Paul’s introduction is similar to other letters – “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus.” An apostle by the will of God. Not self appointed, nor appointed by others. We sometimes see churches around with leaders called apostles or other titles. In my opinion, these are bogus and self appointed.
Being an apostle was unique, the criteria for apostleship included being: (1) a disciple of Jesus during His earthly ministry, (2) an eyewitness of the Resurrection, and (3) called and commissioned directly by Christ. Paul was not a former disciple, and his vision of the resurrected Christ occurred after Jesus’ ascension. However, it is clear to me that Paul was a similar age to the Lord Jesus, and he may well have witnessed the life of Jesus, and his resurrection. He refers to himself, writing to Philemon 9, as ‘Paul the aged’ around AD60. His education and upbringing had turned him against Jesus and His followers. He was totally opposed to Jesus, and was doing all he could to persecute followers of The Way
On the basis of the biblical qualifications, who are apostles? Certainly, the Twelve (including Matthias; Acts 1:26) and Paul were apostles, as we have seen, and there is a case to be made that these alone were apostles. However, a few more candidates in the NT may present themselves as meeting these qualifications, including Barnabas (Acts 14:14), James (Gal 1:19), Timothy, and Silas (1 Thess 2:6).
Interestingly, he adds, ‘according to the promise of life’. He clung dearly to God’s promises, and in view of the things which had happened to him, including his imprisonment and seeming pending death toward the end of this letter, God’s promise of life was very precious to him. We need to remember that Paul was not in a modern prison when he continued to write his letters. He was in a dungeon, cold, damp, dark. Probably a cave or hole in the ground, and very uncomfortable. Many of us would probably have given up, but not Paul. Much of our New Testament would never have reached us without his tenacity in continuing to spread the gospel and encourage the churches and individuals, even from a prison cell.
“To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.” (v2-5)
Paul’s closeness to Timothy is obvious as he calls him his beloved son. His usual greeting was grace and peace, but in his letters to Timothy and Titus he adds ‘mercy’. He assured him that he remembered Timothy twice daily, and desired to see him. Timothy’s faith filled him with joy and he remembered his tears. We are not told much about his tears but perhaps it was when they parted.
Timothy’s faith was genuine. We know people are clearly genuine in their faith, but sometimes we may have doubts about others. It is not our place to judge but some are more obviously genuine than others. God alone, knows their hearts and some are finding the way more difficult than others. We must encourage them and remember them in our prayers. The phrase genuine faith could be literally translated, unhypocritical faith, faith that is not an act. It was for real, not just in appearance.
Paul rejoiced in Timothy’s faith which he had been taught by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois. He had had a godly upbringing. So far as we know his father, who was a Greek, and I may be mistaken, was not a believer, thus, coming from a broken home did not prevent Timothy becoming a genuine believer. If I am correct, it would not have been easy. They came from Lystra visited by Paul on his first missionary journey (Acts 14:16-20). On Paul’s second journey to Lystra he met Timothy, a young man devoted to the Lord (Acts 16:1-5).
Lessons for us as parents and grandparents to train our children and bring them up in the Lord. Of course, we cannot guarantee they will trust the Lord, but it is the best start, and we must continue to set an example and never cease to pray for them.
One commentator has said that It wasn’t enough that this genuine faith was in Timothy’s grandmother and mother; it had to be in Timothy also. Our children, once of age to be accountable before God, must have their own relationship with Jesus Christ. Mom and dad’s relationship with God will not then bring eternal life.
Paul was persuaded that Timothy’s faith was genuine and took Timothy with him (Acts 16) and became his mentor and looked upon him as his own son in the Lord.
He urges Timothy to stir up the gift of God in him (v6). He was gifted, Paul had no doubt about it, but he had to encourage him to be strong because he was evidently liable to be timid. There was no doubt that he had a great responsibility. We have seen in the first letter of the important decisions he had to make and the demands upon him. He also suffered from illnesses because Paul advised him to take him a little wine rather than just drink water. Timothy had a tender heart as a shepherd, and it seems that Paul was urging him to be strong for the difficult decisions and not shy away from confrontation. In the two letters to Timothy, Paul encourages him to be courageous on over twenty occasions, obviously he needed to hear it.
