◄ 2 Timothy 2 Devotional Commentary ►

2 Timothy 2:1

There are many challenges for the Christian to patiently endure, in the midst of trials and tribulation. Believers are exhorted to be diligent in the faith and strive to be approved unto God – a worker that does not need to be ashamed before Him.

The urgency of this message becomes increasingly intense as Paul's life draws to a close, and none more so than in this final letter to Timothy, his beloved 'son read more...

2 Timothy 2:2

Jesus taught that false Christs, false prophets, and ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing would arise and mislead many - even the elect of God. Indeed, while Paul was alive, many false teachers had already infiltrated the Church with the explicit intent to destroy Christianity and Church-age doctrine - most of which was given through God's holy apostles and prophets and recorded in the New Testament epistles.

Paul knew that after read more...

2 Timothy 2:3

Paul's life is getting near to its end and he has experienced many different kinds of hardships and sufferings in His life, for the sake of the gospel of Christ. He was told at the start of his ministry that he would suffer many things for the name of the Lord Jesus, and what a catalogue of trials and tribulations have been listed in his various epistles.

Now as his life draws to its close, Paul is reminding his spiritual son, read more...

2 Timothy 2:7

In Paul's final epistle before his death, he wrote to Timothy urging him to be strong in the Lord, to live godly in Christ Jesus, and to hold fast to the faith. He encouraged this young pastor to "endure life's hardships, like a good soldier of Jesus Christ," and not get "entangled in life's pressures."

Timothy was encouraged to run the race of life like a top athlete - pressing on to the finishing mark, and Paul pointed out that read more...

2 Timothy 2:10

Paul often uses the military or farming to illustrate the essential qualities of the Christian man or woman, for a soldier must be loyal, dependable, disciplined, and self-sacrificing while the farmer needs to be hard-working, patient, single-minded, and confident that his labour will one day produce a great harvest. Paul was prepared to endure ALL THINGS in order to proclaim the whole spectrum of Christian salvation and service, for not only did God save us read more...

2 Timothy 2:12

As believers, we have been given many precious promises - not only those that relate to our justification but also promises in connection with our sanctification. At salvation, we were born again at a particular time and particular place. At salvation, we were justified by faith in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting. At salvation, we were transferred from the kingdom of Satan in the kingdom of God, but as born-again children of God, we read more...

2 Timothy 2:13

We base our faith on the veracity of the Word of God. If God were a liar - (and He is NOT), then our faith would be founded on a very flimsy foundation. However, one of God's characteristics is truth, and the Lord Jesus Himself, reinstated one very important fact: "I AM the way. I AM the truth - I AM the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me."

One of the read more...

2 Timothy 2:15

It is to God, not to man, that we are to diligently study in order to show ourselves approved. What is man that we should be mindful of what man thinks of us? Too often the gospel truth to which we hold fast, is foolishness to the world of men and can also be distorted by the finite thinking of many theologians.

It is also the God-breathed Scripture, which is His inerrant Word of Truth that is to be the focus of our study and not read more...

2 Timothy 2:19

The spread of false doctrine in the Church is likened to a cancer that spreads and infects the physical body, which finally dies. The Church of God, individually and corporately, should rather stand fast on the firm foundation of Christ Jesus our Lord and should shun every kind of evil thought, unkind word, ungracious action, or selfish motive.

And so we are called to be faithful soldiers who obey their commander-in-chief, read more...

2 Timothy 2:22

Though Timothy was younger in the faith than Paul, he had a spiritual maturity that equipped him for the pastoral work that was entrusted to him. However, the old apostle knew the wily ways of the devil who prowls around as a roaring lion seeking to shipwreck the faith of all God's children, through the lust of the flesh and the pride of life.

And so we discover Paul warning Timothy, his son in the faith, to separate himself from read more...

2 Timothy 2:24

We are called to be bond-servants of the Lord and as such, are not to follow our own wishes but those of Jesus Christ our Saviour. As His servants, we are all called to share the truth of the glorious gospel of grace, despite the fact that the life of a believer is far from easy.

Many of those with whom we desire to share the good news of Christ, oppose the Word of God and make it difficult and discouraging for us to share this read more...