2 Tim 1:3-14
SS Lesson for 02/12/2023
Devotional Scriptures: Prov 4:1-13
Two recognized groupings of some of the apostle Paul’s writings are the Prison Epistles (Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon) and the Pastoral Epistles (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus). The letter of 2 Timothy could actually fit in either category since Paul wrote it while imprisoned (2 Timothy 1:16; 2:9). The New Testament presents 2 Timothy in an uncomplicated fashion: as a letter written by the apostle Paul to the younger evangelist Timothy. We are introduced to the person of Timothy in Acts 16:1-3. That introduction occurs in the context of Paul’s second missionary journey, which extends from Acts 15:36 to 18:22. Over time, Paul came to think quite highly of Timothy as a protégé, referring to him four times as a “son” in a spiritual sense (1 Corinthians 4:17; Philippians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2). We know certain things about Timothy in a personal sense: he was relatively young (1 Timothy 4:12), probably had a reserved personality (1 Corinthians 16:10), and was frequently ill (1 Timothy 5:23). His ancestry was that of both Judaism and paganism (Acts 16:1; see further commentary below), and he had a good reputation among the believers of his native region (16:2). Paul’s trust in him increased over time (see 19:22), so much so that Timothy is named as the co-sender of some of Paul’s letters (example: 2 Corinthians 1:1). Timothy’s dedication to the gospel resulted in his having been imprisoned at some point (Hebrews 13:23). The two dozen occurrences of his name in the New Testament indicate the importance of his role in the spread of the gospel. Following his days as a traveling missionary with Paul, Timothy seems to have settled into a ministry located in Ephesus (1 Timothy 1:3). We date the letter of 2 Timothy to about AD 67, as Paul’s final New Testament writing before his execution in Rome (see 2 Timothy 4:6-8). Persecution under Emperor Nero (reigned AD 54-68) was underway. But internal problems of the church at Ephesus and Timothy’s leadership in that regard there were Paul’s main concerns.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
3 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,
4 greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy,
5 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.
10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
31 Pray that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea and that my service in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints there,
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.'
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
8 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,
9 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,
10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love . But the greatest of these is love .
14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind . Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling , fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.
6 And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; 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.
13 Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
14 That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season ; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach , not resentful.
27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit — just as it has taught you, remain in him.
2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine .
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
Paul’s letter to Timothy is filled with commands. This section alone contains seven. As I have indicated by the title to this section, these verses contain Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to persevere in the faith, and by so doing to fulfill his calling. In this passage Paul specifies several areas of application.
(1) Hold fast to sound doctrine, defending it against false teaching (1:13-14; 2:1).
(2) Pass this faith on to the next generation, to perpetuate the faith (2:2).
(3) Don’t be ashamed of the gospel, or of faithful men like Paul, but rather willingly accept his share of suffering for the sake of the gospel (1:8; 2:3).
(4) Devote yourself to your ministry, and in particular rekindle your spiritual gift (1:6; 2:3-7). Paul gives Timothy three illustrations of the kind of devotion that is required of him in 2:3-7. First, like a soldier, Timothy must not be distracted by worldly pursuits, but must devote himself to his mission. Second, like an athlete, Timothy must discipline himself to keep the rules of the race. Third, like a farmer, Timothy should expect to participate in the fruits of his labors. This third example appears to provide the means to fulfill the first.
Paul’s call for Timothy’s continued faithfulness is not without godly incentives and motivations. First and foremost is Timothy’s personal faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ (1:5, 9-10). Then there is the presence and power of the Spirit (1:6-7). There is also the security of every saint, assuring him of eternal life, immortality, and participation in the kingdom of God (1:1, 10, 12; 2:11-12a). God is the One Who protects and preserves that which He has entrusted to us (1:12, 14). There is the example of godly men like Onesiphorus, who at great personal risk sought to minister to Paul in his imprisonment (1:16-18).
Finally, Paul encourages Timothy on the basis of his godly heritage:
3 I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I recall your sincere faith that was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you (2 Timothy 1:3-5, emphasis mine).
I have to admit I was puzzled by Paul’s reference to his clear conscience, which he likened to that of his ancestors. What was this all about? I recall Paul speaking of his “clear conscience,” as he did, for example, when he stood before the Sanhedrin in Acts 23:1. But why this reference to his ancestors? What is the difference between “Paul’s ancestors” in 2 Timothy 1:3 and the “fathers” of unbelieving Jews who are mentioned in Acts 7:51-52; 28:24-28; Hebrews 3:8-10?
I believe that Paul is acknowledging his relationship with the faithful “fathers” of the past, those who trusted in God and obeyed His word. These “fathers” would be people like those named in the “hall of faith” in Hebrews 11. These “fathers” paid for their faith and obedience by enduring suffering and affliction. These “ancestors” would include men like Moses and many others:
24 By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin’s fleeting pleasure. 26 He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward. . . . 35 . . . But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. 36 And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. 39 And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. 40 For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us (Hebrews 11:24-26, 35b-40).
