Bible Diary - 2 Timothy 1:6-18
March 8, 2008
A movement with its leader languishing and facing execution in a far-off prison would not seem to have a very bright future, if a future at all. New believers in Jerusalem, Ephesus, Antioch, Thessalonica, Phillipi, and elsewhere can’t be blamed for being a little afraid and even a little ashamed of Paul for letting them down. At least that would be a normal, human reaction. Timothy was standing in the gap at Ephesus, and Paul wanted to encourage him.
1:6 Because of this I remind you to rekindle God’s gift that you possess through the laying on of my hands. 1:7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. 1:8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, a prisoner for his sake, but by God’s power accept your share of suffering for the gospel. 1:9 He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 1:10 but now made visible through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus. He has broken the power of death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel! 1:11 For this gospel I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher. 1:12 Because of this, in fact, I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, because I know the one in whom my faith is set and I am convinced that he is able to protect what has been entrusted to me until that day. 1:13 Hold to the standard of sound words that you heard from me and do so with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 1:14 Protect that good thing entrusted to you, through the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
1:15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. 1:16 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my imprisonment. 1:17 But when he arrived in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me. 1:18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day! And you know very well all the ways he served me in Ephesus.
It’s obvious that Paul’s thoughts were not on himself. Instead, he rehearses for Timothy’s sake the spiritual reality of the situation. It is the Spirit of God that can be trusted to nourish the church long after Paul is gone from them. Paul knows and trusts the object of his faith, Jesus the Christ. Suffering is Paul’s present lot, as it may be for every believer at times. Timothy knew all these things, of course, but I’m sure he was blessed by hearing them again. In the same manner I am blessed when I hear once again the familiar good news of the gospel. Timothy had been called by God to proclaim this same gospel to the flock in his charge.
These words of Paul help me reflect on my own calling and prepare me for any suffering I may be called on to endure for Christ’s sake.
Starting with verse 16, we are given a few details about Paul’s situation. Without a trace of whining or self-pity, Paul tells Timothy that many, but not quite all, of his fellow Christians have deserted him. He mentions Onesiphorus, who has remained loyal and continues to serve Paul’s needs in prison.
Dave
-sdg-
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