Introductory remarks:
In this opening chapter Paul comforts Timothy, his son in the Lord, to persevere amidst all the apostasy surrounding the assembly in Ephesus, and encouraging Timothy by reminding him of all the loved ones that have been instrumental in his reaching spiritual maturity. "Paul greets Timothy as an apostle called by God to his dearly beloved son. He is thankful for Timothy's enduring true faith that was also in his grandmother and mother. He therefore reminds him to use the gift God gave and not to let afflictions from men stop his work. Paul says Christ, having abolished death, called him to preach and he now suffers for his work, but is not dissuaded because he knows whom he believes and trusts His faithfulness to keep him. He urges Timothy to hold onto the truth he taught him through the Holy Ghost. Paul says that men have turned away from him but Onesiphorus has been very good to him both in Ephesus and in Rome" (A Survey of 2 Timothy - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Salutation vv. 1-2: Loyalty to the Gospel vv. 3-18.
Salutation
Verse 1, "Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus."
LGT "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by [the] will of God, according to [the] promise of life, which [is] in Christ Jesus."
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God: it is obvious that Paul has others than Timothy in view; otherwise he would not have claimed his apostleship. According to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus: this is the promise of the life, which is union with Christ, now and in the future. The life in Christ at the present is our union with Him, and the life promised in Christ for the future is eternal life. Paul's mission as an apostle was to offer this gospel of grace to the world.
Verse 2, "To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
LGT "To Timotheus [my] beloved child; Grace, mercy, peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
To Timothy my beloved child: as has been noted before, Paul regards Timothy as his spiritual son, and has all confidence in him. It is through Paul's teaching grace that brought the two together; for when Timothy heard Paul teach grace, he accepted the truth and became part of the family of God and a true beloved child of Paul's in a spiritual sense. Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord: Paul adds the word mercy here to his regular form of greeting left out in the other epistles to encourage Timothy and to give to the Ephesian believers the same confidence in Timothy that he has in him. Paul stresses here the Lordship of Jesus Christ against the Gnostic heresy that taught against Christ's deity.
Loyalty to the Gospel
Verse 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."
LGT "I have thanks to God, whom I serve from [my] forefathers with pure conscience, how unceasingly I have remembrance of thee in my supplication night and day:"
I have thanks to God: who made our relationship possible through His wonderful grace. Whom I serve from my forefathers: as the true Israelite served God as His chosen people. Paul is referring to the Israelite such as Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Isaac, Jacob, and David, to name a few of the faithful ones who obeyed God, and worshipped Him in a worthy manner, not the Judaizing self-righteous Pharisees, and those who crucified Christ, and were causing so much havoc in the church at Ephesus, and speaking falsely against Paul. With pure conscience: Paul means that he is worshipping God at the present with a pure conscience that he is worshipping from his knowledge in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross, and all the true Israelite also accepted Christ when He presented Himself. Paul is not referring to when he was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, when he set out to stamp out Christianity; but he is referring to his conversion on the road to Damascus, and his life since then. How unceasingly I have remembrance of thee in my supplication night and day: Paul says that he prays for Timothy upon every thought of him, emphasizing his constancy in prayer as an example to all the believers to follow.
Verse 4, "Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy."
LGT "Longing to see you, remembering your tears, in order that with joy I may be filled."
Longing to see you: Paul really loved Timothy, and the next phrase tells us that Timothy really loved Paul. Remembering your tears: Paul was back in prison in Rome, and this overwhelmed Timothy. In order that with joy I may be filled: when the two are reunited. Paul was in prison and about to die, and he longed to see his child again before he died.
Verse 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."
LGT "Taking remembrance of the genuine faith in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice, and stand persuaded that also in thee."
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Taking remembrance of the genuine faith in thee: Paul was persuaded that Timothy was a genuine believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois and in thy mother Eunice: Lois and Eunice, Christian Hebrew woman, who brought Timothy up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; nothing is said about his father except that he was a Greek (Acts 16:1), and probably an unbeliever. Calvin notes that "Timothy, as a baby, sucked godliness along with his milk." Christian women everywhere should be encouraged by this verse that gives evidence of how important it is to raise children up in the faith. And stand persuaded that in thee also: Paul is saying that Timothy's grandmother and mother instilled in him the faith as a child that grew in Timothy and helped him attain his present position as the overseer in the Ephesian assembly.
