Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, according to the promise of the life which is in Christ Jesus, to Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
I 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 longing to see you, remembering your tears, that I may be filled with joy; having 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.
For 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. For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control. Therefore 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, 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. For this, I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For 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.
Hold the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, guard through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.
This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently, and found me (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.
You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn’t crowned unless he has competed by the rules. The farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops. Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Good News, in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God’s word isn’t chained. Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. This saying is faithful:
“For if we died with him,
we will also live with him.
If we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we deny him,
he also will deny us.
If we are faithless,
he remains faithful.
He can’t deny himself.”
Thoughts
This is a beautiful vignette of an older man mentoring a younger man. Paul points out all that Timothy has going for him, and after that reminder, encourages him to recharge himself and continue on in service to God. This type of mentoring needs to be revived in our churches. Older members who have persevered must look to their younger counterparts and encourage them to continue on in their faith and to pass along what they have learned to others.
Questions
- Do you serve God with a pure conscience?
- Do you have an ongoing relationship with someone you have mentored in their walk with Christ?
- Is a sincere faith hereditary? If so, how? If not, then how is faith passed down from generation to generation?
- Do you recognize a gift of God residing within you? Did you receive it through the laying on of hands? If not, how did you receive it? Does it need to be stirred up or are you using it on a regular basis to glorify God?
- Do you recognize within you a spirit of power, love, and self-control?
- Have you ever been ashamed of the testimony of Jesus?
- Have you ever endured hardship for the gospel?
- Do you believe that God has appointed you to a certain work? If so, what is it?
- Are you absolutely certain in your following of Jesus Christ? Are you certain that he will deliver you from death and judgment?
- Do you have a mentor who has put down a pattern of sound words in front of you?
- Are there those in your circle who have turned away from following Christ?
- Are there those in your circle who have gone out of their way to serve the servants of Christ?
- How are we strengthened in the grace that is Christ Jesus?
- Are you currently committing the truths of Christ to other faithful followers? Since we have the Bible is this necessary for Christ followers to do?
- What hardships must we endure today as Christ followers? What hardships must be endured in other countries? What’s our commitment/involvement to our brothers and sisters in countries that are less tolerant to the gospel?
- When is a “Christian soldier” off duty?
- As a “Christian athlete” what rules are we to follow in competition?
- How do we, as “Christian farmers,” share in the first of the crops?
- Is God’s word chained today? If so, how? If not, explain.
- What things do we endure for the chosen ones’ sake?
- How do we die with Christ?
- How do we endure with Christ? How will we reign with him?
- How is Christ faithful to us when we are faithless?
- What does Paul mean when he says that he (Christ) cannot deny himself?
Experience
It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone talk about the power we have in our lives as Christ followers. It’s expressed here in this passage this way: “For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.” Do you believe this to be true—and if so, how does it manifest itself in your day-to-day life?
Prayer
Father, I pray for mentoring relationships in your kingdom. I pray that you will use me to mentor those younger in the faith than I am. I pray that you will send older mentors to make me more powerful—more loving, more self-controlled. I pray that these relationships will reinvigorate your church. Amen.
