2 Timothy 1:1-11
1: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
2: To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3: I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,
4: longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.
5: For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
2: To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3: I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day,
4: longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.
5: For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
6: For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7: For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
8: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
9: who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
10: but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11: for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy during his second, more severe, imprisonment in Rome shortly before his martyrdom in AD 68, making this the last letter we have before his death. Paul began affectionately toward Timothy with a sense that he knew he was soon to die. He said he served God with a clear conscience as his forefathers did--those who had passed on before him. The mention of his conscience seemed to indicate he had been preparing himself for what was to come.
He said he constantly remembered Timothy in prayer, longing to see him. He remembered Timothy’s tears, possibly at their separation in Ephesus (Acts 20:37). Paul also called to mind Timothy’s grandmother and mother, mentioning their faith and acknowledging that this faith is in Timothy as well (Acts 16:1). Paul began to urge Timothy to stay faithful to the gospel, calling on him to freshly kindle the gift within him which was given to him when Paul laid his hands on him, probably at his ordination (see also 1 Timothy 4:14).
Paul may have been concerned that Timothy was weakening in zeal, losing boldness to preach the gospel, perhaps even ashamed of Paul who was a prisoner. So, he reminded him God had not given him a spirit of timidity—fear or cowardice--but of power, love, and discipline—the ability and desire to remain faithful to God and His gospel. He encouraged Timothy to, instead of feeling shame in regard to his association with Paul, join with him in suffering for the gospel. Everyone but Luke had deserted Paul by this point (2 Timothy 4:11), other than Onesiphorus who was not ashamed of him and visited him (2 Timothy 1:16).
The same gospel which declares that God has saved us and called us with a holy calling according to His purpose, and granted us grace in Christ from all eternity; this same gospel, once hidden, has been revealed in Christ Jesus who has taken away the power of death, bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel. Paul knew physical death was not the end and could conquer him because he had the eternal life of God in him through the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ. He reiterated that it was for this gospel that he was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher.
7: For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
8: Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,
9: who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,
10: but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
11: for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher.
***
Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy during his second, more severe, imprisonment in Rome shortly before his martyrdom in AD 68, making this the last letter we have before his death. Paul began affectionately toward Timothy with a sense that he knew he was soon to die. He said he served God with a clear conscience as his forefathers did--those who had passed on before him. The mention of his conscience seemed to indicate he had been preparing himself for what was to come.
He said he constantly remembered Timothy in prayer, longing to see him. He remembered Timothy’s tears, possibly at their separation in Ephesus (Acts 20:37). Paul also called to mind Timothy’s grandmother and mother, mentioning their faith and acknowledging that this faith is in Timothy as well (Acts 16:1). Paul began to urge Timothy to stay faithful to the gospel, calling on him to freshly kindle the gift within him which was given to him when Paul laid his hands on him, probably at his ordination (see also 1 Timothy 4:14).
Paul may have been concerned that Timothy was weakening in zeal, losing boldness to preach the gospel, perhaps even ashamed of Paul who was a prisoner. So, he reminded him God had not given him a spirit of timidity—fear or cowardice--but of power, love, and discipline—the ability and desire to remain faithful to God and His gospel. He encouraged Timothy to, instead of feeling shame in regard to his association with Paul, join with him in suffering for the gospel. Everyone but Luke had deserted Paul by this point (2 Timothy 4:11), other than Onesiphorus who was not ashamed of him and visited him (2 Timothy 1:16).
The same gospel which declares that God has saved us and called us with a holy calling according to His purpose, and granted us grace in Christ from all eternity; this same gospel, once hidden, has been revealed in Christ Jesus who has taken away the power of death, bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel. Paul knew physical death was not the end and could conquer him because he had the eternal life of God in him through the grace and salvation of Jesus Christ. He reiterated that it was for this gospel that he was appointed a preacher, apostle, and teacher.
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