2 Timothy 1
- Who wrote it
- Paul (debated), in prison in Rome
- Who it was for
- Timothy, probably in Ephesus
- What was happening
- Paul, in chains in Rome, urges Timothy to fan the gift into flame and not to be ashamed
What’s happening
Paul, "an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus," writes to Timothy, "my beloved child," with grace, mercy, and peace. He thanks God, "whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience," and remembers Timothy in his prayers "night and day," longing to see him, "remembering your tears." He is reminded of "the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also." So Paul reminds Timothy to "stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." Timothy must not be "ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner," but "endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God, who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News." Paul was appointed "a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles," and for this he suffers: "Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day." Timothy is to "hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love," and to guard "that good thing which was committed to you... through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us." Paul adds that "all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes," while Onesiphorus "often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me."
Why the setting matters
This is the only letter from the end of Paul's life, and the circumstances are heavy: he is in prison, many in Asia have turned away, and he knows he may soon die. In this setting every kind word counts. Timothy is reminded of his family (his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, mentioned nowhere else except here; Acts 16:1 adds that his mother was a Jewish believer and his father a Greek), of his tears (perhaps when Paul was arrested or when they last parted), and of the moment when hands were laid on him. The picture of fire in "stir up" (a word that means to fan embers into flame) suggests that the gift is there but needs tending. "A spirit of fear" may hint that Timothy was timid, though the letter does not say so. In the Roman world a prisoner chained to a guard was a shame, and a friend who visited risked being tied to him, which is what makes Onesiphorus's search through Rome so striking. "Before times eternal" and "abolished death" (1:9-10) belong to some of the highest statements in the Pastoral letters. "All who are in Asia turned away" is not explained: it might refer to people who would not stand by Paul during his arrest or trial. "That day" (1:12, 1:18) is the day of Christ's coming and judgment. As in 1 Timothy, whether Paul wrote this letter is debated, though the personal notes make it the Pastoral letter most often read as his.
Who’s in this chapter
Paul
In prison, thankful and unashamed, writing to Timothy.
Timothy
Reminded of his tears, his gift, and his family's faith.
Lois and Eunice
His grandmother and mother, whose sincere faith lived first in them.
Phygelus and Hermogenes
Among those in Asia who turned away from Paul.
Onesiphorus
Who refreshed Paul and sought him out in Rome.
Christ Jesus
Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light.
Talk it through
- Paul recalls Timothy's tears and his grandmother's faith. How do family faith and personal tears shape the kind of leader someone becomes?
- "God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." Which of the three do you find hardest to hold together with the others?
- Paul says he is not ashamed because he knows "whom I have believed." How is that different from being sure of what he believes?
- Onesiphorus was not ashamed of Paul's chain. What does it look like to stand with someone who has become an embarrassment?
Read 2 Timothy 1
World English Bible
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, 2to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3I thank God, whom I serve as my forefathers did, with a pure conscience. How unceasing is my memory of you in my petitions, night and day 4longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and, I am persuaded, in you also.
6For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. 8Therefore don’t be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but endure hardship for the Good News according to the power of God, 9who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, 10but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the Good News. 11For this I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12For this cause I also suffer these things.
Yet I am not ashamed, for I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed to him against that day.
13Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
15This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me, of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. 16May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, 17but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me 18(the Lord grant to him to find the Lord’s mercy in that day); and in how many things he served at Ephesus, you know very well.
Text: World English Bible, Public domain. About our sources