◄ 2 Timothy 1 Devotional Commentary ►

2 Timothy 1:2

Following on from his introductory greeting in this letter to Timothy, Paul immediately identifies himself as an apostle of Christ according to the will of God. He confirms that His ministry is according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, by faith... before addressing Timothy as, "my dearly beloved son."

Timothy was not Paul's physical read more...

2 Timothy 1:4

As he penned his final epistle from a dungeon in Rome, Paul wanted to encourage this young pastor to stand fast in the faith and endure the inevitable challenges he would face, if he were to be faithful in ministry, remain true to the glorious gospel of grace, and preach the Word of God to a world that was dead in sins and at enmity with God.

Timothy was Paul's dear son in the faith, and this verse alone shows how his heart read more...

2 Timothy 1:5

As Paul was nearing the end of his ministry, we discover that all but a handful of believers had deserted him and many were straying from the gospel of grace. Following a life of hardship and pain where he determined to preach nothing but Christ crucified, we discover Paul at the end of his life, alone and in a Roman prison cell. He obviously recalled the sincere faith that so exemplified this special young disciple as he wrote his final epistle, but so too did he read more...

2 Timothy 1:6

As Paul neared the end of his life, the wisdom he proffered to Timothy is as relevant today as the day on which he picked up his quill to pen his final message as God's chosen apostle to the Gentiles. Having joyfully recalled his trust in Jesus, as well as the sincere faith of his mother and grandmother, Paul called on Timothy to: "Fan into flame the gift of God, which was in him."

Christ was the final revelation read more...

2 Timothy 1:7

Down through the centuries, the normal Christian life has been one of intense persecution, pain, rejection, ridicule, subjugation, and death. The early Church of the first century was scattered far and wide, as an increasingly hostile world fed many to the lions and burnt others at the stake. As we read of men and women of faith (like those listed in the Hebrews 11 role of honour), we discover that many were enslaved, exploited, and exterminated for the sake of read more...

2 Timothy 1:8

Timothy was called to Christian fidelity. He was encouraged to stir up his spiritual gift and to fan it into a burning flame of effective ministry and faithfulness to his calling. He was to be brave and very courageous in a world where those who followed 'the Way' were despised, marginalised, imprisoned, and even killed for their faith.

Paul was writing to Timothy, his 'son in faith' from his prison cell, in Rome. He wrote to read more...

2 Timothy 1:9

God saved us from the penalty of sin at Calvary. God continues to save us from the power of sin throughout our Christian life, and God is going to save us from the presence of sin when we stand before Him in glorified bodies, and it is all by grace.

We were not saved because of our goodness or achievements. We were not redeemed because of anything that we have done. We were not adopted into God's family due to any merit that comes read more...

2 Timothy 1:10

Being the last letter Paul would write, it is not surprising that this second letter to Timothy, his 'child in the faith' is intensely personal and charged with emotion. These final words from Paul to the young pastor, are reminiscent of the farewell address Moses gave to Israel before he transferred the reins of responsibility to Joshua.

No doubt, Paul felt a similar sentiment as he prepared for his departure from this world read more...

2 Timothy 1:11

During his lifetime, Paul had to face much personal criticism and significant hostility towards his message and his ministry, but he was not ashamed of the gospel, because he knew the gospel of Christ was the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. It was Paul's deep desire to encourage Timothy to reflect this same fervour, and not to allow critics to discourage him in his own pastoral ministry.

Timothy was a young read more...

2 Timothy 1:12

In writing to Timothy, a beloved son in the faith, Paul explains in the opening words of this epistle that he is suffering deeply because of the gospel of Christ. But far from complaining, he is reminding Timothy that all who live godly lives in defence of the gospel of Christ, will suffer in this world. But the glory of the gospel and the eternal truths that it contains far outweigh the pain of persecution in this world, and so Paul confesses: "I am read more...

2 Timothy 1:13

There are many 'patterns' in the Word of God that are there for our learning which act as illustrations of godly living. Christ's life was one such pattern, and His life was lived in the way that God desires all His children to live - a sacrificial life of dependent trust in the Lord for all things, a holy life that is prepared to say, "Thy will, not mine be done," to the glory of God.

Paul used his own life as read more...

2 Timothy 1:14

Amazing things happen to the one who is saved by faith in the Person and work of Christ. The moment we are born of the Spirit, we are positioned in Christ and baptised into His Body. We are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, and declared righteous by God because we are identified with Christ's death and Resurrection.

We become heirs of God, joint-heirs with Christ, and have an read more...

2 Timothy 1:15

Paul seemed to be aware in this letter to Timothy, that he had not much time left before he would be taken to be with the Lord. Maybe this is why there seems to be an urgency in his writing with an emphasis on remaining faithful to the Lord Jesus in times of trouble, standing firm on the truth of the gospel of Christ, and being diligent to present oneself to God as a faithful worker that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

read more...

2 Timothy 1:18

Being the last identified letter of the apostle Paul, we can recognise an urgency in his message to Timothy, his trusted son in the faith and pastor to the Christians at Ephesus. It appears that Paul suffered greater hardship in this final imprisonment in Rome. In his earlier incarceration, the apostle appeared to enjoy a significant amount of freedom when he continued to receive encouragement and support from the believers in Rome, as well as fellow-labourers in read more...