In any one generation, the number of the faithful may not be that great, but Paul looks beyond his own generation for a moment and considers his suffering in the context of the history of the faithful, from the beginning of time until the present. Paul is a man who is about to die, a man who has been forsaken by many of his friends and associates (2 Timothy 4:5-18). In the midst of his adversity, Paul sees himself as a part of the community of the faithful and regards himself as being in good company. Paul stands in a long line of faithful men and women. This “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) now cheers him on, urging him to finish his race.
Timothy, too, stands in this same company of the faithful. Paul is finishing his race, and he is passing the baton on to Timothy, who must run his course to completion. In addition to the saints of the past, Timothy has had a long association with Paul, and before that Timothy was nurtured in the faith by his mother and grandmother. This godly heritage should inspire Timothy to complete his course.
It was not enough for Timothy to carry the baton and to finish his course. He, like Paul, must pass it on, so that the heritage of a faithful remnant is maintained until the coming of our Lord:
1 So you, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well (2 Timothy 2:1-2).
Just as Lois and Eunice passed the faith on to Timothy, so Timothy must pass his faith on to the next generation. As Paul reminded Timothy of the things he had learned (2:8), so Timothy must remind others (2:14). Timothy is to pass the torch by committing himself to men who have proven faithful, and instilling the truths of the faith in them. They, in turn, are to teach these truths to others.
In verses 8-13, Paul enumerates some of the elements of the doctrine which he had passed on to Timothy in the presence of many witnesses:
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David; such is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship to the point of imprisonment as a criminal, but God’s message is not imprisoned! 10 So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory. 11 This saying is trustworthy:
If we died with him, we will also live with him. 12 If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. 13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:8-13).
Here is a further installment in Paul’s declaration of the gospel for which he is in chains. Jesus is the Christ (2:8), the promised Messiah, Who was crushed for our sins (see Isaiah 52:13—53:12). He is the One Who was raised from the dead (2:8), which assures us of our resurrection and rewards (or punishment – 2:11-13). It was Christ that Paul preached, and it was for this preaching that he suffered imprisonment. He did so for those who were chosen for salvation, knowing that they will obtain salvation and eternal glory (2:9-10). The words of verses 11-13 are perhaps the words of a hymn, and they speak of this glory.
These verses are somewhat problematic to the reader, because they may appear to contradict other Scriptures. I am speaking particularly of the second half of verse 12, which reads, “If we deny him, he will also deny us.” Does this mean that a Christian can lose his or her salvation? Too many verses tell us that this cannot be the case. What, then, is this verse saying?
I understand this poem or hymn to have two main parts, which should be divided in this way:
Part I: Reassurance for Saints:
If we died with him, we will also live with him.
If we endure, we will also reign with him (verses 11b-12a).
Part II: Warning for Unbelievers:
If we deny him, he will also deny us.
13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, since he cannot deny himself (verses 12b-13).
All believers have died with Christ, and they have also been raised to new life in Him (Romans 6:1-11). Thus, those who have died with Christ have the assurance that they will also live with Him. This assumes the perseverance of the saints, which is reinforced by verse 12a: “If we endure, we will also reign with him.” Christians are those who have died and risen from the dead in Christ, and because they are Christians they will endure. Even in times of suffering this gives us the assurance that we will also reign with Him when He returns to establish His kingdom.
The second half of the hymn turns to a word of warning for all those who are not true believers. If someone denies Him, our Lord will deny them (verse 12b, emphasis mine):
8 “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels. 9 But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels” (Luke 12:8-9, emphasis mine).
The term “denies,” found in Luke 12:9, employs the same verb that Paul uses in 2 Timothy 2:12b. The one who “denies” Christ is the one who does not believe.
In my opinion, verse 13 is where we are tempted to get confused. We read this verse in the following manner:
If we, as Christians, are not faithful to God (at some point in our lives),
God remains faithful to us, because He cannot deny Himself.
The term which is rendered “unfaithful” in 2:13 is found 8 times in the New Testament. The term is used to describe the disciples “unbelief” with reference to our Lord’s resurrection (Mark 16:11; Luke 24:11, 41). In the other texts, excluding 2 Timothy 2:13, the term is used to depict the unbelief of the lost:
The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:16, emphasis mine).
Some were convinced by what he said, but others refused to believe (Acts 28:24, emphasis mine).
7 So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:7, emphasis mine).
The meaning in all cases is unbelief (whether in Christ as Savior, or in Christ’s resurrection); the term is never used of unfaithfulness, or of a lapse in faith (as we see, for example, in our Lord’s disciples). The last half of verse 12 and verse 13 refer to the same people – unbelievers.
