SECOND TIMOTHY
Chapter One
(vs 1) "Paul, an apostle..." -- Paul immediately declares his
apostleship. The letter has Heaven's approval; Heaven's
authority. Paul is Heaven's mouthpiece. Timothy, whatever
I say is the message from Heaven. Serious business!!
NOTE: A personal letter, yet it contains the message from
Heaven. 2 Pet. 1:21; Acts 2:4.
REMEMBER, Paul was a prisoner in Rome, about to be killed;
yet he refers to his calling and apostleship to be
"according to the promise of the life which is in Christ
Jesus."
"Life in Christ..." -- Without Christ there is no spiritual
life. God promises life only to those who will accept His
Son and obey Him. -- John 14:6. There is no life outside
of Christ Jesus.
(vs 2) "to Timothy" -- Note the tender affections.
"my beloved child" -- in the Faith. Paul expresses the same
feelings that a fleshly father would have for his obedient
child.
"Grace, mercy, peace" -- He wished the best for Timothy;
Heaven's approval.
"Grace" -- God's unmerited favor.
"mercy" -- favor, kindness.
"peace" -- Only through Christ can one find peace. Freedom
from the consequence of sin. Safety.
(vs 3) "I thank God" -- How often Paul expresses his thanks to the
Heavenly Father. All blessing flow from Him.
"whom I serve" -- Paul was an obedient servant, though when
we first read of him he was persecuting the church.
"in a pure conscience" -- Acts 23:1. One can have a clear
conscience and still be in error. Surely, the
conscience must approve of what is done, but one can be
conscientiously wrong. Acts 24:14-16.
"in my supplications" -- How often Paul must have prayed.
Here he states "night and day." Persistent, regular.
(vs 4) "longing to see" -- Great anticipation to see him.
"remembering thy tears" -- Most likely when Paul was arrested
and sent to Rome as a prisoner. Paul had the same
effect on others -- Acts 24:37-38.
"filled with joy" -- What a glorious meeting it would be to
see his "child in the faith" once more. To know of his
safety and continued service to the Lord.
(vs 5) "unfeigned faith" -- How encouraging to Timothy to hear these
words of praise from the aged apostle. Timothy's faith
was sincere, truthful, real. No veneer, no false front.
"dwelt in" -- Timothy's training began with his grandmother,
and continued with his mother. How fortunate Timothy
was to have had such a background.
NOTE: Most likely the faith of these two women was
first in the Old Testament scriptures, but was
conveyed to Christ when Paul proclaimed the Lord as
the Savior to them.
"in thee also" -- It is not enough to have faithful parents.
Faith must become a personal thing. Regardless of how
faithful others (father, mother, brother, etc.) may be
it will not be transferred to the offspring. Each one
must have a personal faith in Christ Jesus.
(vs 6) "remembrance" -- Paul did not wish for Timothy to forget the
responsibility he had toward Christ and the gospel.
NOTE: There were so many problems in the churches that
Timothy could very easily become complacent and
lose his direction.
"stir up" -- Keep the fire going brightly.
"gift of God" -- Through the laying on of hands of an apostle
the various gifts of the Spirit were bestowed. Acts
8:18. When Timothy was sent forth with Paul, the elders
laid they hands upon him -- 1 Tim. 4:14. Most likely,
Paul took part in that action and at the same time
bestowed a miraculous gift upon Timothy.
NOTE: The gifts of the Spirit were under the control of
the one possessing the gift. 1 Cor. 14:26-33. A
vast contrast to what is claimed today by those who
claim to have miraculous powers.
(vs 7) "Fear" and "love" are contrasted. -- 1 John 4:18. These two
characteristics are not compatible; just as light and
darkness are not compatible. Jehovah does not desire
that we live under a cloud of "fearfulness." But,
rather .....
"love and discipline" -- the solution to our problems.
Keeping the commandments of God.
(vs 8) "Be not ashamed...." -- How easy it would be to be
embarrassed by the fact that their leader had been
crucified on a cross. Paul says he is "not ashamed of
the gospel....." -- Rom 1:16. 1 Cor. 15:1-4--D,B,R.
"nor of me..." Do not allow my bonds to be an embarrassment
to you, Timothy.
NOTE: There is no evidence here that Timothy had become
ashamed of the gospel, nor of Paul, but the
apostasy of so many would lead Paul to encourage
Timothy even more. ("Be not ashamed" -- Aorist
Subjective tense -- Keep on not being ashamed.)