Verse 6, "wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by putting on of my hands."
LGT "For which cause I remind thee to kindle up the gift of God which is in thee through the laying on of my hands."
For which cause: Paul did not want Timothy to be dejected concerning his imprisonment, but to concentrate on the wonderful ministry he was entrusted. Paul did not think Timothy's faith had cooled; he simply wanted to continue to encourage his young charge. I remind thee to kindle up the gift of God: Paul says that he wanted Timothy to trust in God, for it is the gift of the Holy Spirit that he possessed, and he wanted him to keep the fire burning, and rely on the Holy Spirit. Which is in thee through the laying on of my hands: the laying on of the hands is not how the gift was imparted, it was Paul passing the privilege of overseeing the Ephesian church on to Timothy, identifying himself with Timothy as his spiritual partner.
Verse 7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind."
LGT "For God gave us not a spirit of cowardice, but of power and of love and of wise discretion."
For God gave us not a spirit of cowardice: the spirit is the human spirit gifted by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's gift given to Timothy drives out all fear. But of power: this power given by the Holy Spirit is not the power to work miracles, as such, but the power to combat all fear from outside threats and persecutions. When we think of how these men of God were able to face death with a song, this verse gives us the answer; the Holy Spirit with this power gifted them. And of love: they were able to love others with divine love by the Holy Spirit. We are not able to love others, except by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And of wise discretion: this wise discretion was the gift of good judgment and prudence, showing godly sense in all situations; they didn't have to go to others for advice; others came to them. They were able to view the details of life from God's Divine Viewpoint, and therefore, they were able to make wise decisions. They were not ruled by their emotions, for they had learned to rule their emotions and make decisions based on the grace of God.
Verse 8, "Be not 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."
LGT "Therefore you should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor me His prisoner, but endure evils along with the Glad Tidings according to God's power:"
Therefore you should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord: Paul tells Timothy not to let misplaced ambition or fear of disgrace keep him from preaching the gospel of grace. Timothy was not to let the calumnies of the wicked make him ashamed of his calling. Nor of me His prisoner: Timothy knew that Paul had been thrown in to prison for preaching the gospel of grace, and that he himself might shrink back because of the same. But endure evils along with the Glad Tidings: Paul tells Timothy that he will endure evil, for it is the common company of anyone who preaches the truth. Samuel Rutherford made this statement: "If you were not strangers here, the hounds of the world would not bark at you" (Quoted by McGee).
William Pringle notes:
"Paul shows in the first place, that the gospel cannot be without afflictions. Not that God does not call men to unity in the faith, and the doctrine of the gospel is the message of reconciliation; but yet, on the one hand, there are those who are drawn by the power of His Holy Spirit, while unbelievers remain in their hardness; and, on the other hand, there is the fire that is kindled, as, when thunders are generated in the air, there must be great troubles, so is it when the gospel is preached. And now, if the gospel brings afflictions, and of our Lord Jesus Christ wishes that what He endured in His person shall be fulfilled in His members, and that every day shall be, as it were, crucified, is it lawful for us to withdraw from that condition? Since, therefore, all our hope lies in the gospel, and since we ought to lean upon it, let us ponder what Paul says, that we must lend support to our brethren, when we see that they are assailed, that men trample them under their feet, spit in their face, and insult them, let us choose to be their companion for enduring the reproaches and base conduct of the world, rather than to be honored, to be in good reputation and credit, and yet to be estranged from those who suffer for the cause which we have in common with them."
According to God's power: Paul tells Timothy that God has provided the Holy Spirit, and the gifts He has given him, and that He will sustain him, and he will come out of every situation victorious. Today we have the completed Word of God, and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, and this will sustain us, and we will be victorious, for "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13).
Verse 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."
LGT "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 us in Christ Jesus before eternal time."
