2 Timothy1
New Living Translation
1This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I have been sent out to tell others about the life he has promised through faith in Christ Jesus.
2I am writing to Timothy, my dear son. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace.
3Timothy, I thank God for you—the God I serve with a clear conscience, just as my ancestors did. Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.
4I long to see you again, for I remember your tears as we parted. And I will be filled with joy when we are together again.
5I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.
6This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
7For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
8So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
9For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
10And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.
11And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
13Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.
14Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
15As you know, everyone from the province of Asia has deserted me—even Phygelus and Hermogenes.
16May the Lord show special kindness to Onesiphorus and all his family because he often visited and encouraged me. He was never ashamed of me because I was in chains.
17When he came to Rome, he searched everywhere until he found me.
18May the Lord show him special kindness on the day of Christ’s return. And you know very well how helpful he was in Ephesus.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 2 Timothy 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Paul expresses great affection for Timothy. (1–5). Exhorts him to improve his spiritual gifts. (6–14). Tells of many who basely deserted him; but speaks with affection of Onesiphorus. (15–18).
vv1-5
The promise of eternal life to believers in Christ Jesus, is the leading subject of ministers who are employed according to the will of God. The blessings here named, are the best we can ask for our beloved friends, that they may have peace with God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Whatever good we do, God must have the glory. True believers have in every age the same religion as to substance. Their faith is unfeigned; it will stand the trial, and it dwells in them as a living principle. Thus pious women may take encouragement from the success of Lois and Eunice with Timothy, who proved so excellent and useful a minister. Some of the most worthy and valuable ministers the church of Christ has been favoured with, have had to bless God for early religious impressions made upon their minds by the teaching of their mothers or other female relatives.
vv6-14
God has not given us the spirit of fear, but the spirit of power, of courage and resolution, to meet difficulties and dangers; the spirit of love to him, which will carry us through opposition. And the spirit of a sound mind, quietness of mind. The Holy Spirit is not the author of a timid or cowardly disposition, or of slavish fears. We are likely to bear afflictions well, when we have strength and power from God to enable us to bear them. As is usual with Paul, when he mentions Christ and his redemption, he enlarges upon them; so full was he of that which is all our salvation, and ought to be all our desire. The call of the gospel is a holy call, making holy. Salvation is of free grace. This is said to be given us before the world began, that is, in the purpose of God from all eternity; in Christ Jesus, for all the gifts that come from God to sinful man, come in and through Christ Jesus alone. And as there is so clear a prospect of eternal happiness by faith in Him, who is the Resurrection and the Life, let us give more diligence in making his salvation sure to our souls. Those who cleave to the gospel, need not be ashamed, the cause will bear them out; but those who oppose it, shall be ashamed. The apostle had trusted his life, his soul, and eternal interests, to the Lord Jesus. No one else could deliver and secure his soul through the trials of life and death. There is a day coming, when our souls will be inquired after. Thou hadst a soul committed to thee; how was it employed? in the service of sin, or in the service of Christ? The hope of the lowest real Christian rests on the same foundation as that of the great apostle. He also has learned the value and the danger of his soul; he also has believed in Christ; and the change wrought in his soul, convinces the believer that the Lord Jesus will keep him to his heavenly kingdom. Paul exhorts Timothy to hold fast the Holy Scriptures, the substance of solid gospel truth in them. It is not enough to assent to the sound words, but we must love them. The Christian doctrine is a trust committed to us; it is of unspeakable value in itself, and will be of unspeakable advantage to us. It is committed to us, to be preserved pure and entire, yet we must not think to keep it by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us; and it will not be gained by those who trust in their own hearts, and lean to their own understandings. (2Ti 1:15-18)
vv15-18
The apostle mentions the constancy of Onesiphorus; he oft refreshed him with his letters, and counsels, and comforts, and was not ashamed of him. A good man will seek to do good. The day of death and judgment is an awful day. And if we would have mercy then, we must seek for it now of the Lord. The best we can ask, for ourselves or our friends, is, that the Lord will grant that we and they may find mercy of the Lord, when called to pass out of time into eternity, and to appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
Key Words
Παῦλος (Paûlos): (little; but remotely from a derivative of G3973 (παύω), meaning the same); Paulus, the name of a Roman and of an apostle
ἀπόστολος (apóstolos): a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
διά (diá): through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
θέλημα (thélēma): a determination (properly, the thing), i.e. (actively) choice (specially, purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or (passively) inclination
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
κατά (katá): (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
ἐπαγγελία (epangelía): an announcement (for information, assent or pledge; especially a divine assurance of good)
ζωή (zōḗ): life (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
2 Timothy 1Provides historical background of Timothy's parentage, specifically his believing Jewish mother (Eunice) and Greek father.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrast between the spirit of slavish fear/bondage and the Spirit of power, love, and adoptional courage.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Verbal and theological link regarding the promise of eternal life given before the world began.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Illuminates Timothy's 'tears' shed when parting from Paul, reflecting their deep affection and fellowship.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel of 'not being ashamed' of the gospel of Christ amidst social and physical pressure.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels Christ abolishing or destroying death and bringing life/immortality through His incarnation and triumph.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Identical charge to keep and guard that which was committed to his trust (the deposit of faith).
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Paul serving the God of his fathers/forefathers with a clear and honest conscience.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Theological link connecting God's holy calling with His eternal purpose and sovereign grace.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Parallel concerning those who actively visit, relieve, and are not ashamed of Christ's imprisoned servants.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Reaffirms Timothy's spiritual sonship and the solemn charges laid upon him by Paul.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pauline introductory formula of thanking God and unceasingly remembering his readers in prayer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Metaphorical parallel to 'stir up' (kindle/re-inflame) the spiritual gift, contrasting with 'quench not the Spirit.'
Supported by Matthew Poole
Elaborates on the desertion of Paul's associates during his trials in Rome, contrasted with Onesiphorus.
Supported by Matthew Henry
God's justice in remembering and rewarding work and love shown to His saints, as done by Onesiphorus.
Supported by Matthew Henry