Paul’s Precious Relationships
—2Timothy 1:1-18
A verse by verse study in Paul’s second letter to Timothy. In this lesson we examine chapter 1, verses 1-18, looking at three relationships that were very important to Paul. These are his relationships with Timothy, with Jesus, and with brethren.
1 Paul’s Relationship With Timothy
2Timothy 1:1-8
¶“1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God in keeping with the promise of life in Christ Jesus. 2To Timothy my beloved son. May you have grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2Timothy 1:1-2).
¶“3I am thankful to God whom I serve with a pure conscience after the manner of my forefathers. I have you in mind all the time, in my prayers night and day. 4I remember your tears and I long to see you. That would fill me with joy” (2Timothy 1:3-4).
¶“5I am mindful of the sincere faith that is within you. Such faith dwelt first in your grandmother Lois, then in your mother Eunice. I am convinced that it also dwells in you” (2Timothy 1:5).
¶“6So I remind you to kindle anew the gift that is in you from God since I laid my hands on you. ” (2Timothy 1:6).
¶“7For God has not given us a timid spirit, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-control8So don't be ashamed of our Lord’s testimony, nor of me his prisoner. Instead, by God’s power suffer for the gospel together with me” (2Timothy 1:7-8).
Verses 1-2 —Paul’s fellowship with Timothy is on three levels.
- On an official level, Paul is an apostle. Jesus Christ gives Paul the promise of eternal life. So when God appoints Paul as an apostle of Christ, how could Paul not devote himself to this ministry and do God’s will? We ought to deeply respect Paul and his apostolic writings as Timothy did.
- At a personal level, Paul is like a father to Timothy. In his first letter Paul addressed Timothy as a "true son in the faith". Christians should accept and love each other as family.
- On a spiritual level, Paul calls on God the Father and his Son (our Lord) to bless Timothy with grace, mercy, and peace. Such greetings and prayers help to enrich our fellowship in Christ
Verse 3 —Paul shows three marks of a Christian in his relationship with Timothy.
- Thankful. Although he is a prisoner (verse 8) and very lonely, he still feels blessed and grateful for the promise of eternal life (verse 1).
- Mindful. Paul is always mindful of Timothy, and he will go on to mention his mindfulness of Timothy’s tears, Timothy’s faith, Timothy’s ministry, and Timothy’s attitude, with some advice for Timothy on these matters.
- Prayerful. Paul is praying night and day. Prayer is a great blessing for Paul the prisoner, but also for those he prayed for, Timothy being one of them.
Verses 4-8 —Paul tells Timothy at the outset what concerns him.
- Timothy’s tears (v4). It must have been hard for Timothy to be separated from Paul and to face the hardships and persecutions on his own. Both Paul and Timothy long to see each other, but it might be a while before Timothy can go to Paul (2Timothy 4:13).
- Timothy’s faith (v5). Timothy was brought up by a Christian mother and grandmother. Timothy took on their faith as his own. His faith, however, was not a family tradition. It was a genuine faith of his own, formed in him by the word of God which Eunice and Lois taught him.
- Timothy’s ministry (v6). One of Paul’s concerns was that Timothy needed to kindle anew a gift he received by laying on of hands. God gives gifts in other ways as well. We need to set those gifts aflame in God’s service.
- Timothy’s attitude (v7-8). Paul encourages Timothy to live and work by power, love, and self-control, and not be timid or ashamed, especially about the gospel and Paul’s imprisonment for preaching it. Here Paul is talking about being fearless.
2 Paul’s Relationship With Jesus
2Timothy 1:9-12
¶“9God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not on the basis of our works, but rather of his own purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal. 10This purpose and grace of God is also now made clear by the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2Timothy 1:9-10).
¶“11To this gospel I was appointed a herald, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12This is also why I suffer as I do. Yet I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that Day” (2Timothy 1:11-12).
Verses 9-10 —Paul lays down convictions he wants Timothy to hold and teach.
- Saved by grace (v9). Paul’s view of the gospel is that we are saved from the consequences of our sins. This forgiveness is by God’s grace. We do not earn salvation by our good works even though good works are an essential response to God’s grace.
- A holy calling (v9). Paul says that we are not only saved, but also called with a holy calling. The saved, as a body of people, are known as "the church". The Greek word translated "church" is εκκληςια which means "the called out". Paul says this is a "holy" calling. "Holy" means "set apart", that is to say cleansed and dedicated to God.
- God s purpose in Christ (v9-10). Paul assures Timothy that God’s purpose was given in our Saviour, Christ Jesus, before times eternal. However it was his short time on earth that made God’s purpose clear because he abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
- Christ is utterly trustworthy (v11-12). Paul suffers for Christ yet trusts him completely —so much so that he not only believes, but also knows whom he has believed. We sometimes forget that we not only believe the gospel, but we know its Author intimately, and we are appointed to his ministry.
3 Paul’s Relationship With Brethren
2Timothy 1:13-18
¶“13”Retain the pattern of sound words which you heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14By the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, keep the good thing entrusted to you (2Timothy 1:13-14).
¶“15You know that all those in Asia have turned their backs on me. Among them are Phygelus and Hermogenes.” (2Timothy 1:15).
¶“16May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for often he has refreshed me, and he was not ashamed of my chains. 17Indeed, when he arrived in Rome, how earnestly he sought me out and found me.” (2Timothy 1:16-17).
¶“18May Onesiphorus be granted by the Lord to find mercy from the Lord in that Day. And you know very well how much he served me at Ephesus” (2Timothy 1:18).
Verses 13-18 —Paul’s judgment of others.
- Timothy (v13-14). Paul has entrusted the gospel to Timothy counting him worthy to be a preacher. Paul encourages Timothy to keep that trust, and that ministry, according to the pattern of sound words that he heard from Paul. The "pattern" was given by Christ and Paul judges Timothy’s preaching by whether it confirms to that pattern.
- Phygellus and Hermogenes (v15). In the province of Asia those who had once worked with Paul now turned away from him. Paul judged them as being ashamed of his imprisonment.
- Onesiphorus (v16-18). This man was an exception. He had served Paul in many ways in Ephesus (a city in Asia) and he came to Rome to find Paul and help him. Paul judged him to be very zealous and worthy of mercy from the Lord on the Day of Judgment.