"his prisoner" -- Interesting that Paul states he is a
prisoner of Christ, rather than of Caesar. Caesar could
not imprison Paul's inner spirit.
"suffer" -- Trials and hardships will come. Preach the gospel
and persecutions will result.
"power of God" -- It is only through God's strength that we
will be able to stand firm. He has provided us with all
of the necessary armour needed to be victorious --
Eph. 6:10-18.
(vs 9) "who saved us" -- Salvation is of God, not of self. Yet,
Peter told the multitude to "save yoursleves," Acts
2:40. God provides salvation, but man must accept it;
obey His commands.
"who called us" -- How is one called? 2 Thess. 2:14. By the
"good news," the gospel.
"not according...works" -- We do not merit salvation because
of something we devised to do. (Note: Eph. 2:8-9.) We
cannot earn salvation by our own abilities.
"his purpose" -- God purposed -- Eph. 3:9-11.
"grace" -- unmerited favor. It was God's grace that provided
us with the offer of salvation.
"before times eternal" -- Eph. 3:9-11.
(vs 10) "appearing...." -- The coming of Christ, his life, death, and
resurrection fulfilled the plan of God which was formed
before this world began.
"abolished death" -- Jesus overcame death; He rose from the
grave. Jesus did not do away with physical death; yea,
rather "eternal" separation from Jehovah. 1 Cor. 15:26,
50-58.
"life and immortality" -- the results of Christ's death and
resurrection. The faithful do not fear death. (Ps. 23.)
"through the gospel" -- the good news; How urgent that the
gospel be preached unto sinful man. What a privilege to
proclaim the gospel to the lost.
(vs 11) "appointed" -- Selected, designated
"preacher" -- A Heralder, messenger, announcer, one sent.
Paul felt the responsibility of proclaiming the death,
burial and resurrection of our Lord.
"apostle" -- qualified, having seen the resurrected Lord.
Acts 1:22.
"teacher" -- Informing those who have responded to the
gospel. Mt. 28:19 "Go, make disciples, teach them..."
(vs 12) "I suffer" -- It was because of his proclaiming the gospel
among the Gentiles that Paul suffered as he did.
Acts 9:15-16; 20:22-23; 2 Cor. 11:23-29.
"not ashamed" -- Paul was not embarrassed by his imprisonment
nor his sufferings. How much he had suffered, yet, he
counted it an honor. (Cf. Acts 5:41, Peter and John.)
"I know" -- His convictions rested in his knowledge of Jesus.
Paul knew Christ; Christ knew Paul.
"committed" -- Paul had committed his soul to God's keeping;
it is under His protection.
"that day" -- the judgment day.
(vs 13) "pattern" -- that which is to be followed. Heb. 8:5. Moses.
To go beyond the pattern is to introduce another gospel
and to suffer the consequences. Gal. 1:7-9.
"sound words" -- Healthful, dependable, words. How careful we
should all be in the choice of the words we use to
convey the truth of Christ.
"in faith and love" -- Not only must we have "sound words,"
but they should be delivered in "love." 1 Cor. 13;
Gal. 5:6.
"in Christ Jesus" -- Only in Him can we please the Father.
(vs 14) "good thing" -- the Gospel. As Paul had "kept the faith," so
he was concerned about Timothy "keeping the faith."
There is just no place to change, add to, or subtract
from the gospel as it was proclaimed by these inspired
messengers.
"through the Holy Spirit" -- the Holy Spirit guided the
apostles, as promised by Christ (Jn. 14:26; 16:13), and
those upon whom powers were conveyed. Acts 8:17. Paul
had "laid his hands" upon Timothy (1:6) to impart a
gift.
(vs 15) Paul now reminds Timothy that those in Asia had refused to be
of any assistance to him in prison, nor to testify in
his behalf; two specifically named.
(vs 16) The very opposite is said of Onesiphorus. He had come to Rome
and was not ashamed of Paul's bonds.
"oft refreshed me" -- encouraged Paul, did what he could to
comfort the apostle. He did this "often."
"my chain" -- his imprisonment. Perhaps even chained to a
soldier.
(vs 17) "sought me..." -- Probable it was difficult to locate
prisoners in Rome.
"and found me" -- what a thrill this must have been for Paul.
(vs 18) Paul's prayer for Onesiphorus in the day of judgment.
"at Ephesus" -- Timothy would know of the deeds of this good
man.
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