2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 1 (NIV)

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

Paul often calls himself “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”. We miss the implications of this because Paul was so elegant in his greetings and we have a tendency to think this is just a part of his greeting. But it is much more powerful. He is giving his credentials here and it is not a small thing. When he writes this, he is saying that he has been appointed an apostle of Jesus by God himself. This is because men did not teach him the good news of salvation – he received revelation when he supernaturally and powerfully encountered the Holy Spirit on the road to Damascus. The teachings that Paul taught were Holy Spirit inspired, studied and confirmed by the Word, but not taught to him by man.

2 To Timothy, my dear son:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

As we know, Paul considered Timothy to be his son, not only because he personally brought Timothy to salvation, but because Timothy also served him as a physical son would.

Thanksgiving

3 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.

Paul gives thanks to God for Timothy’s faith and for his holiness. He remembers Timothy is his prayers. Paul knows that God must always receive the glory for everything that he does, and for the things he brings about through others. Paul was one who was constantly in prayer, he had constant communication with God. This is why he was able to do the things he did and endure the things that he endured. He desired only to bring Glory to God. Paul expresses here how much he missed Timothy and longed to be able to visit and speak with him in person. Paul gives thanks for the upbringing that Timothy received from his mother and grandmother. We can see that his godly upbringing impacted his adult life greatly and made him the man we see through Paul’s letters.

Appeal for Loyalty to Paul and the Gospel

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

The gifts of God do not overtake us. They do not consume us and force us to use them. We must be willing, we must be diligent to use them and develop them. We must encourage ourselves and others to keep them active. They will lie dormant until we do this. Some may think they do not have any gifts – but God has given everyone gifts. It is only a matter of seeking God and learning how to use them. They are your deepest desires… God has placed them there to use for his purpose – but are we willing? Are we teachable and humble enough to allow God to show us what they are for?

Paul reminded Timothy of his upbringing, of his inheritance passed from generation to generation, and then tells him to fan it into flame. Paul recognized the gift in Timothy and prophesied into his life and ministry. Now he tells Timothy to encourage himself in Pauls absence. To become bold, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and be self disciplined.

Our fleshy self needs to be kept in check. It likes to think too much of itself, it prefers to use the very gifts God gives us for it’s own comfort and gain. But God has called us to discipline that fleshy self and use those gifts for his Glory and Honor. He intends us to use the gifts to benefit others. We must always guard the gifts against pride and deceit of the enemy. The enemy likes to tell us that is is OUR gift, or OUR ministry, and that is where we go off. We become prideful and unteachable and we do not hear the voice of the Holy Spirit anymore to guide us. Many fall from the faith in this manner and so it is very important to guard our “deposit” from God. It was through fear that the wicked servant buried the talent his master gave him instead of using it to gain his master interest. (Matt. 25:25) We must not let fear of failure stop us from doing the things we are called to do. We have been given power, love, and self-discipline so that we can access and utilize the gifts of God for his glory. We must never be ashamed of the gospel of salvation and the wonder that is our Heavenly Father.

Examples of Disloyalty and Loyalty

15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.

16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Here, we are uncertain whether these people Paul mentions turned from the gospel, or just abandoned Paul because they were ashamed of his chains. We could conclude from the previous verses that they were ashamed of the gospel. But, if we put this sentence with the following one, it seems they were ashamed of him, since he immediately follows the statement with an example of one who did not abandon him. But which-ever way Paul intended, it is clear that the people of Asia had succumbed to a spirit of fear – whether they were ashamed of the gospel or of Paul – it is rooted in fear. Paul prays for the household of the family that were not ashamed and blesses them for their hospitality and love. They blessed Paul and in return he recognized their effort and commends them to Timothy and to God.