The New Testament with Commentary 2 Timothy 1

The Second Epistle of Paul to

TIMOTHY

Greeting

1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life* that is in Christ Jesus,† 2 to dear son Timothy: Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul addresses Timothy's spiritual crisis

Paul encourages Timothy

3 I give thanks to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience like my forefathers did,‡ as I constantly remember you in my prayers, night and day, 4 longing to see you (recalling your tears),§ that I may be filled with joy; 5 while I call to mind the unfeigned faith that is in you—it resided first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also. 6 For this reason I am reminding you to rekindle* the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 Because God did not give us a spirit of cowardice,† but of power and of love and of self-control.

Don't be ashamed to suffer for Christ

8 So do not be ashamed to identify with our Lord or with me His prisoner, but join in suffering for the Gospel according to the power of God‡ 9 —the One who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which§ was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,* 10 but has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who by means of the Gospel destroyed the death† and brought life and immortality to light; 11 to this Gospel I was appointed as a proclaimer, an apostle and a teacher of nations.‡ 12 That is why I am suffering these things, yet I am not ashamed because I know in whom I have believed and am certain that He is able to guard my deposit§ until that Day.*

Be loyal—the example of Onesiphorus

13 Hold fast the standard of sound teaching that you heard from me, through the faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.†

15 This you know, that all those in Asia have been turned away from me,‡ including Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain;§ 17 rather, when he arrived in Rome he searched diligently for me until he found me 18 (may the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord in that Day); you also know very well in how many ways he served in Ephesus.

* 1:1 The “life that is in Christ Jesus”—that is what it is all about. As He Himself said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). † 1:1 The going back and forth between “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus” appears to be merely a matter of style. ‡ 1:3 So why does Paul bring his ancestors into the picture? I suppose to set up a parallel with Timothy and his ancestors (verse 5). One's heritage is important. § 1:4 From what follows I take it that Timothy was going through a spiritual crisis when Paul last saw him, hence the tears. Paul did what he could to help, but is anxious to know how Timothy is doing. * 1:6 Timothy had received a ‘charisma’ from God through Paul, but the verb “rekindle” indicates clearly that the use of the gift is up to him, and he has been neglecting it. † 1:7 Timothy must not retreat, must not give up; rather he should make use of the resources God has placed at his disposal—and so should we. Anytime we are attacked by fear, we may calculate that it is not from God. ‡ 1:8 Living out the Gospel in this world has everything to do with the power of God. § 1:9 It is hard to determine whether the pronoun refers only to “grace” or to both “purpose and grace”. * 1:9 Really; the Lamb's blood was shed before this world was created (1 Peter 1:19-20). † 1:10 That is what the Text says, “the death”; I take it that the reference is to Satan's kingdom. Indeed, is that not what Hebrews 2:14-15 declares? “Since, then, the children have flesh and blood as their share, He Himself likewise partook of the same, in order that through His death He might abolish the one who had the power of death—that is, the devil—and set free these [the children] who during their whole lifetime were subject to slavery through fear of death.” See also 1 John 3:8. ‡ 1:11 About 1% of the Greek manuscripts, of objectively inferior quality, omit “of nations” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.). § 1:12 That is right, “my deposit”; by dying to himself and living for Christ's kingdom he is building up a ‘savings account’ in Heaven. * 1:12 The Day when we face God's bar and give an accounting (see verse 18 below). † 1:14 “Hold fast the standard”, “guard the good deposit”—again Paul is emphasizing our responsibility, but we must rely on the Holy Spirit's enabling. ‡ 1:15 ‘Turn away’ is in the passive voice; someone was working against Paul, with success. § 1:16 Although Paul was granted the privilege of having his own house (Acts 28:16), he wore a chain.