2 Timothy is the second letter Paul wrote to Timothy, written about 66 or 67 A.D. After his first letter he was released and did visit Timothy and all the churches. This second letter was written after the second arrest and trial in which he was beheaded soon after this letter. This letter being a pastoral letter also. Though this one is specifically written for all, the church, the home, and individuals.
2Timothy 1 and verse 1 reads.
2Tim.1:1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
Paul’s salutations always note’s he’s the thirteenth apostle by the will of God. Acts 9:15.
2Tim.1:2] To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
His spiritual son. We call ourselves brothers, but Paul calls him son because he mentored him in scriptures, and would leave the churches in his hands.
2Tim.1:3] I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
His service to the LORD, the same LORD that his fathers served with sound mind. He also never ceased praying for Timothy and the church. It was very hard in those days to be a Christian.
2Tim.1:4] Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
Paul would not see Timothy again he would be beheaded soon after his trial.
2Tim.1:5] When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
From grandmother to daughter to son. Making a difference from generation to generation, bringing your children up in the LORD.
2Tim.1:6] Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Speaking of when by putting on hands, he bestowed upon him the Holy Spirit.
2Tim.1:7] For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Let’s go to Luke and read about these powers. Luke 10 and verse 19 reads.
Luke 10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
With the powers comes love and a sound mind. Back to 2Tim.1 and verse 8 reads.
2Tim.1:8] Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Called from before this world age began. His Elect that overcame in the first earth age and by never bowing a knee to Satan. Instead, we fought then and we will fight now for the LORD. Study Genesis chapter 1 with me, it is so important to this understanding.
2Tim.1:10] But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Manifest is made known, Jesus abolished death by being crucified and in Hebrews 2:14 it explains. But I want to go to John 1 and it reads.
John 1:1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
[2] The same was in the beginning with God.
[3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
[4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And verse 14 to complete.
John 1:14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
By his death on the cross we see the Lamb of God slain for our sins, not his, that by repentance our sins are forgiven and giving us life eternal. Back to 2Timothy and verse 11 reads.
2Tim.1:11] Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
His threefold ministry given to him in Acts 9:15.
2Tim.1:12] For the which cause 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 that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Persecution is only for the Godly. “Pick up your cross and follow me”. Paul would die soon after he wrote this letter to Timothy.
2Tim.1:13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
The words of wisdom that you heard from me hold them fast in your heart Timothy for they are the Word of God.
2Tim.1:14] That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
When you are in Christ, he is in you, this is the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Word of God.
2Tim.1:15] This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
Those two did evil when witnessing against Paul, they were false witnesses.
2Tim.1:16] The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
[17] But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
[18] The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
Onesiphorus was another good man. He would come to Paul and minister under him. Meaning he would keep up the church in Ephesus for him in his absence. I can’t imagine the sadness that Timothy endured at this time, knowing what he knew. This will get deeper as we go, let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible