Reflections on 2 Timothy 1

2 Timothy 01 (Contemporary English Version)


1. From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus. God himself chose me to be an apostle, and he gave me the promised life that Jesus Christ makes possible.
2. Timothy, you are like a dear child to me. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Christ Jesus will be kind and merciful to you and will bless you with peace!
3. Night and day I mention you in my prayers. I am always grateful for you, as I pray to the God my ancestors and I have served with a clear conscience.
4. I remember how you cried, and I want to see you, because that will make me truly happy.
5. I also remember the genuine faith of your mother Eunice. Your grandmother Lois had the same sort of faith, and I am sure that you have it as well.
6. So I ask you to make full use of the gift that God gave you when I placed my hands on you. Use it well.
7. God's Spirit doesn't make cowards out of us. The Spirit gives us power, love, and self-control.
8. Don't be ashamed to speak for our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, just because I am in jail for serving him. Use the power that comes from God and join with me in suffering for telling the good news.
9. God saved us and chose us to be his holy people. We did nothing to deserve this, but God planned it because he is so kind. Even before time began God planned for Christ Jesus to show kindness to us.
10. Now Christ Jesus has come to show us the kindness of God. Christ our Savior defeated death and brought us the good news. It shines like a light and offers life that never ends.
11. My work is to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
12. That's why I am suffering now. But I am not ashamed! I know the one I have faith in, and I am sure that he can guard until the last day what he has trusted me with.
13. Now follow the example of the correct teaching I gave you, and let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model.
14. You have been trusted with a wonderful treasure. Guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you.
15. You know that everyone in Asia has turned against me, especially Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16. I pray that the Lord will be kind to the family of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up and wasn't ashamed of me when I was put in jail.
17. Then after he arrived in Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me.
18. I pray that the Lord Jesus will ask God to show mercy to Onesiphorus on the day of judgment. You know how much he helped me in Ephesus.
    
    

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    Paul writes this second letter to Timothy from a Roman prison. He had left Timothy in Ephesus prior to writing his first letter to him while he went on to minister in Macedonia. Sometime between the two writings Paul was arrested and sent to prison in Rome. While the intent of the first letter was to instruct Timothy in leading the church in Ephesus in Paul's absence, this second one seems primarily aimed at apprizing Timothy of his imprisonment and requesting him to come to Rome. However, since Paul cannot be assured he will see Timothy, he does not miss this opportunity to advise him further.
    
    Paul reminded Timothy in the first letter of the gift of God that was in him, and again in this letter. It is through this gift that he will minister effectively in Ephesus and elsewhere. In reminding him of this gift, he tells him it does not include a "spirit of fearfulness," but "of power, love, and sound judgment." (1:7) Does Paul mention the spirit of fearfulness because of his imprisonment on behalf of the gospel and Timothy's risk of the same if he continues to preach the gospel? That may indeed be his point since he goes on to tell Timothy not to be ashamed either of "the testimony about our Lord," or of Paul "His prisoner." Rather than shame for either of these, Timothy should be willing to "share in suffering for the gospel." This may well be Paul's reference in his mention of the spirit of fearfulness. Their calling, and our calling, is not according to "our works," or purposes, but "according to His own purpose and grace." (1:9)
    
    Paul bolsters Timothy with his own testimony of being unashamed that he was "appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher of the gospel." He is not ashamed because he knows whom he has "believed and am persuaded that He is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day." (1:12) Therefore, Timothy should also guard "through the Holy Spirit who lives in us, that good thing entrusted to you." (1:14) Rather than shirking the calling he had to proclaim the gospel, Timothy should continue to "Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching that you have heard from me," trusting that the Holy Spirit will guard what was entrusted to him. (1:13)