus who is to judge men living and dead, I charge you solemnly by his coming appearance and his reign,
NIV.  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
The Message: I can't impress this on you too strongly.  God is looking over your shoulder.  Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, 

Paul wanted to give Timothy his 'orders' and made the 'official' by reminding Timothy of who he worked for and the power and majesty of Christ.  In all we do for the church, we must remember that god is watching us and it is he who is in charge.

V 2.
proclaim the message, press it home on all occasions, convenient or inconvenient, use argument, reproof, and appeal, with all the patience that the work of teaching requires.
NIV. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.
NLT.  Preach the word of God.  Be persistent, whether the time is favourable or not.  Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
The Message.  so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch.  Challenge, warn, and urge your people.  Don't ever quit. Just keep it simple.

Paul instructed Timothy to be persistent in proclaiming the gospel, whether he felt the time was just right or not.  I know that often I hold back because I think that I might put someone off, or I'm not feeling 'right' about it - or for whatever reason I find to procrastinate.  Maybe Timothy felt like this too.  (Maybe it was something even Paul himself had to contend with! Who knows?)  It's another time when we must trust that God can and will use our efforts if we are faithful and just do what he asks.

New Bible Commentary, pp 1309 - 1310.  The content of the charge is set out in v 2 and consists of five commands, all of which are as applicable to ministers of the gospel today as they were to 
Timothy.  Paul begins with preaching because he recognised that this is basic.  the need for being constantly prepared suggests that the man of God must always be on duty.  the other three commands (Ccorrect, rebuke and encourage) are complementary to each other.  There is a combination of  severity and gentleness here.  The whole work demands patience and care. Paul intends Timothy to have a clear picture of teh demands of Christian service.

(Romans 10: 14 asks questions to highlight the need for preaching - How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? NIV)

While this passage talks about charge to the man of God I believe it applies to every Christian who seeks to do God's will, not just to the ordained clergy.  We are all 'men' (or humans) of God!

V 3.
For the time will come when they will not stand wholesome teaching, but will follow their own fancy and gather a crowd of teachers to tickle their ears.
NLT.  For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching.  They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear.
NIV.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Throughout history there have been times when people have turned away from what the Bible tells us about God's will and plan for mankind.  There are those who believe that this current time is one of those.  People argue issues and dispute the Bible's teachings, using different interpretations of the meaning of Scripture.  Some debate as to the relevance of the Bible in this day and age.  Some accept some of what the Bible says, but not the rest.
For ordinary people like me, this becomes very confusing.  All the 'experts' sound as if they know what they're talking about.  Am I sticking my head in the sand when I retreat to the basic gospel message of the sacrifice of Jesus to make it possible for all those who turn to him to build a personal relationship wiht God.?
And when I read my Bible and want to believe that it means just what it says.  How do I sort out what is the wholesome teaching?  The only way I can make any judgement at all is to listen to what the 'experts' say about Jesus.  If they accept him as God himself and worship him, then I am inclined to listen to what they say.  If they tell me that Jesus was a great teacher or prophet or whatever, but that he is not really God, then I have to doubt their teaching on other matters.  But even that is not straighforward.

Did Jesus ever say that following him was going to be easy? He never did!

V 4. 
They will stop their ears to the truth and turn to mythology.
NLT.  They will reject the truth and follow strange myths.

Many people turn away from what the church has taught for centuries.  It seems to them perhaps too rigid, too 'judgemental'.  People want to be independant - to do their own thing.  Others shy away from the responsibilities that Christianity seems to impose of them.  They want to be only responsible for themselves.They do not want to be asked to make long term commitments.  Some of the New Age and pagan teachings seem very attractive.

V 5.
But you yourself must keep calm and sane at all times; face hardship, work to spread the Gospel, and do all the duties of your calling.
NLT.  But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.  Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord.  Work at bringing others to Christ.  Complete the ministry God has given you.

Words of advice to any Christian leader.  If the leader remains calm and clear-headed and doesn't panic when difficulties arise, the rest of the church is more likely to cope and remain calm too.  A frazzled, panicky leader will not be able to make wise decisions for the church and would not be setting an example of faith.
A leader is not always popular with the people - sometimes hard decisions need to be made.  Leaders also need to keep in mind the reason for their leadership - so that they and the church will spread the gospel and bring people into a living relationship with God through Christ.  Whatever else we do, that is our main purpose. While it is the task of every Christian, the leaders should be setting the example of spreading the gospel and living their lives, in every situation, with obvious faith in God.