Even gifts given to us by God need to be stirred up. We are not robots with God pushing the buttons, our will and desire is necessary for God to work through us. God has given us the gift and all we need to use it. I understand that the Greek means to kindle afresh or to keep in full flame.
Note that the gift had been given by God through Paul laying on his hands on Timothy. God gives gifts in other ways too.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (v7).
We have noted earlier that Timothy had a tendency to be timid, and he often felt afraid. It would have been encouraging for Timothy to know that God had given him a spirit of power, love and sound mind. Fear was not from God.
It can be scary to lead and speak in public. Confrontation can be difficult, but God wants us to have no fear. We must understand that our power comes from God and not ourselves. If we are serving Him, we need have no fear. Not only did God give power, but love displays God’s power.
Jesus knew that all powers was given to Him by His Father, so He proceeded to wash the disciples’ feet (see John 13:1-11)
It doesn’t stop there with power, love, but also a sound mind. The idea was calm, controlled, not panic or confusion.
We cannot fulfil God’s purpose without God’s power, love and sound mind and all these help us to be a blessing to others.
“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.” (v8).
Timothy needed the gifts of God to direct his thinking. We could all be susceptible to being ashamed of the testimony of The Lord. It could have been strange in following a crucified Saviour, and also Paul a prisoner.
Jesus said that if we want to be great, we must be servant of all, last instead of first, even what many may consider foolish. Paul was not ashamed and he urged Timothy not to be, and neither should we.
Paul considered himself to be God’s prisoner. Rome and its rulers, and his enemies thought Paul was their prisoner, but Paul was having none of it. He was the Lord’s whether he was free or in prison.
Paul could have given up in prison, a dark, dirty dungeon, but he used his time to write to encourage believers and to spread the gospel. If he had given up and felt forsaken and useless, we would never have had a large proportion of our New Testament. He asked Timothy to share in his imprisonment. Jesus said, in Matthew25:31-46, when his blessing was conferred on those who when he was hungry, thirsty and in prison, met his needs and visited him. They asked when they had done that, he answered, ‘Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Thus, when we serve others, we serve the Lord. Paul also said in Romans 12:15 that we identify with those who suffer through our prayers, concern and actions.
All that happened to Paul was according to the power of God, not man however powerful they may consider themselves to be. He was content in whatever state he was (Philippians 4:11). In way it was amazing that Paul could write of the power of God when he was in prison. Rome seemed to be the ruling power. How right he was! History has proved him to be correct, Rome and its mighty empire has gone, but the gospel of Jesus Christ goes on today.
“Who has 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 time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” (v9,10)
One commentator has said that God saved us from the penalty of sin at Calvary. God continues to save us from the power of sin throughout our Christian life, and God is going to save us from the presence of sin when we stand before Him in glorified bodies, and it is all by grace.
We are not saved because of our good works. The Bible is clear on this that we cannot earn it, but God has provided it through his Son. We are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. God planned it in eternity past, and we who have received the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are predestined to be holy like His Son. We are set apart by the grace of God and called to live a holy life, godly and well pleasing to Him. There is no question of us deserving this, it is all of his grace. One writer has said that God’s system of salvation pivots around what He does, not what people do.
God created time for our benefit. He is not governed by time; He is outside of time. He will remain when time ends and we will spend eternity with him. God’s plan for salvation began before time began in eternity past, and through the gospel we receive eternal life.
Our salvation is not dependent upon what we do but on what Christ has already done and “…. revealed by the appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. “He has conquered and abolished death and given us life, and we receive this through the gospel. I understand that the word translated ‘abolished’ death is somewhat misleading. A better translation would be ‘frustrated’ or ‘nullified’. We still die, so, how is it abolished? The gospel planned before the foundation of the world was only manifested and brought into our history when Jesus came. His coming culminating in his death, resurrection and ascension makes death null and void because we, when we believe and receive him as Saviour and Lord, receive eternal life, life which is not limited to this life only but the life to come when we shall be with our risen Lord for ever. This is the glorious gospel.
The Lord Jesus Christ was the only perfect man who ever lived thus, no-one else could purchase our salvation because God demands perfection, and we receive it in Christ.
Paul encourages Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel even though it came through a crucified Saviour, or even to him through Paul a prisoner and probably soon to be put to death, because victory is assured, not in this life but in the life to come.