Who has saved us: salvation is attributed to God, by the work of His only begotten Son. God planned salvation, the Son carried out the plan, and the Holy Spirit empowered the plan. And called us with a holy calling: not because of who and what we are, but who and what Christ is, and what He accomplished for us on the cross. We have been saved from the slave market of sin to this holy calling of being conformed to the image of His dear Son. We have been engrafted into His Son through His adopting us as full-grown sons and daughters. We are now in union with Him, indwelt with His Holy Spirit. Not according to our works: salvation is based solely in Christ Jesus our Lord, "not by works lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:9). But according to His own purpose and grace: God's purpose in grace was a hidden mystery in the OT, and was only seen in part through the signs and ordinances, but is now revealed by the apostle Paul in the NT: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is God's gift to you" (Eph. 2:8) [My own literal translation]. Which was given us in Christ Jesus before eternal time: God's plan of salvation eternally existed in the mind of God. The plan of God is so certain that it actually was accomplished in eternity past.
Verse 10, "But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
LGT "But made manifest now by the appearing of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, since He made death of none effect, and brought to light life and incorruptibility by the gospel of grace."
But made manifest now: the gospel of grace has now been revealed in the NT by the apostle Paul. By the appearing of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus: the promise of the Messiah in the OT is now made manifest by Christ Jesus going to the cross, being crucified for the sins of the world, and then being resurrected and ascending to the right of the Father. Since He made death of none effect: Paul is writing about spiritual death, separation from God for eternity. Christ' death on the Cross made it possible that no one had to die spiritually. Because of the sin of one man [Adam] "sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). And brought to light life and incorruptibility: Through one man Christ we have life everlasting "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). By the gospel of grace: this is grace: Christ did it all; we do not deserve eternal life; it is who and what Christ is, and what He accomplished on our behalf; it is "faith alone in Christ alone." All we did to receive everlasting life was believe in Christ; "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I depend."
Verse 11, "Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles."
LGT "To which I was appointed a herald and apostle and teacher:"
The phrase "of the Gentiles" is not in the original, but the transcribers brought it forward from 1 Tim. 2:7. Paul lists each of these gifts of the Spirit separately. Paul was a herald which was that he did the work of evangelizing, that is, establishing local churches; he was also an apostle, that is, one sent from God with the inspired Word of God; he was a teacher, that is, one who teaches the Word of God, or explains the Word of God. Today we have only teachers, and they are not Spirit gifted, for they have the Word of God complete, and need no other gift. The more the man studies, the more he is able to teach; case closed!
Verse 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."
LGT "For which cause also these things I suffer: but I am not ashamed; for I know in whom I have put my trust, and am persuaded that He is able to keep of me the deposit committed [to Him] for that day."
For which cause also these things I suffer: for the cause that Paul was a herald, apostle and a teacher of the gospel of grace. But I am not ashamed: although Paul was in prison facing death, he is not ashamed of the gospel of grace that was committed unto him. For I know whom I have put my trust: Paul had complete trust in God for he had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and he knew that union could never be separated. And am persuaded that He is able: Paul was not able, but the Holy Spirit that indwelt him was able. God is the only One who is able to keep our deposits into our heavenly account. To keep of me the deposit: Paul put his complete trust in God his Savior. Paul says that he has committed his very soul to the Lord Jesus Christ for safekeeping. All that we are, and all that we shall be is in the hands of our heavenly Father, and it is wonderful to know that He is able, for He knows I am not able to keep Him. Committed to Him for that day: "That day" is the second coming of Christ when we shall ever be with the Lord. Some expositors say it means the "day of judgment", but in the case of the believer, he has already been judged by Christ death, and the only judgment we believers will face is the judgment seat of Christ, where we will either receive a reward or lose a reward.
Verse 13, "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus."
LGT "Hold fast the practice of sound words, which [words] from me you did hear, in faith and love which [are] in Christ Jesus."