I believe that the point of Paul’s words in verse 13 is clearly conveyed in another Pauline passage:
3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and all mankind shown up as liars, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged” (Romans 3:3-4, emphasis mine).
In the context in Romans, Paul has just shown that the Jews failed to live up to the law that they professed to esteem and uphold (Romans 2:17-29). The question he raises is this: “If the Jews have refused to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, does this mean that God’s promises are null and void?” “Does Israel’s lack of faith undermine and nullify the faithfulness of God?” Paul’s answer is very clear. “No!” Israel’s unbelief does not, in any way, undermine God’s covenant promises, or His faithfulness to these promises. God will show Himself true, even if all men prove to be liars (which they are). This is precisely the point Paul is making in 2 Timothy 2:13. Men who deny the Savior will be denied by the Savior; they won’t get into heaven. Put differently, even though men don’t believe in Him, God will still remain faithful to Himself, and to His promises (and these promises include the threat of eternal torment, as well as His promises of blessing).
I believe that this way of interpreting this hymn is consistent with the overall message of 2 Timothy. On the one hand Paul encourages his “spiritual son” Timothy to endure in his (true) faith. On the other hand Paul warns of the condemnation of those false teachers who may very well be outside the faith (see, for example, 2 Timothy 2:23-25). One might not be certain whether such folks are saved or not, which explains why Paul would say,
However, God’s solid foundation remains standing, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from evil” (2 Timothy 2:19).
Let me make one last comment about the hymn Paul cites in 2:11-13. The essence of this hymn is to stress the outcome of one’s faith or unbelief. Those who are saved and who endure in their faith (as Paul has exhorted Timothy to do) are assured of eternal life and a place of honor and authority in His kingdom (2:11-12a). Unbelievers who deny the Savior are assured of rejection; they will have no part in the kingdom (2:12b-13). These two destinies take place after the resurrection of the dead, the very thing the false teachers seek to deny in one way or another (see 1 Corinthians 15:12; 2 Timothy 2:18).
(Adapted from URL:https://bible.org/seriespage/2-timothy-perseverance-difficult-days)
In our media-saturated environment, it can be hard to find the space for sound, healthy teaching. Even in Christian circles, it is easy to get carried away with worries over the state of the world and of society. May today’s text remind us to center our focus on the life-altering power of the gospel. Let us resolve to make Paul’s charge to Timothy his charge to us as well!
In verse 5 of our passage Paul used the term “Unfeigned faith”. “Unfeigned faith” means a faith with no pretense about it. This is not a faith that has just jumped on the bandwagon, so to speak. Timothy, his mother, and his grandmother had a true faith that had stood the test of time and been passed down through the generations. So often parents wonder why their children have not remained in the church or have changed to a radically different faith. Could it be that the faith the parents spoke of in church did not come home in its true form? Children are very discerning. They can smell hypocrisy from a mile away. Faith that is feigned, or pretended, will not impress your children. They will see no need to continue in it and will look for something that seems real to them or drop the faith altogether. On the other hand, true faith lived out without hypocrisy will draw your children to God. While none of us can live perfectly before our children and not all sincere believers are rewarded with godly children, the principle does apply. One of the reasons that Paul was persuaded that Timothy had the true, unfeigned faith of his mother and grandmother was that Timothy’s father was Greek. Since his mother continued in her Christian beliefs despite having a pagan husband, it was evident that she was a true believer in Jesus Christ. Timothy too had to make a choice whether to follow his mother’s religion or his father’s. Since he chose Christianity, Paul was confident that he had a true faith. Choosing Christianity in the early days of the church would have almost guaranteed persecution of some kind. It also would have been a hard choice for a young boy to go against his father. There is encouragement here for men and women who have unbelieving spouses. The positive influence of a godly parent and grandparent is not to be underestimated (1 Cor 7:14)! I am sure that Paul would not have encouraged Timothy in this way unless he saw true fruit in his life and in the lives of Lois and Eunice. There were many false believers stirring up trouble in the churches that Paul had started. Paul was on the lockout for falseness in the faith of the believers. “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16). Seeing the faith of young Christians is an encouragement to all believers. Paul rejoiced in the “unfeigned faith” of Timothy and was blessed as he called it to mind. I am sure that seeing Timothy’s true faith blessed his mother and grandmother very much as well. Perhaps Paul was also reminding Timothy of his godly heritage. Timothy had reason to rejoice that he had been brought up with Christian influence from his earliest days. Those of you who grew up in Christian homes should rejoice every day that you received the faith at an early age and escaped many of the sins and troubles you might have had otherwise. The Bible says that “children are an heritage of the Lord” (Ps. 127:3). Since all of us desire to see our children continue in true faith in Christ, let us live before them with the unfeigned faith of Lois and Eunice.