He reminds Timothy that despite what is happening to him, he is not ashamed. (v11,12) he urges Timothy not to be ashamed. Paul’s confidence was boosted by the fact that he was appointed an apostle, a preacher and a teacher of the Gentiles. He knew that he was suffering because of his appointment. It was a privilege to suffer for Christ and the gospel. No question of being ashamed, he was honoured. Timothy was young and probably lacking in confidence. Paul assures him that being in the Lord’s service was a privilege, and to suffer for it, even more so.
He then makes a now famous confession- “…. nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (v12). This is why Paul was so bold
He explains why he had such confidence and was so bold. He knew God in whom he trusted and was willing to serve whatever the consequences. What a transformation in this man? Before his conversion to Christ, he was ruthless in the way he persecuted the followers of Jesus. Now he is not ashamed to call himself a follower of this same Jesus.
We must know who we believe and what we believe. We have a great God in whom we can fully trust, and this gives us boldness.
Paul was confident in his God, he was persuaded because of God’s greatness, that God was able to keep him, and his trust. None of us are able to fully keep ourselves, our lives are in His hands, and we must commit ourselves to Him. Paul, and we, must be fully persuaded that God is able to keep us to the end. Again, Paul’s boldness was in his God who would never leave him.
Paul was fully persuaded that God would keep him until that day. What day.? When Jesus comes again or called him to be with Him. Whatever ‘that day’ meant to Paul, it means the same to us. In the New Testament many of those thought that the second coming could be in their lifetime, but in the mercy and grace of God it has not happened yet for the Lord to come again, but it will. “He who is coming will come….” (Hebrews 10:37).
This statement has led to a few hymns being penned such as, “I’m not ashamed to own my Lord”; “I know not why God’s wondrous grace has been to me made known” which more or less quotes the words in the chorus. And there may be more which come to mind.
Paul has expressed his confidence, and he urges Timothy to do the same “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (v13,14)
Paul urges him to hold fast to sound words, the Word of God, the truth. Hold fast suggests that someone might take it away unless he does hold fast. It requires a good knowledge of the scriptures and a tenacity in holding on and remains faithful. A pattern of sound words indicates true teaching of sound words with which Paul had taught him.
God’s word is to be studied not just as an academic exercise, but in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. The Pharisees thought that they held to the truth but did not exercise faith and love. They were committed to certain teachings but did not show any faith and love.
Timothy was to hold fast to the truth in faith and love and to guard it against those who would try to take it from him. It was a good thing which had been committed to him by the Lord; therefore, he should use it wisely. Just as Timothy was to be faithful, so must we. Faithfulness is not only when it serves us, but even when it costs us, and we must act upon the good thing he has given to us. We are to walk in the Spirit and be filled with the Holy Spirit, without whose help we cannot fulfil our calling.
Paul then informs Timothy that some believers have fallen away, in fact, all those in Asia including Phygellus and Hermogenes (v15). Clearly Timothy must have known these two persons for them to be singled out. Paul may have been too strict for some, not flashy enough or maybe his imprisonment was too discouraging for them, and they couldn’t face it. It seems a sweeping statement that all in Asia had fallen away. Asia is not as we know it, a very large continent, but probably, a relatively small area, namely the Roman province, mainly Turkey.
We do not read of these two persons again. They may have been named as an example, but what a dubious privilege to be named in scripture. They were probably quite well known, and to be named as falling away was hardly a complement, but more like a warning to others. Maybe they had been prominent, outspoken, but I suppose the higher they come the harder they fall. It is a lesson to us all that whoever we may be, we can be led astray. Maybe they valued their own liberty and being a believer was not so important to risk ending up in prison for their faith. Paul was clearly saddened by those who had fallen away, and he encouraged Timothy to remain faithful, acknowledging that it wouldn’t be easy, especially for a young man in the circumstances he found himself in.
We then come to Onesiphorus or as an old friend of mine called him ‘One sip Horace’ to simplify it.
“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day– and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.” (v16-18)
Onesiphorus was the type of person we all need, someone who doesn’t mind what we’ve done or what we are but seeks us out and refreshes us, without holding anything against us. That’s what I call a true friend. If you have one pray for them and give thanks to God for them.
He certainly lived up to his name which means ‘help bringer’. What a testimony! Something we should aspire to.