Hold fast the system of sound words: Paul tells Timothy to not only teach but also live the doctrine he taught. "He was not barely to assert the words of Scripture, but he was to hold fast the summary, or system of the truths he had heard from his spiritual father, and a way of dependence on Christ, to show his fidelity and love to his Redeemer. This system of doctrine he was to keep as a pledge committed to his trust, by the help of the Holy Spirit. Ministers are to hold fast every truth, but, above all, those particular truths which are the peculiar butt of the devil's opposition, and meet with rough treatment in the times in which they live; so doing, they comply with the command which their exalted Master laid upon the pastor of the church at Philadelphia, and then they may hope for the blessing He promised (Rev. 3:8, 10, 11)" (Abraham Taylor). Which words from me you did hear: the grace doctrines I taught you, these inspired words you must teach. Calvin gives an apt illustration of how the Catholic Church has completely turned away from the form of sound doctrine: "Hence we see what kind of theology there is in Popery, which has degenerated so far from the pattern which Paul recommends, that it resembles the riddles of diviners or soothsayers rather than a doctrine taken from the Word of God. What taste of Paul's writings, I ask, is there in all the books of the schoolmen? This licentiousness in corrupting doctrine shows that there are great reasons why Paul invites Timothy to hold fast the original and natural form. And he contrasts sound words not only with doctrines manifestly wicked, but with useless questions, which, instead of health, bring nothing but disease." In faith and love which are in Christ Jesus: all faith and love reside in Christ Jesus, and it is union and fellowship with Christ that Timothy will be able to present the true form of sound doctrine.
Verse 14, "That good things which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us."
LGT "The good deposit committed [to thee] keep by [the] Holy Spirit which dwells in us."
The most important lesson Paul is teaching us is that we cannot live the Christian life apart from the Holy Spirit. We cannot understand grace doctrine without the Spirit's helping our infirmities in learning. The Holy Spirit is dwelling in us and He will teach us as long as we are willing to let Him; remember, we can quench the Spirit and we can grieve the Spirit by sinning; so it is up to us whether or not we want to remain in fellowship with the Father and allow the Spirit to teach us; it is our choice; we can yield to the Spirit, or we can remain stupid and let life roll by without a care in the world. Ignorance may be bliss, but the eternal outcome will be misery of a wasted life.
Verse 15, "This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes."
LGT "Thou knowest this, that all who [are] in Asia turned away from me, of whom is Phygellus and Hermogenes."
Thou knowest this, that all who are in Asia turned away from me: they did not turn away from the faith, just from Paul, because he was in prison. Of whom is Phygellus and Hermogenes: Paul names two of the brethren that left him. No more is known of these two cowards in the faith. Paul uses the term "all" in a general sense, for there were those in Ephesus that stood by him. This portion of Asia Paul is speaking of Ephesus was the capital.
Verse 16, "The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chains."
LGT "May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, because he refreshed me often, and was not ashamed of my chains."
This Christian, Onesiphorus, showed benevolence to Paul, and was not ashamed to brave the criticisms and dangers from those who opposed Paul, and would visit him with refreshment in prison.
Verse 17, "But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me."
LGT "But having been in Rome, more diligently he sought me out and found [me]."
Apparently when he was in Rome, Onesiphorus sought out Paul at the risk of his own life. He may have been a merchant and visited Rome often. Nevertheless, this man was very dear to Paul because he sought him out and refreshed him, both physically and spiritually.
Verse 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."
LGT "May the Lord grant him to find mercy from [the] Lord in that day. And you well know all the service he rendered me at Ephesus."
May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord: Paul knows from the Lord, that this is the only place we may find mercy, and understanding, and also compassion. In that day: Paul looks forward to future rewards, where we should lay up treasures that are eternal. And you well know all the service he rendered me at Ephesus: Timothy knew better than Paul how much Onesiphorus spent and was spent in his service to Paul. Calvin notes: "And if this promise does not powerfully animate and encourage us to the exercise of kindness, we are worse than stupid. Hence it follows that when God rewards us, it is not on account of our merits or of any excellence that is in us; but that the best and most valuable reward which He bestows upon us is, when He pardons us, and shows Himself to be, not a stern judge, but a kind and understanding Father."
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